‘Blue Latitudes’ a brave, new adventure

“To seek out new life, and new civilizations; to boldly go where Captain Cook — Hey! Wait a minute! Boldly going where CAPTAIN COOK has gone before?”

Author and adventurer (and obviously another Star Trek geek! Yeah, baby!) Tony Horwitz has co-opted this well-known Star Trek beginning phrase to set the stage for his humorous and yet enlightening non-fiction book about Captain Cook’s journeys, entitled “Blue Latitudes.”

Just as the fictional Captain Kirk did in the 23rd century, Captain Cook did in the 18th century; both captains had the very same mission of exploration, except instead of a starship voyaging into space like Kirk had, Cook set out into the vast uncharted waters of the Pacific in a wood-built sailing tall-ship. That voyage ultimately introduced a wide swath of Pacific cultures to the perks and perils of contact with Western civilization. Just as Star Trek makes clear over and over … even a single exposure to an isolated society will forever change the way it operates.

Over 200 years later, all of us who live here in Hawaii see the lasting influence of Cook’s arrival. In “Blue Latitudes,” author Tony Horwitz embarks on a voyage as a crew person on a replica of Cook’s vessel with a colorful cast of characters as they retrace Cook’s trail across the Pacific Ocean, going from island to island to re-experience what Cook and his crew experienced (and, frankly, endured).

With a keen sense of history and a clever wit, Horwitz examines the differences between now and then, both the good and bad, while recounting the many zany incidents he had while on-board and on land. This popular book in our store will make you think as well as laugh, but best of all, you will actually enjoy learning about Captain Cook’s historic travels!

•••

Ed and Cynthia Justus are owners of The Bookstore in Hanapepe.