The main object of this book is to exhibit the facts relative to the expedition dispatched to Australia by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1800 to 1804, and to consider certain opinions which have been for many years current regarding its purpose. The two main points which the book handles are: (1) whether Napoleon's object was to acquire territory in Australia and to found "a second fatherland" for the French there; and (2) whether it is true, as so often asserted, that the French plagiarized Flinders' charts for the purpose of constructing their own. On both these points conclusions are reached which are at variance with those commonly presented; but the evidence is placed before the reader with sufficient amplitude to enable him to arrive at a fair opinion on the facts, which, the author believes, are faithfully stated.
Sir Ernest Scott's "Terre Napoleón; a History of French Explorations and Projects in Australia" delves into the intriguing history of French exploration and colonization efforts in Australia. The book provides a detailed account of the various expeditions and projects undertaken by the French in Australia, shedding light on the lesser-known aspects of the country's colonial past. Scott's writing style is scholarly and meticulous, drawing on archival sources and firsthand accounts to paint a vivid picture of this fascinating period in history. The book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in Australian history, French colonialism, or the history of exploration. It offers a unique perspective on Australia's colonial past and the impact of French endeavors on the development of the country.
This is the first in-depth study of the sojourn in Sydney made by Nicolas Baudin’s scientific expedition to Australia in 1802. Starbuck focuses on the reconstruction of the voyage during the expedition’s stay in colonial Sydney and how this sheds new light on our understanding of French society, politics and science in the era of Bonaparte.
For almost two decades, Napoleon Bonaparte was the most feared, and revered, man in Europe. At the height of his power, the land under his control stretched from the Baltic to the Mediterranean, and encompassed most of Western Europe. The story of how a young Corsican, who spoke French with a strange accent, became Emperor of the French at the age of just thirty-three is a remarkable one. The many fascinating objects brought together in this book detail not only Napoleon’s meteoric rise to power, but also his art of war and that magnificent fighting force, the Imperial Guard, which grew from a small personal bodyguard to the size of a small army. Some of his great battles, such as Marengo, Austerlitz, Jena and Wagram, are also explored, as is Napoleon’s great Oriental adventure, which saw him conquer Egypt. He took with him artists and scientists, which led to the discovery of the Rosetta Stone and the deciphering of the Egyptian hieroglyphs. Napoleon, however, took a step too far when he marched into Russia. The vast distances and the weather wrecked his army and he was never able to recover – and, eventually, his enemies proved too strong. France was invaded and he was compelled to abdicate. Napoleon was not finished, though, and he returned from exile to lead France into war one more time, only for his army to be beaten beyond all hope of recovery in the muddy Flanders fields at Waterloo. In this engaging and hugely informative book, the author takes us on a journey across Napoleonic Europe to discover the places, people and objects that tell the story of one man’s life. It is a story of one of the most turbulent eras in history, one that, to this day, still bears Bonaparte’s name. But his legacy lives on in the French legal and social systems and he remains as enigmatic a figure today as he did 200 years ago.
The main object of this book is to exhibit the facts relative to the expedition dispatched to Australia by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1800 to 1804, and to consider certain opinions which have been for many years current regarding its purpose. The two main points which the book handles are: (1) whether Napoleon's object was to acquire territory in Australia and to found "a second fatherland" for the French there; and (2) whether it is true, as so often asserted, that the French plagiarized Flinders' charts for the purpose of constructing their own. On both these points conclusions are reached which are at variance with those commonly presented; but the evidence is placed before the reader with sufficient amplitude to enable him to arrive at a fair opinion on the facts, which, the author believes, are faithfully stated.
In this edited selection of his journals, Matthew Flinders, Australia’s greatest navigator and the man who named our island continent, describes in captivating detail his epic mission to map our shores between 1796 and 1803.
Encountering Terra Australis traces the parallel lives and voyages of the explorers Flinders and Baudin, as they travelled to Australia and explored the coastline of mainland Australia and Tasmania. Unusually, the book takes its lead from the voyages of Baudin, rather than Flinders. Furthermore the authors have sourced original accounts including material which has never before been available in English. Extensively illustrated in colour and black and white.
