A Short History of Seafaring

By: Brian Lavery

Narrated by: Elliot Fitzpatrick

A captivating read spanning 5,000 years of the ocean's history

Conquest of the Ocean tells the 5,000 year history of the remarkable individuals who sailed seas, for trade, to conquer new lands, to explore the unknown. From the early Polynesians to the first circumnavigations by the Portuguese and the British, these are awe-inspiring tales of epic sea voyages involving great feats of seamanship, navigation, endurance, and ingenuity. Explore the lives and maritime adventures, many with first person narratives, of land seekers and globe charters such as Christopher Columbus, Captain James Cook and Vitus Bering.

Brian Lavery is a well-known British naval historian, whose prestigious credits include historical consultant on the blockbuster, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. This narrative history is filled with paintings, logbooks, maps, sketches and diagrams that bring these events and locations to life. Conquest of the Ocean beautifully intertwines informative images with fascinating stories of expedition and exploration in a way that has never been done before. Brian Lavery will have you engrossed in this extraordinary historic naval read.

Critic reviews

"[Author Brian] Lavery has a sound sense of how to interest new readers. He accentuates human-interest angles by quoting memoirists who experienced a famous naval battle or shipwreck or by sketching key individuals in the development of technological advances, such as ocean liners, submarines, and containerized shipping. Lavishly illustrating the extension of sea travel to transoceanic dimensions, Lavery's work ably serves a collection's need for a general, visually attractive chronicle of ships, sailors, and the sea." – Booklist

"[A] lavishly illustrated and readable work…Useful for research and enjoyable for leisure reading for students interested in naval history, exploration, and adventure." – School Library Journal

"Lavishly illustrating the extension of sea travel to transoceanic dimensions, [author Brian] Lavery's work ably serves a collection's need for a general, visually attractive chronicle of ships, sailors, and the sea." – Booklist