The Concarneau Book and Sea Festival welcomes this weekend Patrick Benoiton, author of the book A History of Cape Hornreleased on October 23. This captivating work, dense and carefully documented, explores the myths and realities of a place that fascinates as much as it frightens: Cape Horn.
This is not simply a book about the geography or weather of a site known for its storms and shipwrecks. Through captivating stories, Patrick Benoiton evokes the intense and unique stories that shape the soul of this 12 km² rock. Nicknamed “Cape Redouté”, “Cape Maudit”, or even the “Everest of the seas”, Cape Horn marks the southernmost point of South America, where the oceans meet imposing mountains and a climate savage. Benoiton recreates the experience of sailors, for whom the cape is both a hell and a Holy Grail, but also that of the original peoples, such as the Yagans, who coexisted with the brutal nature of this archipelago for millennia.
Browsing through its pages, we discover a world where beauty and violence mingle, offering an unpredictable and majestic setting that has attracted explorers and geographers of yesteryear as much as modern adventurers and tourists. This book allows the reader to touch the soul of Cape Horn and to grasp its nuances: neither totally cursed nor liberating, it rather embodies the persistence of a mystery at the end of the world, impassive in the face of the waves of civilization.
This weekend, in Concarneau, Patrick Benoiton will be present to discuss his work with the public and share the richness of his research and anecdotes around this legendary place. An ideal meeting for anyone wishing to delve into the fascinating history of Cape Horn, especially since the skippers of the Vendée Globe will soon pass not far from this emblematic site on their solo round-the-world trip.
Edition: Éditions GlénatRelease date: 10/23/2024Number of pages: 160Price: €25.95
France
Books
