Hello everyone,

Today we’re highlighting the masterfully researched biography “Where Fate Beckons: The Life of Jean-François de La Pérouse” by the award-winning historian John Dunmore. Jean-François de La Pérouse was one of the most renowned mariners and explorers of the 18th century, but in 1788 he and his expedition disappeared without a trace, leaving behind a mystery that would take decades to unravel. It is a must-read for anyone enthralled by the Age of Sail or the world of 18th century France during the Ancien Régime.

It also served as one of our many sources for an article published on our website about La Pérouse’s time in-and-around Cape Breton Island during La Pérouse’s formative years. You can read that article here. La Pérouse will also be the subject of an upcoming podcast episode where we’ll dive a little deeper into the state of the island during the years 1757, 1758 and 1781 – the years that La Pérouse visited or was just off the coast of Cape Breton Island.

John Dunmore is a New Zealand academic, historian, author, playwright, and publisher who has championed the research of the French mariners who explored the Pacific Ocean during the 18th century.

So sit down, grab a cup of something warm, and enjoy this easy-to-read biography on a fascinating and dynamic individual. It’s a page turner!