This book is a gripping account of the career and achievements of one of the most intriguing figures of world exploration and British naval history -- Captain James Cook. Born in 1728, the son of a farm laborer, Cook, through sheer determination, keen intellect and consummate skills as a seaman, rose to honours and recognition in his own time and to a unique and enduring prominence in the history of navigation. The book retraces Cook's three voyages, ending with his tragic death in Hawaii in 1779. It also assesses his unique contribution to exploration and discovery, to seafaring, science and medicine. It took extraordinary courage to sail for months on end through unchartered waters, aboard crowded ships, relying almost entirely on the skills and knowledge of the sea possessed by the captain, his officers and crew. One can almost feel the spray and taste the salt as this fast-moving narrative unfolds. Superbly illustrated with Bill Finnis's photographs, maps and evocative sketches from his own six-year voyage, as well as the charts, paintings and engravings of the period, this fascinating book offers a unique understanding of the personality and achievements of Captain James Cook, seaman and scientist.