Description
By J. Inches Thomson
n 1861 a 17-year-old John Thomson set sail from Greenock, Scotland, to start a new life on the other side of the world in New Zealand. First published in 1912, Voyages and Wanderings documents his adventures on the Otago goldfields, his discussions with Te Whiti-o-Rongomai at Parihaka and life in between.
Now, his great-great-great niece, Rosy Fenwicke, has republished a second edition of his book, updating it for a modern audience, with additional illustrations, footnotes and an introduction by Rosy.
A thrilling tale of adventure, survival, and discovery in 19th-century New Zealand and beyond.
In 1861, seventeen-year-old John Thomson left everything behind in Scotland to seek his fortune in the goldfields of New Zealand. What followed was a lifetime of extraordinary adventures that reads like the finest adventure novel—except every word is true.
From striking gold at Gabriel’s Gully to surviving four harrowing months shipwrecked on sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island, Thomson’s memoir captures the raw excitement and danger of colonial New Zealand. His vivid descriptions bring to life the phosphorescent wake of ships cutting through mountainous seas, tense encounters with Māori leaders including Te Whiti-o-Rongomai at Parihaka, and the gritty reality of life as a sailor and prospector on the edge of the world.
Publication: 2023
Pages: 167
Format: Softcover
ISBN: 978-1-99-119420-6
