For a book published in 1966, and with a low profile, there are no neutral places to link. So, I’ll skip that step as I try and catch up with the reading I was able to do over the past fortnight. Alan Moorehead’s The Fatal Impact, An Account of the Invasion of the South Pacific 1767-1840 is a history of the impact of Western civilization on three Pacific locales: Tahiti, Australia, and “the Antarctic.” The thread tying these places together for Moorehead is Captain James Cook. Cook is the reason I read this book, as I remain fascinated by the great explorers in the golden age of sail. I can’t imagine the foresight, self-control, bravery, focus, stoicism, and drive which powered these men.
Moorehead’s tale is more of a tragedy, though, as you might guess from his use of the word “invasion” in the title. Cook and many (but not all) of those who followed him were not malicious, but culture clash was inevitable. In Australia, the aborigines fared especially poorly, and even today, the legacy is clear (or it was a decade ago, when I visited).
This isn’t a lively read, but it’s not bad for making a point.