Amazon.com
Some stories are so enthralling they deserve to be retold generation after generation. The wreck in 1815 of the Connecticut merchant ship, Commerce, and the subsequent ordeal of its crew in the Sahara Desert, is one such story. With Skeletons on the Zahara: A True Story of Survival, Dean King refreshes the popular nineteenth-century narrative once read and admired by Henry David Thoreau, James Fenimore Cooper, and Abraham Lincoln. King's version, which actually draws from two separate first person accounts of the Commerce's crew, offers a page-turning blend of science, history, and classic adventure. The book begins with a seeming false start: tracing the lives of two merchants from North Africa, Seid and Sidi Hamet, who lose their fortunes—and almost their lives—when their massive camel caravan arrives at a desiccated oasis. King then jumps to the voyage of the Commerce under Captain Riley and his 11-man crew. After stops in New Orleans and Gibraltar, the ship falls off course en route to the Canary Islands and ultimately wrecks at the infamous Cape Bojador. After the men survive the first predations of the nomads on the shore, they meander along the coast looking for a way inland as their supplies dwindle. They subsist for days by drinking their own urine. Eventually, to their horror, they discover that they have come aground on the edge of the Sahara Desert. They submit themselves, with hopes of getting food and water, as slaves to the Oulad Bou Sbaa. After days of abuse, they are bought by Hamet, who, after his own experiences with his failed caravan (described at the novels opening), sympathizes with the plight of the crew. Together, they set off on a hellish journey across the desert to collect a bounty for Hamet in Swearah. King embellishes this compelling narrative throughout with scientific and historical material explaining the origins of the camel, the market for English and American slaves, and the stages of dehydration. He also humanizes the Sahrawi with background on the tribes and on the lives of Hamet and Seid. This material, doled out in sufficient amounts to enrich the story without derailing it makes Skeletons on the Zahara a perfectly entertaining bit of history that feels like a guilty pleasure. --Patrick O'Kelley
Book Description
Some stories are so enthralling they deserve to be retold generation after generation. The wreck in 1815 of the Connecticut merchant ship, Commerce, and the subsequent ordeal of its crew in the Sahara Desert, is one such story. With Skeletons on the Zahara: A True Story of Survival, Dean King refreshes the popular nineteenth-century narrative once read and admired by Henry David Thoreau, James Fenimore Cooper, and Abraham Lincoln. King's version, which actually draws from two separate first person accounts of the Commerce's crew, offers a page-turning blend of science, history, and classic adventure. The book begins with a seeming false start: tracing the lives of two merchants from North Africa, Seid and Sidi Hamet, who lose their fortunes#151;and almost their lives#151;when their massive camel caravan arrives at a desiccated oasis. King then jumps to the voyage of the Commerce under Captain Riley and his 11-man crew. After stops in New Orleans and Gibraltar, the ship falls off course en route to the Canary Islands and ultimately wrecks at the infamous Cape Bojador. After the men survive the first predations of the nomads on the shore, they meander along the coast looking for a way inland as their supplies dwindle. They subsist for days by drinking their own urine. Eventually, to their horror, they discover that they have come aground on the edge of the Sahara Desert. They submit themselves, with hopes of getting food and water, as slaves to the Oulad Bou Sbaa. After days of abuse, they are bought by Hamet, who, after his own experiences with his failed caravan (described at the novels opening), sympathizes with the plight of the crew. Together, they set off on a hellish journey across the desert to collect a bounty for Hamet in Swearah.King embellishes this compelling narrative throughout with scientific and historical material explaining the origins of the camel, the market for English and American slaves, and the stages of dehydration. He also humanizes the Sahrawi with background on the tribes and on the lives of Hamet and Seid. This material, doled out in sufficient amounts to enrich the story without derailing it makes Skeletons on the Zahara a perfectly entertaining bit of history that feels like a guilty pleasure.--Patrick O'Kelley
Download Description
An incredible story of shipwrecked American sailors sold into slavery in North Africa and dragged through the hellish interior of the Sahara.
