THE REEF

A stylish, racing read, The Reef surprises with every turn of the page, investing one of the world’s greatest natural structures with human drama.

In almost cinematic episodes that veer from scientific epiphany to physical brutality, from the 18th century to our own conflicted age, Iain McCalman introduces an amazing cast of characters, from explorers and exploiters, Indigenous peoples and modern conservationists. In the process – and it is a very entertaining one - the author creates an entirely new account of a natural marvel, couched in gripping historical narrative and contemporary concerns. Both witty and rigorously scholarly, sweepingly grand and vividly detailed, The Reef is a vital new vision of an exquisite but threatened natural resource.

The Great Barrier Reef is the most spectacular marine environment on Earth, a true wonder of the world. Yet the history of our encounters with it has long been elusive. In The Reef, the acclaimed historian and explorer Iain McCalman recounts in full the dramatic story of the Reef and the people who have been captivated by it for two centuries.
The Reef is a narrative told through the lives of twenty intrepid souls, from Captain James Cook and his voyage through a mysterious coral maze to the world’s leading reef scientist John “Charlie” Veron, whose personal mission is to rescue the Reef from catastrophe. The extraordinary individuals in the book – not only explorers and scientists, but beachcombers, photographers, divers, and indigenous peoples and the castaways they adopted – were drawn to the Reef for different reasons, but all shared one thing: a passion for this vast coral country.

As McCalman explores how the Reef has been seen variously as a labyrinth of terror, a nurturing heartland, a scientific challenge, and a fragile global wonder, he argues that it is only by combining science and art that we will truly appreciate how this great gift of nature has shaped us and why it demands our attention. A classic work of romantic history, blending cutting-edge science with personal reflection and gorgeous images, The Reef is a beautiful book that will speak to broad audiences for years to come.

Iain McCalman is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, historian, social scientist, and explorer. He is the author of Darwin’s Armada, The Seven Ordeals of Count Cagliostro, and Radical Underworld. He is a professor of history at the University of Sydney.