The Beagle Letters by John Curtin

By Peter Spencer Ad Porter is the name of the most excellent work I have ever read. It was published in 1940 and I imagine it remains a classic today, maybe even more than 50 years old! The book covers a vast array of topics and images and has just about everything a man could want from a travel guide including lots of recipes, facts and fun.

There are also historical and cultural references that many readers may not be familiar with. The book has many footnotes as well as a glossary of medical terms. It was a book I required to buy because it was on my long distance trip and being able to refer to definitions and basic terms made the trip a lot more enjoyable. Some parts were a bit technical but I found it easy to understand nonetheless.

Many people like to use Ad Porter's maps as coffee-table books. These are like a smaller edition of the maps used by Captain James Cook in the late 1800's on his third voyage of exploration. In fact, according to the publisher, this is the first time any map of Australia has been produced. The maps are based on land surveys and incorporate satellite images as well. This means that if you plan to visit Australia anytime soon, you will definitely need this book.

Peter Spencer writes in a very friendly and easy to understand style. He seems to get a little carried away at times, even though the focus of the text is so serious. He tells us what he likes and doesn't like about Australia, although he is very honest about Australia and its many faults. He also admits to having ulterior motives towards the country, but then again, he was working for British propaganda and he wouldn't do a thing that would hurt the British. He reveals the dirty tricks the British played against the weaker races of Australia during the Boer War. Australia, he writes, is a 'great place to see in a day,' and is worth visiting.

My wife has read the book several times and loves it. She describes it as a thorough and detailed account of what she saw and what she heard while on her way over. We have all seen the movies and she says they are really good! She has taken with her friends to see the sights and she is still impressed by them!

Ad Porter shows his hatred of Australia at the beginning of the text, and thus we can clearly see his motive in writing this book. But then, he does not have to list them; he also writes about his love for the motherland and for Australia in general. He says that he is an Australian by blood and by choice. His family is Australian and so is his love for this country.

There are many historical facts that are not easily available elsewhere and this book fills up the gaps. For example, we learn that James Cook was the first European to reach Australia through the Cape Horn, but we do not know where he reached after that. It is also interesting to learn that John Curtin, the first governor of New South Wales, was the first European to hear about Australia, but he could not visit it himself. He had a ship that left for Australia with supplies, but he could not get a passage until his ship got back and he died in port.

The journey of the Beagle dogs is one that has been chronicled and commented upon in many books, including The Beagle Letters. This book provides a vivid account of their voyage and the hardships they had to face on their long voyage. As they were not very handsome or large dogs, they were used to walking on horseback and hunting animals along with their masters. They survived in Australia by raiding ships that had gone astray and were now no longer of any use to humans.