Customer Reviews:
A modern retelling of one of the most influential books in U.S. history.......2007-10-09
We read this book for our book club and had the honor of discussing it with the author, Dean King. As someone without any sort of nautical background, I was a bit worried as I started reading that the book was going to be too technical for me, but I quickly got to the point where I didn't want to put it down. The story, which is true and yet reads like a novel, had a certain "Apollo 13" feel to it...it is hard to fathom that so much could go wrong and yet be overcome. Dean King really did his research and was able to verify seemingly unverifiable elements of the story through his own trek on camel - and in some cases on foot - through the Sahara (such as the branding treatment used for illness and the belief that one cannot be hurt if fallen from a camel).
The original manuscript of Captain Riley's has been documented as being one of a handful of books that was influential to Abraham Lincoln. After his own stint as a slave, Riley - a white man - was able to give voice to the inhumanity of slavery here in the U.S. in a way that, at that time, no black man or woman could. Captain Riley's experiences and the telling of his story certainly had an impact on the consciousness of the American people and its leaders. This book brings history alive in a truly thrilling way. I highly recommend reading the footnotes for each chapter and the extra features (like an excerpted interview with the author) included in the paperback version of this book.
Too Much Camel Urine.......2007-09-20
Skeletons of the Zahara certainly has moments of high drama, and the fact that the story is (mostly) true, adds to the sense of adventure and disbelief. And the poor sailors stranded on the Western Shore of Africa could not have been treated much worse than they were. But for me, the retelling of this story suffered from the same monotony as the sailors themselves must have felt. There are lengthy passages of their travels through the desert that are too similar to other lengthy passages of their travels through the desert. This was interspersed occasionally with the graphic depiction of the devouring of an entire camel. I don't really have a weak stomach, but the numerous references to the green goo inside the camel stomach which became the main entree on the menu was a little too much even for me. Then there was the camel urine, which one and all slurped down like a nice chardonnay. Maybe I need to spend more time with the Touareg to get a better feel for things.
One Heck of a Ride.......2007-07-23
This book rips your throat out and stuffs it up your nose!!!!!!!!!
If you think you are tough.....or if you waste your time watching the goofy fake Survival Reality TV shows.......then you need to cleanse your brain with this book......It will show you what a wimp you really are...I do not know anyone who could take for 24 hours what these human beings endured for the extraordinary amount of time they were subject to these conditions from hell......... Dean King did his homework ...from the library to the turf...He actually ventured into this region and DID SOME REAL HOMEWORK
It'll take your breath away.......2007-06-25
Americans shipwrecked in 1815 and held captive by Muslim slavers in the Sahara.
I was considering ordering Sufferings in Africa by James Riley and Robbins' journal: by Archibald Robbins, the two books King based his book on, but after reading this I didn't think I could stomach anymore of their suffering.
The cruelty and ignorance of the arabs/islamist/muslims is stunning. How could and why would anyone be so cruel? If you don't take care of your servants how are they going to be able to continue to serve you?. These arabs were either too dumb to logic that out or just inherently vicious.
Devoured by the Desert.......2007-05-13
This incredible tale captures the true recollections of survivors of shipwreck and enslavement by nomadic Arabs in the western Sahara in 1815. It's a time when the US is striving to assert itself on the world stage. American men seeking to provide for their families willingly take great risk and leave their homeland and find themselves in the Islamic world, stranded and forced to pay a high price to escape. Survival in this world requires enduring constant threat to life and limb. While some of the Arabs are worthy of respect and admirable in their bravery, even the best examples have a moral code that is hard to reconcile with Western values. Equally true is how Islamic values mirror some of the best and worst of Western values (slavery, cruelty for economic profit, strong familial bonds, communal coherance in a time of threat, and dissonance in a time of abundance). While the story of Captain Riley and his fellow American sailors may stand as one of the world's great survival tales, it is enriched by moral themes relevant to today's world experience.
Amazon.com
Melding superb research and the extraordinary expedition photography of Frank Hurley, The Endurance by Caroline Alexander is a stunning work of history, adventure, and art which chronicles "one of the greatest epics of survival in the annals of exploration." Setting sail as World War I broke out in Europe, the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, led by renowned polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, hoped to become the first to cross the Antarctic continent. But their ship, Endurance, was trapped in the drifting pack ice, eventually to splinter, leaving the expedition stranded on floes--a situation that seemed "not merely desperate but impossible."
