
- 256 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
The bleak, volcanic island of Ascension, 800 miles from its nearest neighbour St Helena, was described by a Victorian naval officer as 'one of the strangest places on the face of the earth'.It is still exceedingly odd. Uninhabited when it was taken over by the British in 1815, it was an almost perfect natural vacuum – a triangular heap of lava and ash. When the Royal Marines brought in plants and animals, some flourished, others died. Tropical forest now clothes the peak of Green Mountain, and feral donkeys haunt the plains. As sea birds swarm around the coast, radar stations monitor space from the tops of rust-red cinder cones, and primeval, giant green turtles lumber up the beaches to nest. The island's history is short but extraordinary.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- 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