Ascension Island Atlantic Outpost

Ascension Island is one of the most remote places on the planet. Since the days of Napoleon it has served as a far-flungoutpost of Empire, a communications centre and a vital transportation link during both the Second World War and Falklands Conflict. At the same time, it is home to one of the most important sea turtle colonies in the world, and is a major breeding area for tropical seabirds. Photographer and naturalist Kevin Schafer spent several weeks on Ascension, which has recently opened its doors to the outside world for the first time. The result is a compelling portrait of a unique tropical island, rich in both human and natural history.

Rugged, volcanic and very remote, the three tiny islands of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha dot the South Atlantic like so many bits of flotsam. As Napoleon's place of exile following the Battle of Waterloo, St Helena has gained a notoriety that assures its place in the travel lexicon. This fully revised edition includes information on St Helena's new airport, which makes it possible for the first time for visitors to explore the island's natural and historic attractions without a five-day sea voyage to get here. Hiking, fishing, snorkelling and diving are included, plus details of marine wildlife, from whale sharks and dolphins to groupers and soldier fish. Expert author Tricia Hayne also provides a section on '24 hours in Cape Town', offering a brief overview of what to see and do with a day between voyages.

The New York Times bestselling author of Krakatoa and The Professor and the Madman takes readers on a quirky and charming tour of the last outpost of the British empire Outposts is Simon Winchester’s journey to find the vanishing empire, “on which the sun never sets.” In the course of a three-year, 100,000 mile journey—from the chill of the Antarctic to the blue seas of the Caribbean, from the South of Spain and the tip of China to the utterly remote specks in the middle of gale-swept oceans—he discovered such romance and depravity, opulence and despair tht he was inspired to write what may be the last contemporary account of the British empire. Written with Winchester’s captivating style and breadth, here are conversations and anecdotes, myths and political analysis, scenery and history—a poignant and colorful record of the lingering beat of what was once the heart of the civilized world.

On 5 May 1725 a Dutch ship's officer, Leendert Hasenbosch, was set ashore on the desert island of Ascension in the South Atlantic Ocean, as a punishment for sodomy. He tried to survive on turtles and birds but found very little water on the barren island. He wrote a diary. He probably died after about half a year. In January 1726 British mariners found his tent, diary and other things and brought the diary to England. In 1726 a first English version of the diary of the Dutch castaway was published. Other versions followed in 1728, 1730 and 1976. Who was the castaway? The truth was disclosed by the Dutch historian Michiel Koolbergen (1953-2002), in a posthumously published book in Dutch. With the support of Michiel Koolbergen's family and publisher, this new book discloses the truth in English. This book is the second edition, with some improvements compared to the original edition of 2006. This book is illustrated with line drawings, both historic ones and by the Dutch artist Anneke de Vries.

British spy Elliot Kane is forced out of semi-retirement to investigate a colleague's suspicious death on Ascension Island, a remote and rocky outpost of the British military in the middle of the Atlantic. Despite uncovering a deep plot to incite a new world war, Elliot Kane has been on probation with the service since his misadventures in Kazakhstan. Having taken up a job teaching college literature and linguistics, he surprisingly enjoys living a conventional life and wonders if he would even go back to spycraft. Then a colleague from an ages-ago mission reaches out with a request. One of her tech specialists was on a long-term mission, in deep cover, but has suddenly killed himself. The agency is afraid to finish this vital mission without knowing what prompted this seemingly healthy man to take his own life. The carrot in this offer is helping his old friend; the stick is a worse punishment from the Agency if he doesn't comply. So Elliott poses as an academic researcher and heads to one of the most remote places on the planet, Ascension Island. Arriving on a rocky, barely livable island located in the Atlantic Ocean, halfway between Brazil and Angola, Kane is unsure whom to trust and why this lonely outpost is so important to the British military . . . until he uncovers dangerous secrets that lead straight back to London's highest offices.

Title Page -- Contents -- Map of Ascension Island -- Author's Note -- Introduction -- 1: The Useless Island -- 2: HMS Ascension -- 3: The Marines Take Over -- 4: William Bate -- 5: Garrison Life -- 6: The Captain's View -- 7: Flora and Fauna -- 8: Rooks for Ascension -- 9: White Elephant? -- 10: Communications Centre -- 11: The Cable Men's Heyday -- 12: American Invasion -- 13: Space Age -- 14: Forward Base -- 15: Moving On -- 16: In the Sky -- 17: Sea Creatures -- 18: The Present -- Commanding Officers -- Acknowledgements -- Sources -- Index -- Plates -- Also by Merlin Unwin Books -- Copyright

This book is a study of the remote South Atlantic island of St Helena and its role in the abolition of the slave trade.

Union Jacks and red post boxes can still be found in some of the most remote, inaccessible places on the planet - the far-flung islands still governed by Britain. of these wild places with evocative names like Tristan da Cunha, Ascension, Diego Garcia and Pitcairn. these isolated, patriotic communities. And along the way he's been threatened by elephant seals, chased by the Royal Navy and deported for spying.