The Rattlesnake

A Voyage of Discovery to the Coral Sea

Jordan Goodman

$29.95

Paperback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We then advise you accordingly. If the time taken to get any book is too long for you, you can let us know and we will cancel or adjust your order, and refund as required.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

Faber & Faber
01 July 2006

True stories: discovery, historical & scientific; History; Geographical discovery & exploration; Expeditions

Australia's spectacular Great Barrier Reef was a graveyard for shipping. HMS Rattlesnake, an ageing British warship, was commissioned in 1846 to survey this magnificent 'Coral Sea' and to produce the first detailed chart of the New Guinea coast. Every reef, every shoal, every rock hazard had to be located and mapped with extreme accuracy. At stake was the pre-eminence of British sea power - and the ambitions of those on board.

If all went well Stanley, the ship's brilliant captain, could expect a top job in the Admiralty; MacGillivray, the gifted naturalist, would be the world's expert on the fauna of Australia and the unknown New Guinea; and Huxley, the ambitious young surgeon, could abandon the dreary routine of the naval service for the excitement of the new world of science. But a series of highly dramatic events and encounters ensures that by the time the Rattlesnake finally returns to England, the glorious dreams of at least some of her crew have met with tragedy .

By: Jordan Goodman
Imprint: Faber & Faber
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 197mm, Width: 126mm, Spine: 26mm
Weight: 285g
ISBN: 9780571210787
ISBN 10: 0571210783
Pages: 368
Publication Date: 01 July 2006
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Reviews for The Rattlesnake: A Voyage of Discovery to the Coral Sea

"""'Absorbing and revealing.' Sir David Attenborough 'Invaluable.' Sarah Wheeler, The Times 'Gripping stuff. So tense it reads more like something from a thriller than a history.' Andrew Taylor, Literary Review"""