Home
At the Far Reaches of Empire
If there is one new book that needed to be written for British Columbia more than any other, a strong argument can be made that Freeman M. Tovell has just spent many years writing it.
At the Far Reaches of Empire: The Life of Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra (UBC Press, $39.95 softcover) is an impressively sober, extensively researched, non-fanciful biography that-at long last-provides a finely nuanced understanding of the life and times of Spain's most influential sea captain in B.C. history.
Yes, Juan Pérez made the first recorded European "discovery"; of future B.C. territory in 1774. Yes, Tuscany-born Alejandro Malaspina made a significant voyage intended to mirror the scientific accomplishments of Captain James Cook. And, yes, Don José Maria Narváez reached the Lower Mainland area in 1791, prior to Captain George Vancouver. And Captain Dioniso Galiano provided important mapping input to Vancouver in 1792.
But it was the sophisticated diplomat, Peruvian-born Bodega y Quadra [not just "Quadra,"; as he is commonly known in B.C.], who led the second Spanish expedition (in 1775) to reach B.C. waters prior to Captain Cook; who first claimed Spanish sovereignty over Alaska (in 1775); who led a second voyage as far north as Cook Inlet (in 1779); and who famously settled the Nootka dispute with Captain Vancouver at Nootka Sound (in 1792) and thereby curtailed further international conflict.
After the Spanish flag was finally lowered at Nootka Sound (on March 28, 1795) and Cala de los Amigos (Friendly Cove) became neutral territory, Bodega y Quadra's ambitions continued to be stifled by increasing debts and he suffered from Spanish prejudices against him simply because he was not born in Spain. He died at the San Blas naval port (just south of present-day California) in 1794, at age 49.
Since then, Bodega y Quadra has been under-celebrated for more than two centuries. Yes, Quadra Island was named in 1903, but few British Columbians realize that Vancouver Island was named "the Island of Quadra and Vancouver"; on early maps of the 1800s until Hudson's Bay Company traders abbreviated the name to reflect British chauvinism.
The virtues of Tovell's thoroughness cannot be adequately expressed in this space. Suffice to say you won't hear thunderous applause for his Herculean efforts to fill a gaping hole in B.C. history, but At the Far Reaches of Empire easily qualifies as one of the books that most validates the importance of the B.C. publishing industry in recent years.
With history degrees from University of Toronto and Harvard, Tovell is former Canadian ambassador to Peru and Bolivia who served in the Canadian navy during World War II.
0774813660
--review by Alan Twigg
[BCBW 2008]
At the Far Reaches of Empire: The Life of Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra (UBC Press, $39.95 softcover) is an impressively sober, extensively researched, non-fanciful biography that-at long last-provides a finely nuanced understanding of the life and times of Spain's most influential sea captain in B.C. history.
Yes, Juan Pérez made the first recorded European "discovery"; of future B.C. territory in 1774. Yes, Tuscany-born Alejandro Malaspina made a significant voyage intended to mirror the scientific accomplishments of Captain James Cook. And, yes, Don José Maria Narváez reached the Lower Mainland area in 1791, prior to Captain George Vancouver. And Captain Dioniso Galiano provided important mapping input to Vancouver in 1792.
But it was the sophisticated diplomat, Peruvian-born Bodega y Quadra [not just "Quadra,"; as he is commonly known in B.C.], who led the second Spanish expedition (in 1775) to reach B.C. waters prior to Captain Cook; who first claimed Spanish sovereignty over Alaska (in 1775); who led a second voyage as far north as Cook Inlet (in 1779); and who famously settled the Nootka dispute with Captain Vancouver at Nootka Sound (in 1792) and thereby curtailed further international conflict.
After the Spanish flag was finally lowered at Nootka Sound (on March 28, 1795) and Cala de los Amigos (Friendly Cove) became neutral territory, Bodega y Quadra's ambitions continued to be stifled by increasing debts and he suffered from Spanish prejudices against him simply because he was not born in Spain. He died at the San Blas naval port (just south of present-day California) in 1794, at age 49.
Since then, Bodega y Quadra has been under-celebrated for more than two centuries. Yes, Quadra Island was named in 1903, but few British Columbians realize that Vancouver Island was named "the Island of Quadra and Vancouver"; on early maps of the 1800s until Hudson's Bay Company traders abbreviated the name to reflect British chauvinism.
The virtues of Tovell's thoroughness cannot be adequately expressed in this space. Suffice to say you won't hear thunderous applause for his Herculean efforts to fill a gaping hole in B.C. history, but At the Far Reaches of Empire easily qualifies as one of the books that most validates the importance of the B.C. publishing industry in recent years.
With history degrees from University of Toronto and Harvard, Tovell is former Canadian ambassador to Peru and Bolivia who served in the Canadian navy during World War II.
0774813660
--review by Alan Twigg
[BCBW 2008]
Submitted on October 31, 2008 in By David.
