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Book Review of Sea of Glory: America's Voyage of Discovery, the U.S. Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842

Sea of Glory: America's Voyage of Discovery, the U.S. Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842
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Philbrick is the author of "The Mayflower" and "In The Heart of the Sea, The tragedy of the Essex". The book was written for the geographically oriented. I am always impressed with the factual knowledge he has in his books resulting from the abundance of research it must take to hold one's attention with facts.

"The Sea of Glory", covers Lt. Charles Wilkes Exploration Exposition starting in 1838 with 6 ships to explore the areas of Antarctica, the Pacific Islands, and the NW Coast of America. They study the flora and fauna, survey, and map the area for future American sailing ventures and the new knowledge they might find for science. He is the first one to recognize Antarctica as a continent. I was impressed with icebergs they mentioned with dimensions of 100 miles long. Ships and men are lost in their explorations. They get into some hair raising troubles with the natives on the Pacific Isles as well as some love making. This Exploration Exposition is the one which furnishes the foundation of collections for the Smithsonian Museum. Wilkes proves to be a task master almost as bad as Capt. Bligh