As famous as were the real-life voyages covered in yesterday's post, equally (if not more) famous voyages were yet to come. Because we will be examining several of these in a future series of posts on exploration, readers looking for a taste of what's to come should consider delving into one or more of the publications depicted below:
Among the best known, and most influential, of all early reports of real-life voyages were those published about the three great voyages undertaken by Captain James Cook (1768-1779). Reprinted numerous times within a few years of the voyages themselves, these reports reached huge audiences because of innovations like Alexander Hogg's "omnibus" edition (originally issued serially in 80 parts at sixpenny each from 1784-1786: these parts often were gathered together and bound into two or three folios, as depicted below, the image by way of rare book dealer Peter Harrington):
Books published by and about Cook, his voyages, and his associates during the voyages (e.g., scientist Joseph Banks, sailing master William Bligh, midshipman George Vancouver) constitute a virtual publishing industry unto themselves:
Other types of non-fiction also impacted development of sea fiction in the 19th century. Among these were accounts of everyday sea life by lowly sailors such as Alexander Selkirk and Richard Henry Dana (modern reprints depicted below)...
...compendia on matters piratical by authors like "Charles Johnson" and John Esquemeling (also much reprinted, as below)...
...naval reports and similar publications regarding the all-important maritime military (the image below also by way of Peter Harrington):
All of these would be grist for the mill of writers of sea fiction. Interestingly enough, although the first notable writer of such fiction served five years as a Navy midshipman, he is much better known for his tales set on land....
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