A Short History of Seafaring

Brian Lavery

Nov 2022 · Penguin Random House Audio · Narrated by Elliot Fitzpatrick

About this audiobook

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.

About the author

Brian Lavery is Curator Emeritus at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, and author of over 30 books on ships and seafaring. As a highly respected maritime historian, he was consultant on the film Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, advised on the replica of Captain Cook's Endeavour, and wrote the best-selling accompanying book to the BBC drama series Empire of the Seas.