Baudin, Napoleon and the Exploration of Australia

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Nicole Starbuck

Empires in Perspective

This is the first in-depth study of the sojourn in Sydney made by Nicolas Baudin’s scientific expedition to Australia in 1802. Starbuck focuses on the reconstruction of the voyage during the expedition’s stay in colonial Sydney and how this sheds new light on our understanding of Napoleonic France. A number of aspects are examined including Baudin’s leadership skills, life on board the ship, colonial encounters with indigenous aborigines and the nature of Anglo-French rivalry during the period. Previous histories have viewed Baudin’s time in Sydney as little more than an opportunity for the French to recuperate after their journey, however Starbuck presents it as a pivotal moment in French history, intellectual thought and imperialism.

Readership

Napoleonic France, Empire Studies, Naval History and Oceania

Contents

Prologue
Introduction
1 Napoleonic France
2 Voyagers in Port
3 Discipline, Honour, Command
4 Encounters with the Colonisers
5 Encounters with the Colonised
6 Napoleonic Science: Sydney and Egypt
7 Baudin's New Voyage
Conclusion
Epilogue

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