Most skillfully Alexander constructs the expedition's character through its personalities--the cast of veteran explorers, scientists, and crew--with aid from many previously unavailable journals and documents. We learn, for instance, that carpenter and shipwright Henry McNish, or "Chippy," was "neither sweet-tempered nor tolerant," and that Mrs. Chippy, his cat, was "full of character." Such firsthand descriptions, paired with 170 of Frank Hurley's intimate photographs, which are comprehensively assembled here for the first time, penetrate the hulls of the Endurance and these tough men. The account successfully reveals the seldom-seen domestic world of expedition life--the singsongs, feasts, lectures, camaraderie--so that when the hardships set in, we know these people beyond the stereotypical guise of mere explorers and long for their safety.
Alexander reveals Shackleton as an inspiring optimist, "a leader who put his men first." Throughout the grueling ordeal, Shackleton and his men show what endurance and greatness are all about. The Endurance is a most intimate portrait of an expedition and of survival. Readers will possess a newfound respect for these daring souls, know better their unthinkable toil and half-forgotten realm of glory. --Byron Ricks
Amazon.com Audiobook Review
Narrators Michael Tezla and Martin Ruben join forces to read Caroline Alexander's extraordinary account of Sir Ernest Shackleton's improbable Antarctic adventure. Tezla narrates the text while Ruben reads diary entries from the ship's crewmembers, employing a variety of native accents. The approach effectively divides the book into listener-friendly chunks, but at times, keeping track of all 27 crewmen requires the fortitude of the explorers themselves. Tezla describes the ice and snow with a haunting beauty but manages maintain the tension throughout, while Ruben injects character and humor into his various vocal interpretations. (Running time: 6 hours, 4 cassettes) --Kimberly Heinrichs
Book Description
In August 1914, days before the outbreak of the First World War, the renowned explorer Ernest Shackleton and a crew of twenty-seven set sail for the South Atlantic in pursuit of the last unclaimed prize in the history of exploration: the first crossing on foot of the Antarctic continent. Weaving a treacherous path through the freezing Weddell Sea, they had come within eighty-five miles of their destination when their ship, Endurance, was trapped fast in the ice pack. Soon the ship was crushed like matchwood, leaving the crew stranded on the floes. Their ordeal would last for twenty months, and they would make two near-fatal attempts to escape by open boat before their final rescue.
Drawing upon previously unavailable sources, Caroline Alexander gives us a riveting account of Shackleton's expedition--one of history's greatest epics of survival. And she presents the astonishing work of Frank Hurley, the Australian photographer whose visual record of the adventure has never before been published comprehensively. Together, text and image re-create the terrible beauty of Antarctica, the awful destruction of the ship, and the crew's heroic daily struggle to stay alive, a miracle achieved largely through Shackleton's inspiring leadership.
The survival of Hurley's remarkable images is scarcely less miraculous: The original glass plate negatives, from which most of the book's illustrations are superbly reproduced, were stored in hermetically sealed cannisters that survived months on the ice floes, a week in an open boat on the polar seas, and several more months buried in the snows of a rocky outcrop called Elephant Island. Finally Hurley was forced to abandon his professional equipment; he captured some of the most unforgettable images of the struggle with a pocket camera and three rolls of Kodak film.
Published in conjunction with the American Museum of Natural History's landmark exhibition on Shackleton's journey,
The Endurance thrillingly recounts one of the last great adventures in the Heroic Age of exploration--perhaps the greatest of them all.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent.......2007-08-30
This book is simply outstanding. A must read for all whould-be-adventurers!
The photos are right up there with Ansel Adams, but with REAL drama.
beautiful pictures.......2007-08-26
There are more complete books out there detailing what Shackleton and his men went through on their Antarctic exploration, and after viewing the haunting, beautiful and often other-worldly photographs presented in this book, I think you will want to further explore this story.
This book is fine in what it offers, giving a good summary of those events, without getting into some of the mind numbing list of stores etc. in the more detailed books, but the photographs are what makes this a special book - one to leave out on the coffee table and pick up on a hot summer day and leaf through and feel the temperature drop eighty degrees.
Excellent!.......2007-06-27
Thank you for a wonderful book in outstanding condition and great price I will keep in mind this dealer!
The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition.......2007-06-26
The book is well writen and easy to read....enjoyable to read!!!! Great pictures and overall a nice solid book...
Incredible read for any fan of an Adventure Story.......2006-11-24
Wow is all I can say - this book is amazing and so are the photos. I had the chanc to see a museum tour that was dedicated to this story. I started this book early in the evening and was unable to put it down until the early morning when I read the last page.
