Les grands navigateurs du XVIIIe siècle

A richly illustrated survey of the age when European ships first charted the farthest reaches of the globe, this volume brings the daring spirit of eighteenth‑century navigation to life. Through careful narration and reproduced engravings, it sets the scene of scientific societies, royal courts, and bustling ports that fueled the great voyages.

The work follows the exploits of famous captains such as Bougainville, Cook, La Pérouse and many others, pairing their daring journeys with detailed maps, portrait sketches and ethnographic drawings of the peoples they encountered. Readers will glimpse corrected French charts, vivid depictions of Polynesian dress, and dramatic scenes of naval battles and shipwrecks, all drawn from original documents. These visual treasures give a tangible sense of the landscapes, seas and cultures that shaped the explorers’ stories.

Listening to this account feels like stepping aboard a historic vessel, offering both an educational overview of the era’s discoveries and a compelling glimpse into the adventurous mindset that drove them.