The rich history of the Pacific is examined through beautifully illustrated objects that highlight significant themes such as mapping, trade, whaling, and the diverse flora and fauna of the region. Each entry showcases the various vessels that have navigated the ocean, tracing human engagement from ancient times to the present day.
This visually stunning publication highlights the importance of an ocean that covers very nearly a third of the surface of the globe, and which has dramatically shaped the world and people around it.
Canada in the Frame explores a photographic collection held at the British Library that offers a unique view of late nineteenth-century and early twentieth-century Canada. The collection, which contains in excess of 4,500 images, taken between 1895 and 1923, covers a dynamic period in Canada’s national history and provides a variety of views of its landscapes, developing urban areas and peoples. Colonial Copyright Law was the driver by which these photographs were acquired; unmediated by curators, but rather by the eye of the photographer who created the image, they showcase a grass-roots view of Canada during its early history as a Confederation. Canada in the Frame describes this little-known collection and includes over 100 images from it. The author asks key questions about what it shows contemporary viewers of Canada and its photographic history, and about the peculiar view these photographs offer of a former part of the British Empire in a post-colonial age, viewed from the old ‘Heart of Empire’. Case studies are included on subjects such as urban centres, railroads and migration, which analyse the complex ways in which photographers approached their subjects, in the context of the relationship between Canada, the British Empire and photography.
The book offers a compelling visual journey through Arctic exploration, highlighting its significant impact on contemporary society. It delves into the challenges faced by explorers and the discoveries made, illustrating how these adventures have influenced modern perceptions of the Arctic and its resources. Richly illustrated, it captures the essence of human curiosity and resilience in extreme environments, making connections between historical explorations and today's geopolitical and environmental issues in the region.