I believe that Guy Pocock is a clever editor. The language and style used in this presentation is more readable today than it probably would have been had it not been modernized. That is not to say that James Cook could not have made himself understood by today's readers but I think these reports to those who commissioned him would have been more official in style than they appear here. For me, a New Zealander and retired Naval officer, I wonder that I had not read these more complete stories before. I enjoyed them so much and found myself recognizing much of what he described. Cook's was a life well lived.
I am extremely fond of 'The Kings Treasuries of Literature" series of books and this one, number 257, is a true delight in every way. ( )

Read the first two voyages. Quite incredible stories of exploring and discovering new lands. Interractions with the local peoples and their descriptions are moving. Having read The Ship went back to read Cook's Third Voyage which lasted more than four years. Reading about Cook's death from eyewitness accounts is harrowing. ( )