The voyages of Captain Cook marked the end of early European voyages in the Pacific and launched a new era of scientific exploration and commercial and colonial exploitation. Introducing six of Cook's immediate successors in the 'Great South Sea', this book draws together accounts of their voyages with illustrations from a wide range of international sources. This book is a companion to 'Captain Cook in the Pacific' (2002) by the same authors. It aims to introduce the general reader to six of Cook's followers- from Britain, France and Spain- whose voyages both increased Western knowledge of the Pacific and strengthened European involvement in the region. As in the previous volume, the introductory chapter is by Professor Glyn Williams, who, as one of the editors of Malaspina's journals for the new Hakluyt Society edition, has also contributed the chapter on him. Nigel Rigby and Pieter van der Merwe, both of the National Maritime Museum, London, have supplied the others; the former on Laperouse, Vancouver and Flinders, the latter on Phillip and Bligh.