This is an incredible story of human courage, leadership, and adventure. This is truly a must read.
Amazon.com
In the summer of 1914, Sir Ernest Shackleton set off aboard the Endurance bound for the South Atlantic. The goal of his expedition was to cross the Antarctic overland, but more than a year later, and still half a continent away from the intended base, the Endurance was trapped in ice and eventually was crushed. For five months Shackleton and his crew survived on drifting ice packs in one of the most savage regions of the world before they were finally able to set sail again in one of the ship's lifeboats. Alfred Lansing's Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage is a white-knuckle account of this astounding odyssey.
Through the diaries of team members and interviews with survivors, Lansing reconstructs the months of terror and hardship the Endurance crew suffered. In October of 1915, there "were no helicopters, no Weasels, no Sno-Cats, no suitable planes. Thus their plight was naked and terrifying in its simplicity. If they were to get out--they had to get themselves out." How Shackleton did indeed get them out without the loss of a single life is at the heart of Lansing's magnificent true-life adventure tale.
Book Description
The astonishing saga of polar explorer Ernest Shackleton's survival for over a year on the ice-bound Antarctic seas, as Time magazine put it, "defined heroism." Alfred Lansing's scrupulously researched and brilliantly narrated book -- with over 200,000 copies sold -- has long been acknowledged as the definitive account of the Endurance's fateful trip. To write their authoritative story, Lansing consulted with ten of the surviving members and gained access to diaries and personal accounts by eight others. The resulting book has all the immediacy of a first-hand account, expanded with maps and illustrations especially for this edition.
Customer Reviews:
Leaders aren't what they used to be.......2007-10-13
People bandy about the word "classic" without considering its significance, but this all-time bestseller will remain in print many more years. It's a true classic, ranking among the top adventure books. Nowhere will you find a more gripping account than Endurance, the survival story of polar explorer Ernest Shackleton and his crew of 27 men, in 1915. This cliff-hanger of a book stays with you. Could it be that today's leaders pale beside the likes of Shackleton?
It is the story about what makes the British so different.......2007-10-12
Shackleton is always calm. He is resourceful and undaunted. He is not always right, many times he is just absolutely wrong. But his courage is simply breathtaking.
You must know many British famous sentences as those: "I am going out and will be for some time" or "Dr Livingstone, I presume".
Shackleton probably did not utter so famous remark. But still his above-the-all-odds behaviour makes him one of the greatest British heroes. And the mankind's. Read the story you will never forget. Read and think, how you could possibly behave in those utmost terrifying circumstances.
(I am Polish so my English is poor. Please forgive me).
Mind boggeling.......2007-05-29
This is an amazing story of leadership, and man's ability to persevere under extraordinary circumstances. It is really unbelievable. I was staggered by the odds these men overcame and their determination to press on. The book is well written and easy to read.
Amazing story.........2007-05-19
This is a great book that will make you feel as though any hardship you have ever encountered is really not so bad when you think about what these men endured. Imagine being cold, wet, hungry, tired for basically 2 years while in the back of your mind you know that the chances of ever seeing the civilized world is remote at best. These men handled it well. Very good historical account written based on interviews, historical accounts, and actual diaries of the men on the journey.
Finest adventure book ever written.......2007-04-21
I am working my way through the top 100 Adventure Books of all time. This one is, so far, the best. It is the concatenation of several adventure books, since almost every type of mishap and obstacle is encountered. Shackleton must go down as a true hero, as well as his crew. The version of the book with the glossies in the middle was captivating... I spent a good bit of time staring at the remarkable pictures. The story of how those film plates survived this oddysey is, in itself, remarkable.
A good adventure would be ruined by poor writing. Lansing is superb and does credit to this story.
This story could never be made into the movie because it would be considered too "far-fetched" to be believable. Note that there is a documentary DVD that (in a nutshell) describes some of the story, as well as lets you see an interesting reunion of the Endurance crew's children. Try to get this video right after you read the book.
Amazon.com
The facts speak for themselves. In 1857, the Central America, a sidewheel steamer ferrying passengers fresh from the gold rush of California to New York and laden with 21 tons of California gold, encountered a severe storm off the Carolina coast and sank, carrying more than 400 passengers and all her cargo down with her. She then sat for 132 years, 200 miles offshore and almost two miles below the ocean's surface--a depth at which she was assumed to be unrecoverable--until 1989, when a deep-water research vessel sailed into the harbor at Norfolk, Virginia, fat with salvaged gold coins and bullion estimated to be worth one billion dollars.
