The traveler : one man's quest for humanity from the South Seas to revolutionary Paris / Andrea Wulf.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wulf, Andrea, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Forster, Georg, 1754-1794.

Forster, Georg.

Voyages around the world--History--18th century.

Voyages around the world.

Naturalists--Germany--Biography.

Naturalists.

Ethnologists--Germany--Biography.

Ethnologists.

Travelers--Germany--Biography.

Travelers.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

xxi, 484 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color), maps ; 25 cm

Edition:

First hardcover edition.

Other Title:

One man's quest for humanity from the South Seas to revolutionary Paris

Place of Publication:

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2026.

Summary:

"From an early age, it was clear that George Forster possessed a brilliant mind. At just ten years old, he became a botanist when he accompanied his irascible father, Reinhold, on a wild expedition to Russia. By the time he was twelve, they had moved to London and the young boy soon became the breadwinner by publishing translations of the most popular travel accounts of the day. Then, in 1772, at the age of seventeen, George Forster joined Cook's second voyage, the most daring expedition of the time. The HMS Resolution set sail with orders to find what was then the hypothetical southern continent of Antarctica, stopping at the islands of the South Pacific--including New Zealand, Vanuatu, Tonga, Tahiti, and Easter Island--along the way. The Resolution car­ried the ambitions of the most powerful empire in the world, but Forster brought an understanding that was far ahead of his day. A gifted observer, linguist, artist, and writer, he studied the diverse cultures of the world without prejudice and was one of the first Europeans to talk about universal human rights.Recognized on his return as one of Europe's brightest minds, Forster used his fame to advocate for freedom and human rights and wrote against empire, white supremacy, and slavery. He admired strong, educated women, even accepting his wife's independence--and her love affairs. Driven by his passion for equality, Forster would eventually be pulled into the vortex of the French Revolution and live in Paris during the Reign of Terror. Throughout it all, he held close the radical belief that our common humanity is far greater than what sets us apart. The Traveler recounts the remarkable life of this deeply curious and exceptional man who, though largely forgotten by history, truly belonged to the future."-- Book jacket.

Contents:

Author's Note

Prologue

Part I: Setting out. 'My little travelling companion': childhood and Russia 1754-1766

'We are almost Englishmen': early years in England 1766-1772

Part II: Discoveries. Resolution voyage. Antarctica: 13 July 1772-February 1773

Resolution voyage. New Zealand (Aotearoa): 17 March-7 June 1773

Resolution voyage. Society Islands: 16 August-17 September 1773

Resolution voyage. Tonga: 18 September-29 October 1773

Resolution voyage. New Zealand (Aotearoa) and Antarctica: 3 November 1773-end of February 1774

Resolution voyage. Easter Island (Rapa Nui) and Society Islands: 11 March-4 June 1774

Resolution voyage. Tanna: 5-20 August 1774

Resolution voyage. New Caledonia, New Zealand (Aotearoa), Tierra del Fuego and Cape Town: 4 September 1774-27 April 1775

Part III: Ambitions. 'Great expectations'. Return to England: 1775-1777

'A magnificent young man'. Trials and tribulations: 1777-1779

'I am far too restricted for my way of thinking'. Kassel: 1780-1784

'The decision, then, is made, and all that is wanting is the subject'. In search of a wife: 1784

'Good heavens, the way I'm celebrated here shouldn't be allowed'. Detours to Vilnius: 1784-1785

'A tremendous number of frozen heads'. Exiled in Vilnius: 1785-1786

Part IV: Revolutions. 'So, I wait for better times'. Upheavals: 1787-1788

'Freedom, freedom, boundless freedom in everything'. Mainz: 1788-1790

'As if I carry the world within me'. Travels: 1790

'As empty as a hollowed-out pumpkin'. Troubles: 1791-1792

'The final hour of tyranny has come'. Mainz Republic: 1792-1793

'What happens, must happen'. Paris: 1793-1794

Epilogue.

Notes:

"A Borzoi Book."

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Athenaeum copy: Eden fund bookplate.

ISBN:

059380340X

9780593803400

OCLC:

1535614564