Essentially the book is a requiem for an idyllic past, moving in its picture of a wild civilization slowly eroding under the impact of commercial progress or geographical expansion, exciting in its interplay of differing psychological attitudes or customs, and developed with many criss-crossing references: Bougainville and Banks, Melville and Gauguin, the Bounty mutiny, and the little known efforts of the Englishwoman Daisy Bates to save the Aborigines. And the confrontation between aggressive Europeans and innocent primitive tribes affords ample opportunity. Moorehead has the novelist's eye, not only in his firm but sensuous descriptions, but also in his stunning ability to evoke character, interweave various tales, and see a Jumble of facts and conjectures as a means of releasing whatever dramatic moments are around. Beaglehole's definitive volumes, as well as from other weighty sources.

As he acknowledges, Moorehead has drawn heavily on the historian Dr. 'Moorehead has followed up his fascinating trek into Africa (see The Blue Nile and The White Nile), with a short, but equally elegant ''account of the invasion of the South Pacific, 1761-1840.'' The hero here, of course, is Captain James Cook, with Moorehead concentrating on the voyage to Tahiti, New Zealand and Australia, and the later exploration of the Antarctic Circle and the South Pole. Pleased to see local library still owns a copy.Īlso would recommend Moorehead's Nile books.

Would likely have read this in 1967 when getting ready for extended Oceanic trip to Australia. A lovely, sophisticated work.-Kirkus (edited) The book is a requiem for an idyllic past, moving in its picture of a wild civilization slowly eroding under the impact of commercial progress or geographical expansion, exciting in its interplay of differing psychological attitudes or customs, & developed with many crisscrossing references: Bougainville & Banks, Melville & Gauguin, the Bounty mutiny & the little known efforts of the Englishwoman Daisy Bates to save the Aborigines.

The confrontation between aggressive Europeans & innocent primitive tribes affords ample opportunity. He has the novelist's eye, not only in his firm but sensuous descriptions, but also in his stunning ability to evoke character, interweave various tales, & see a Jumble of facts & conjectures as a means of releasing whatever dramatic moments are around. As acknowledged, he's drawn heavily on the historian J.C. Moorehead has followed up his fascinating trek into Africa (The Blue Nile & The White Nile), with a short, but equally elegant 'account of the invasion of the South Pacific, 1761-1840.' The hero here, of course, is Captain James Cook, with Moorehead concentrating on the voyage to Tahiti, New Zealand & Australia, & the later exploration of the Antarctic Circle & the South Pole.

The White Nile by Alan Moorehead