What do readers think of The Discovery of Jeanne Baret by Glynis Ridley? Write your own review.

WOW! The research is deep and accurate, the story fascinating, as a new page in women’s history is written. The author has managed skillfully to make sense of very scant (what else) information about the first woman to circumnavigate the globe. Women’s Studies groups and sailing fans as well, will enjoy this one immensely. This will soon be on our social history book group’s list.

I wish I could give this book a better review because Ridley has done extensive research; unfortunately, as even she admits, there is simply not enough to be found about Jeanne Baret. The result is a book about 18th century botanical exploration and research, with a good dose of the expected role of women of that time. I almost felt the frustration of Ridley trying to work Jeanne's story in. ..there is so little to tell. Almost every reference to her is prefaced by a "we could assume" or "we might imagine." I guess I felt cheated - the book did not live up to its title. The story or Jeanne would have made an interesting magazine article; perhaps botanists will enjoy the book-length treatment.

I have to admit when I first started this book it reminded me of reading a college thesis, but the more I read the more interesting it became. I really enjoyed reading all the background material on Paris and the trivia on tea as well as the fascinating study of herbal medicine. Would like to have known more about Baret but the author explained that there is not a lot of her to be found in the reports send back by the others on the expedition. She was, however, by all accounts a remarkable woman and deserved more than she received by her mentor and lover Commerson. This book will appeal to those interested in botany, expeditions and strong woman historical figures.

This is a pretty good biography, and I learned many things by reading it. I never knew that the nursery rhyme "Peter Piper" was about a real person until I read this book. The author did some extensive research in writing this and it is filled with information about 18th Century France, and mainly the expedition led by Lewis de Bougainville. I recommend this story to history buffs, and anyone studying botany.

This was a well researched and well presented account of the events surrounding the controversial life of Jeanne Baret. It is unfortunate that there are few sources of information regarding her life, making this book more of an account of the life of her "mentor" Commerson and his exploits, with snippets of information relating to Baret making an appearance at intervals. The account read well though, the story of the circumnavigation and botanical exploits are very interesting, but left this reader hungry for more of Jeanne Baret. She must have been a remarkable woman.

I thought this sounded like a fascinating story about an amazing woman. And it is, except I felt it got a little lost in too much background and too much exposition. I also felt sort of like I was being lectured at. But I want to stress that I don't read a lot of nonfiction so others might enjoy this more than I did.