French explorer Marion Dufresne was the man who reached Tasmania before the English. His expedition was the first to encounter the Tasmanian Aborigines and was a precursor of the great voyages of La Perouse, d'Entrecasteaux, Baudin and d'Urville. France was not idle in her search for the Southland at the time of James Cook's great expeditions. It is puzzling that Marion's name is absent not only from Australian but also from French reference works. His life of high adventure demands description—early success as a Breton corsair, a crucial part in the daring rescue from Scotland of Bonnie Prince Charlie, numerous voyages to the East, entrepreneurial boldness, discovery of the most westerly islands in the Indian Ocean and an early visit to New Zealand. He was surely one of the most colorful characters in our maritime history, and his story is told here with verve and skill.