Cook's Cook

The 1768 journey of James Cook's Endeavour to the South Pacific told through the eyes of the ship's cook, by award-wining author Gavin Bishop.

Cook's Cook follows the 1768 journey of James Cook's H.M.S. Endeavour with his ship's cook, the one-handed John Thompson, as story teller. Through real recipes, events on board and the places the ship travelled on its way to the Pacific, the book tells multiple stories.

Here are stories of social class, hierarchy and race; stories of explorers and the people of the land; the story of one of the world's most famous explorers told through a fresh new lens. And of course, it's a book about food: from Pease Pudding to Goose Pie and Shark Steaks, here's how a resourceful cook fed a shipful of hungry sailors on their extraordinary adventure.

This beautiful book is full of information drawn from extensive research alongside evocative illustrations, released in time for the 250th anniversary of the Endeavour's journey.

“"With one arm and a hook, John Thompson cooked for the seamen of Lt. James Cook's scientific expedition to the South Seas from 1768 to 1771. New Zealand author/illustrator Bishop offers a crew's-eye view of an early 'round-the-world voyage that sailed from Plymouth, England, across the Atlantic to South America, rounded Cape Horn, circumnavigated New Zealand, and sailed along the coasts of New Holland (Australia), Java, and West Africa before returning to England three years later. The information begins with a front-endpaper cross-section of the overcrowded HMS Endeavour and continues chronologically, as much in the blue-green--and--sepia-toned spreads as in the journallike text. Speech bubbles contain comments from the cook; on torn-parchment insets readers find printed recipes including 'seared shark steaks,' 'dog and breadfruit stew,' 'poor knights pudding,' and the ubiquitous pease porridge. The watercolor-and-acrylic-ink images show the provisions, the sailors at work, the scientists and their servants (including at least one freed slave), scenery, wildlife, and a culminating map of the voyage. Two black servants represent the only people of color depicted aboard the Endeavour; the rest of the crew, including Thompson, present white. Only 56 of the 94 people onboard returned to England; Thompson himself dies before they reach South Africa and follows the rest of the journey as a sea gull--or so the crew believed. No sources are supplied, and libraries beware: The cover flaps obscure interesting facts. Appealing illustrations and the lure of an insider's account make this a delectable adventure."--Kirkus”

It all makes for an enthralling and unique perspective on this famous journey. Blog of Dad

Gavin Bishop ONZM, Tainui, Ngāti Awa, is a leading New Zealand illustrator. He has published over 70 books internationally and been translated into 12 languages. He has written for television and theatre, as well as a libretti for the Royal New Zealand Ballet. His awards include New Zealand Children’s Picture Book of the Year in 1982, 1994, 2000 and 2013. In 2019, he was named the winner of the Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement – Non Fiction.

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