THE DISCOVERY OF JEANNE BARET A Story of Science, the High Seas, and the First Woman to Circumnavigate the Globe

The accomplishments of Jeanne Baret--eighteenth-century herbalist and botanist--receive well-deserved recognition in this biography of the first woman to circumnavigate the globe. Narrator Gabriella Cavallero's credible French accent and clear diction are offset by an underlying overenthusiasm that distracts listeners from the physical demands and psychological isolation of Baret's voyage on board a French naval ship. During that time she dressed as a boy, so she could assist her lover, the botanist Philibert Commerson, with the collection and documentation of plant life from around the world. Even during the most horrific moments of the story, Cavallero's performance carries a light tone that diffuses the emotional impact of the action. Nonetheless, listeners will appreciate that although Baret's survival was achieved at a chilling personal price, her scientific work remained impeccable. C.B.L. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2016]