Matthew Flinders Private Journal
The Journal begins on the first day of Flinders' detention at Ile de France (Mauritius) in December 1803 and continues after his return to England in 1810. The final entry, dated 10 July 1814, was written nine days before his death in London.
Its only previous publication was as a limited edition facsimile of the hand-written original held by the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales.
The volume is edited by Anthony J. Brown and Gillian Dooley, and includes a Foreword by the late Witgar Hitchcock, Flinders' great-great-great-nephew, and a Preface by Paul Brunton, formerly Senior Curator at the Mitchell Library.
It also contains eight appendices, an introduction and notes by the editors, an index, maps, colour plates and black and white illustrations in the text.
The Journal presents a fascinating portrait of Flinders the private man, viewed first through the prism of Flinders the prisoner, unjustly detained for more than six years by Captain General Decaen, and later of Flinders the family man, cartographer and writer, struggling against debilitating illness to complete his life's work before his tragic death at age 40.
It is essential reading for all those interested in the 'Great Denominator' who put 'Australia' on the map and named many hundreds of its geographical features.
Details
Introduction by Anthony J. Brown and Gillian Dooley
Standard hardback
1 876154 46 2
225 x 165 x 45 mm; 1.550 kg
Price
Members $50
Non-members $55