The tale begins in sixteenth-century Venice, when explorer Juan de Fuca encountered English merchant Michael Lok and relayed a fantastic story of a marine passageway that connected the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. This tale would be the catalyst for centuries of dreaming, and exacerbate English and Spanish rivalry. The search for the fabled Northwest Passage inspired explorers to seek out fame, adventure, knowledge and riches. Likewise, the empires of Spain and Great Britain were impelled by the hopes of finding a naval trade route that would connect Europe to Asia, thus securing their dominance over the other as an economic power. The story of the Northwest Passage is one of significant figures and great empires, jostling for a distant corner of North America. Gough provides meticulously researched insight, delving into diplomatic records, narratives of explorers and commercial aspirants, legal affidavits and court records to illuminate the journeys of Martin Frobisher, James Cook, Francis Drake, Manuel Quimper, José Mar�a Narv�ez, George Vancouver and Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra, among others.

Discoveries in geography, Entdeckung, Espagne Histoire navale, Explorateurs Espagne Histoire, Explorateurs Grande-Bretagne Histoire, Explorers, Explorers Great Britain History, Explorers Spain History, Grande-Bretagne Histoire navale, Great Britain, Great Britain History, Naval, History, Juan de Fuca, Détroit de (C.-B. et Wash.) Découverte et exp

A conversation in Venice Pirates on their beat Pursuing the legends, exploding the myths British merchant mariners on discovery Boston traders and the Strait, the links to China The Spanish press south from Nootka Alcalá Galiano and Valdés, the final quest for elusive passage Captain Vancouver and the Salish Sea Nootka Sound 1792