Rose: The extraordinary story of Rose de Freycinet: wife, stowaway and the first woman to record her voyage around the world

In 1814, Rose Pinon, a nineteen-year-old French woman, married Louis de Freycinet, a handsome naval officer fifteen years her senior. Three years later, unable to bear parting from her husband, she dressed in men's clothing and slipped secretly aboard his ship. She lived for three years as the sole female among 120 men, defying bourgeois society's expectations and a strict prohibition against women sailing on French naval ships. Rose used her quick pen to record her daily experiences, becoming the first woman to circumnavigate the world and leave a record of her journey.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 416 pages
Publication date: 01 February 2024
Publisher: ABC Books

In 1814, amidst the tumultuous aftermath of the French Revolution, a nineteen-year-old woman named Rose Pinon tied the knot with a charming naval officer named Louis de Freycinet, who was fifteen years her senior. However, their love was so profound that three years later, when faced with the impending separation from her husband, Rose resorted to an audacious plan. Dressed in men's attire, she secretly boarded his ship the day before it set sail on a scientific expedition to the South Seas. For three years, Rose de Freycinet defied not only the societal expectations of women during that time but also the strict prohibition against women sailing on French naval ships.

During her remarkable journey, she danced at governors' balls in distant colonies, narrowly escaped encounters with pirates, and even encountered armed Indigenous warriors on the remote shores of Australia. Moreover, she survived a shipwreck in the frigid Falkland Islands, using her quick wit and remarkable resilience to document her daily experiences. As a result, Rose became the first woman to circumnavigate the world and leave a written record of her remarkable adventure.

Suzanne Falkiner, in her captivating book, delves into the story of Rose de Freycinet, showcasing her courage, enduring love, insatiable curiosity, and unwavering spirit of adventure. Through her narrative, Falkiner provides a unique and intimate perspective into the predominantly male world of 19th-century life at sea, shedding light on the experiences and challenges faced by women during that era.

This captivating saga of courage, romance, and exploration is praised for its beautifully written prose, which evokes a sense of awe and admiration. Author Grantlee Kieza describes it as a "heart-lifting saga of adventure and romance," while Helen Garner praises it as a "leisurely, thoughtful work, rich in detail, quietly absorbing." Rose de Freycinet's remarkable journey continues to inspire and captivate readers to this day, reminding us of the indomitable spirit of women who defied societal norms and pursued their passions with determination and courage.

Weight: 298g
Dimension: 129 x 197 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780733343339