James Fitzjames: The Mystery Man of the Franklin Expedition
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.16 (632 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 155488781X |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 224 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2013-12-14 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
But Fitzjames was not what he seemed. He had sailed an iron paddle steamer down the River Euphrates and fought with spectacular bravery in wars in Syria and China. He concealed several secrets, including the scandal of his birth, the source of his influence and his plans for after the Franklin Expedition. In this first complete biography of the captain of the HMS Erebus, William Battersby draws extensively on Fitzjames’ personal letters and journals – most never published before – as well as official naval records, to strip away 200 years of misinformation and half-truths and enables us to understand for the first time this intriguing man and his significance for the Franklin Expedition.. James Fitzjames was a hero of the early nineteenth-century Royal Navy. A charismatic man with a wicked sense of humour, he pursued his naval career with wily determination. But instead the expedition completely disappeared and he never returned. When he joined the Franklin Expedition at the age of 32 he thought he would make his name. Fitzjames packed a great deal into his thirty-two years. Its fate is one of history’s last great unsolved mysteries, as were the origins and background of Ja
"Battersby provides convincing answers he uncovers the true and compelling story of a very remarkable self-made adventurer." (Peter Shawn Taylor Maclean's)"The book is painstakingly researched and well written." (Alberta History)" the book thoroughly engaged me and if naval history or the Franklin Expedition are your interests, you'll want to add James Fitzjames to your collection." (Hubert O'Hearn Chronicle-Journal)" a well crafted, highly readable biography. It will appeal not only to those intrigued by the fate of the Franklin expedition, but also to naval historians with a focus on the Royal Navy in the first half of the 19th century, and to members of the general public with a ta
Ruth Gohlke said The author does a great job bringing Mr Fitzjames to life. The author does a great job bringing Mr Fitzjames to life. I have always wondered about him after i saw his picture as part of Franklins crew. A real live person, a real shame he lost his life in such a tragic way.. Admirable book, enjoyable read Mr. M. Kinney This is an absorbing read, by an author clearly passionate about his subject. I knew nothing about James Fitjzames before reading this, but putting the book down after reading it I knew about this fascinating character who had taken part on the doomed Franklin Expedition.The author writes in a scholarly style - stating his sources clearly, and his methods of research - but he also writes with charm an humour. One suspects an affinity between author and subject. Fitzjames's adventures on the Euphrates, in particular, are both
William Battersby is a trained archaeologist and pilot who has analysed the Franklin Expedition and published important new research into it. He lives and works in London.