Description

The Great Race: The Race Between the English and the French to Complete the Map of Australia is a historical non-fiction book by David Hill, published in 2012. The book recounts the true story of the contemporary and often tense expeditions of Matthew Flinders (English) and Nicolas Baudin (French) as they charted the last unknown sections of the Australian coastline in the early 1800s. This Illustrated paperback is an accessible and compelling work of Australian exploration history. Synopsys: David Hill's book, "The Great Race: the Race Between the English and the French to Complete the Map of Australia," is a riveting exploration of a quest between two world superpowers in the 18th century to complete an accurate map of Australia. This intriguing narrative takes us back to a time when vast portions of the world remained uncharted, and nations competed for global dominance through discovery and knowledge. The book primarily focuses on the English navigator Matthew Flinders and the French cartographer Nicolas Baudin, chronicling their perilous journeys, their unexpected encounters with the indigenous population, and their rivalry which trickled into diplomacy, setting an important course for Australia's history. This historical narrative is a must-read for those interested in the adventurous era of exploration and the shaping of modern Australia.

Synopsis

Title: The Great Race Between English & French, Australia Exploration History
Author/Publisher: David Hill, Random House Australia Pty Ltd
Publication Year: 1912
Format: Illustrated Paperback

This compelling non-fiction work delves into a pivotal chapter of Australian history, chronicling the intense rivalry between English and French explorers vying to chart the continent's last unknown coastlines. It illuminates the audacious expeditions that reshaped the map of Australia.

Set against the dramatic backdrop of the early 19th century, the book explores the strategic and scientific endeavours that drove these ambitious voyages, detailing the determination and challenges faced by those who sought to claim discovery for their respective nations.

• Pioneering Expeditions: The narrative meticulously recounts the simultaneous, often competing, voyages of figures such as Matthew Flinders and Nicolas Baudin, whose efforts were crucial in completing the cartographic understanding of the Australian continent.
• Anglo-French Rivalry: Explore the political undercurrents and nationalistic fervour that fuelled this 'great race', showcasing how the quest for geographical knowledge was intertwined with geopolitical ambitions between Britain and France.
• Illustrated Insights: Enhanced with illustrations, the book offers visual context to the exploration efforts, providing a richer understanding of the landscapes, encounters, and navigational challenges faced by these historic expeditions.

This historical account offers a fascinating glimpse into Australia's formative years of exploration, making it a valuable acquisition for collectors of Australiana, maritime history enthusiasts, and those with an interest in the competitive spirit of scientific discovery.

Condition

This item has been professionally inspected and is in Acceptable condition. Please refer to the photographs for detailed visual assessment.

Specifications

Shipping

• We ship every business day, on occasion we may post the same day but expect it to be shipped on the next business day with tracking.
• We offer Express Post & International Shipping.
• Where an item exceeds Australia Post weights or dimensions, we utilise a courier. In this case we are unable to ship to PO Boxes.
• Items are packed in padded bubble mailers, with exception of thin paperbacks or magazines or DVDs that are sent in cardboard envelopes.
• Large book sets are carefully packaged in boxes with packaging material to eliminate movement.

Return Policy

We are here to help! If you are unhappy with your purchase or you feel we've made a mistake, contact us and we are more than happy to assist to make your experience a positive one!

If we still can't solve the issue and you need to return your item, you can! Contact us within 30 days of the purchase for returns. Thereafter, we do not accept returns. Shipping costs are at the buyers expense.

Environmental Impact

We are one of the few sellers that package our items with not only great care but environmental impact consideration. We're committed to a carbon-neutral parcel delivery through Australia Post which provides positive environmental and social impacts.

We utilise the following packaging:

• Landfill-biodegradable bundling wrap to quickly secure and bundle items to avoid damage during transit. It can be recycled or disposed of in the general rubbish bin. Once disposed to landfill biodegradation is accelerated approximately 90+% faster than conventional bundling wrap, producing organic matter (a natural fertiliser) and no microplastics.
• Our plain padded bubble mailers are suitable for kerbside paper collection and recycling.
• All of our satchels are recyclable and made from 80% recycled content plastic.
• All of our envelopes can be recycled.