A sea story that ends up a little dry, this debut from US writer Williams is a fictional take on the true-life tale of Lapérouse, a French explorer who vanished during a round-the-world quest in the 18th century. Disconnected episodes, varying in tense and perspective, chart his crew’s doomed voyage, from a preparatory jaunt to London to more troubling expeditions in Asia and Oceania.

More than once, the book focuses on lust as a way to bring life to the historical source material, as when one sex-starved sailor (sympathetically portrayed) hesitates to rape a woman out of her mind on opium in Macau. Originally conceived as a collection of stories but published as a novel, Landfalls is diligent and generous to a fault: few of its large cast emerge with much definition and the impressive density and breadth come at the expense of drama and pace.

Landfalls is published by Little, Brown (£14.99). Click here to buy it for £11.99