An ambitious and meticulously researched biography, this title details the life of famed scientist Francois Peron--from his early years spent in the French revolutionary army to an ambitious medical student who gained a place as an assistant zoologist on Nicolas Baudin's expedition to Australian waters. Discussing the expedition--which was famously marked by the vexed relationship between Peron and Baudin--this life story tells of Peron's profound achievements, including the pioneering observations in zoological, oceanographic, and ethnographic studies. A balanced assessment of the difficult...