Mrs Cook: The Real and Imagined Life of the Captain's Wife

Fact and fiction are seamlessly woven together in this portrayal of Elizabeth Cook, wife of the great navigator James Cook.

Meticulously researched and deftly written, this novel tells the story of a wife left behind for many long years as her husband circumnavigated the globe. From her home in London, Elizabeth Cook travels with her famous husband in her thoughts, imagining the exotic new people and places Captain Cook was discovering. Described, too, is the tragedy in her life that unfolded as she outlived each of her six children.

This is a rich portrayal of the life of a woman whose passion and intellect matched that of her celebrated husband. It is a lyrical exploration of imagined interior worlds shaped by historical fact. It is, above all, a celebration of love and endurance.