The Great Ocean

This insightful exploration of the Pacific Ocean reveals the complex interactions among diverse communities during a transformative historical period. The Great Ocean presents a rich tapestry of human experiences.

In The Great Ocean, a groundbreaking and lyrically written work, the author delves into the intricate world of the Pacific Ocean. This study highlights the convergence and fragmentation of Pacific worlds during a time characterized by rapidly expanding trade, indigenous depopulation, and scientific exploration. Focusing on the eastern Pacific from the 1770s to the 1840s, the narrative uncovers a rich tapestry of world history, illustrating the interactions among voyagers, traders, hunters, and native peoples, often marked by violence and tragic outcomes.

The author, through vivid storytelling, reveals a vast oceanic and coastal geography that became increasingly intertwined with global circuits. Rather than presenting a singular oceanic world, The Great Ocean showcases the diversity of seas and the multiplicity of human communities that existed within the eastern Pacific. The narrative is deeply personal, situating the broader historical context within the intimate interactions of various groups, including indigenous ocean peoples, mainland natives, and a diverse range of foreign voyagers.

Through poignant individual stories, the book brings to life the experiences of characters such as William Shaler, who sought wealth through trans-Pacific trade, and indigenous communities grappling with the devastating effects of introduced diseases. The narrative also features figures like Mary Brewster, who longed for a cargo of whale oil, and James Dwight Dana, who pursued knowledge about the origins of the Earth. Together, these stories offer a profound perspective on the oceanic worlds of the eastern Pacific, making The Great Ocean an ambitious and essential study of its kind.