Title: Cook the Writer

Author: John Cawte Beaglehole

Publication details: Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington

Digital publication kindly authorised by: Timothy Holmes Beaglehole

Part of: New Zealand Texts Collection

This text is the subject of: Victoria University Library Catalogue

Conditions of use

page break

Cook the Writer

Professor Beaglehole, world authority on Captain James Cook and on the history of Pacific discovery and exploration, sees the Endeavour voyage as having a double significance in Cook's life. Not only was it a 'Remarkable Occurrence' and an astonishing achievement, but it was also the last part of Cook's apprenticeship. An apprenticeship in, as well as mastery of, discovery; and it was an apprenticeship in reporting on discovery, for on that voyage Cook learnt how to shape his experience into words.

Emeritus Professor J. C. Beaglehole, OM, CMG, MA (N.Z.), PhD(Lond.), DLitt. (Oxon), Dlitt. (Sydney), was formerly Professor of British Commonwealth History, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.

page break