SKU: 47377305730

Wreckers : Disaster in the Age of Discovery by Simon Park

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Wreckers : Disaster in the Age of Discovery by Simon ParkWreckers sinks the old narratives of imperialism, revealing the violent, chaotic and improvised reality of empire building from the fifteenth to seventeenth centuries.'Clever and compelling book. The storytelling and the scholarship fairly spark off each other. It could be a model for how academics should write history for a general audience' The Timesa flowing, gripping narrative, Wreckers is distinguished by enchanting stories Peter Moore, Literary

Wreckers sinks the old narratives of imperialism, revealing the violent, chaotic and improvised reality of empire-building from the fifteenth to seventeenth centuries.

'Clever and compelling book. The storytelling and the scholarship fairly spark off each other. It could be a model for how academics should write history for a general audience' The Times‘a flowing, gripping narrative, Wreckers is distinguished by enchanting stories’ Peter Moore, Literary Review While figures such as Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama and Ferdinand Magellan are celebrated for their maritime achievements – reaching the Americas, India, and circumnavigating the globe – focusing solely on these voyages distorts our perspective on the past. Many explorers ended up as castaways, clinging to the splintered timbers of their wrecked ships, while those who survived often faced resistance and ridicule from indigenous communities across the globe.

Drawing on maritime stories from various languages and continents – from Brazil and Southeast Africa to India and the Philippines – Wreckers shares dramatic tales of the sea and the events on land that followed. This offers an alternative timeline for the century after Columbus’ 1492 voyage and sheds light on the fractures and fault lines that accompanied the increasing geographical range of European ships.

Simon Park argues that even when Europeans arrogantly claimed their own superiority, the truth was that they were often driven by a profound sense of greed and envy, and their actions included numerous mishaps. For example, in his hunt for gold, Martin Frobisher – who fancied himself England’s Columbus and Cortés combined – transported worthless rocks across the Atlantic by the tonne. In the search for spices, Captain and profiteer Manuel de Sousa de Sepúlveda’s ship was so overladen, it spewed its fragrant cargo when it crashed off the coast of South Africa. Moreover, in every place they went, Europeans depended on local know-how and goodwill – relying on indigenous knowledge of languages, geography, food and medicines.

Wreckers reveals the precarious balance between imperious European powers, cunning locals who colluded to further their own agendas, and others who showed great tenacity in their resistance to European incursions. By focusing on stories of failure, defiance and comeuppance, Wreckers – a term Park uses to refer both to those who were wrecked and those involved in wrecking – offers a gripping and original account of a tumultuous period. It challenges the notion of unstoppable European dominance and enables a reimagining of history as a space of possibilities then, now and in the future.

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Binding: Hardback,
Pagination: 320 pages
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SKU: 47377305730

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Amy
Grantham, US
★★★★★ 5
Great for aggressive chewers
Color: Mixed, Size: Medium
This toy held up well. My dog is a very aggressive chewer and will shred apart any toy she can. She was not able to tear up this one. I have not found many toys that she doesn't destroy
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Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2026
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Karen
Bozeman, US
★★★★★ 5
Great dog toy.
Color: Mixed, Size: Medium
Great dog toy, it's one of her favorite toys.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2026
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Christina
Pawtucket, US
★★★★★ 4
Smaller than pictured
Color: Mixed, Size: Medium, Color: Mixed, Size: Medium
It’s a lot smaller than pictured and I have the same dog type as was depicted in the one of the pictures. The dog like it so I guess that’s good. I will not be playing tug of war with him using this. I like my fingers thank you very much. I would say it durable. He destroys most toys in minutes. He did destroy the squeaky part in about 10 minutes so bonus points for that.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2025
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Jackie
Dallas, US
★★★★★ 3
Not for aggressive chewers. But still a good product.
Color: Mixed, Size: Medium
Cute toy, my dog was obsessed with it, but within like 1-3 days I couldn’t put any treats in the places for it as my aggressive chewer dog destroyed it within a day or so haha. But she still loves it and just chews on it for fun. Doesn’t last long with aggressive chewers if you’re looking to put treats and such in it like I did. But again that part may be broken and she still chews on it so not too bad!
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Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2026
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00Gus00
Dallas, US
★★★★★ 5
She sat still and licked peanut butter. I clipped nails!! "FINALLY" 😃😄
Color: Mixed, Size: Medium, Color: Mixed, Size: Medium
I have a Belgian Malanois who WILL NOT let me clip her nails. I got this a little bit of peanut butter in the places you can put it under the bottom in little compartments like which she sits and trys to lick it all out of every little cranny and while doing that, BOOM nails clipped and filed. Great product and worked exactly as I needed. Highly suggest if ya need the fur baby to sit still while you brush alor clip whatever you need, it works and if it works for my Dog a Belgian Malanois-look them up-it will def work for yours!!!! Oh yeah another great thing is it's nearly indestructible. I say nearly because she will prove me wrong if I say it is completely indestructible. Good buy. I suggest it for sure.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2025

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