tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post4969847491573329946..comments2024-03-23T12:38:46.260+00:00Comments on The History Girls: James Cook: The Voyages: at the British Library - by Sue PurkissMary Hoffmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241989732624913706noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-91730346303826974292018-07-30T15:08:31.970+01:002018-07-30T15:08:31.970+01:00I am late to this, Sue. Thank you for posting it. ...I am late to this, Sue. Thank you for posting it. I played Mrs Cook is an eight-hour Australian (ABC)/UK TV series and so I spent a fair amount of time researching the background to Elizabeth Cook and her life with her husband. She worried greatly about the risks and dangers of all his voyages and begged him to stop travelling. Each voyage meant they were apart for years, not months. Many of his crew died in the South Pacific of sexual diseases which they may have carried to the islands, or contracted there. James was more circumspect. Before his last voyage after having promised not to embark on any more such endeavours, he and his wife argued. He left before they were reconciled and, as we know, he never returned. Elizabeth outlived him and all their children and died at the age of 95. It was fascinating to immerse myself in the lives of such real-life 'heroes'. As you say, it a complex subject. His diaries reveal him to be a man who believed himself to be doing the best for his King and Country. You have brought back many memories, thank you.<br />Carol Drinkwaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05837854482139736944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-19178639579911014682018-07-17T17:19:55.288+01:002018-07-17T17:19:55.288+01:00I'm sure you will, Caroline!I'm sure you will, Caroline!Sue Purkisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09084528571944803477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-32785326004250483912018-07-17T13:39:19.981+01:002018-07-17T13:39:19.981+01:00Thanks, Sue! I didn't know about this. As mass...Thanks, Sue! I didn't know about this. As massive fans of Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin books, my husband and I will love it. Caroline Lawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07249424644829463560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-29675256578385489452018-07-16T18:17:21.835+01:002018-07-16T18:17:21.835+01:00I’m sure you’lol find lots to interest you, Lesley...I’m sure you’lol find lots to interest you, Lesley - and thank you, Joan!Sue Purkisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09084528571944803477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-72458619632112856262018-07-16T09:23:31.631+01:002018-07-16T09:23:31.631+01:00Have been dying to see this exhibition, Sue, and s...Have been dying to see this exhibition, Sue, and shall be down there like a shot. Thank you for this thoughtful and very interesting piece. We visited Australia a few years ago and I have been fascinated by it ever since. Lesley Downerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01845248172120197304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-39646432804453618032018-07-16T08:05:52.353+01:002018-07-16T08:05:52.353+01:00Thanks for this, Sue - important to keep reassessi...Thanks for this, Sue - important to keep reassessing these things.Joan Lennonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15763862159032836768noreply@blogger.com