Author Gary Kinder wisely lets the story of the Columbus-America Discovery Group, led by maverick scientist and entrepreneur Tommy Thompson, unfold without hyperbole. Kinder interweaves the tale of the Central America and her passengers and crew with Thompson's own story of growing up landlocked in Ohio, an irrepressible tinkerer and explorer even in his childhood days, and his progress to adulthood as a young man who always had "7 to 14" projects on the table or spinning in his head at any given moment. One of those projects would become the preposterous recovery of the stricken steamer, and the resourcefulness and later urgency with which the project would proceed is contrasted poignantly with the Central America's doomed battle in 1857 to stay afloat.
Thompson, who spent nearly a decade planning and organizing his recovery effort, emerges as one of the great unsung adventurers of these times (the technical innovations alone required for such a task produced a windfall for the scientific community and defined a new state of the art for deep-sea explorers and treasure hunters), and the story of the steamer's sinking is compelling enough to make any reader wonder why the Central America sinking isn't synonymous with shipwreck in this Titanic-happy age. --Tjames Madison
Book Description
The riveting true adventure and discovery of a gold-laden shipwreck and the scientific genius who recovered its treasure, while breaking the barriers of deep-ocean exploration.
In September 1857, the S.S. Central America, carrying 500 passengers and tons of gold from the California mountains, sunk in a hurricane 200 miles off the Carolina coast. Lost in legend for more than a century, the tragic story of this shipwrecked steamer resurfaced in 1989 when Tommy Thompson, an ocean engineer, sailed into Norfolk harbour with over ten tons of pioneer gold. Using a combination of oceanography, computer science and information theory, Thompson's team recovered mint-state coins, antique bars and sparkling gold dust from 8,000 feet below the surface of the sea -- proving everyone wrong who said it couldn't be done.
Customer Reviews:
What an Adventure !.......2007-09-21
This is an appealing book on many levels. 19th century sea adventure, heroes, tradegies, great survival stories, heart stopping excitement, 20th century high tech recovery adventures, interlopers and bottom feeding lawyers and insurance companies, it's got it all. Why 4 stars rather than 5 ? I found it a tad long after they found the boat and began that part of the story. But, that is a small point. Well worth the reader's time.
Ship of Gold is a good story with excellent details about the recovery of the gold........2007-08-28
Ship of Gold is a good story with excellent details about the recovery of the gold.
In my next recovery book I will look for more diving experience. The ROV's do not have the same adventure value as the human diving experience we have on the North Sea but then again the North Sea is maximum 40 meters deep. We don't need ROV's at these depths.
I liked the sonar specialist story and the systematical scanning of the area's with the best values in the probability matrix.
Hands down one of the best book ever! .......2007-08-20
This is by far the best book ever. I have purchased more copies then I can count and I have given it to all of my family members and most of my friends. All of them loved it. Even my mom told it was one of the best books she had ever read. Being she reads a book every two weeks that's a pretty good compliment.
This is a short book, but it takes a long time to read. It's not that it's a hard read; it's just that it's so good you will take your time to read it. Almost like savoring a great wine.
I don't recommend many books, but this one should be on the top of your reading pile. Once you read it you will understand why and I'm willing to bet you will recommend it to all of your friends.
Good modern day treasure hunt.......2007-07-04
I liked the way the author took the reader back and forth from the past to the present. It was interesting to see how much planning and inguenuity it took to accomplish the recovery of the gold. Once the treasure was found, I have to admit to having a mild case of 'gold fever' due to the vivid descriptions provided by G. Kinder. The only reason I didn't give it the full 5 is because of the Tommy (the technical mastermind of the recovery) praising!!!! Alright already, he certainly must walk on water, and if he doesn't, he'll surely invent a way to. Inspite of the Tommy factor, this is a good book.
Also recommended: In the Heart of the Sea
Fantastic Nonfiction.......2006-12-28
When the Central America sank in 1857 she took 21 tons of gold and more than 400 souls to the bottom of the sea, including one of my ancestors. Kinder's incredible book weaves the tale of the shipwreck together with the story of the thrilling recovery more than 130 years later.
Ship of Gold is a fantastic book from historic and scientific perspectives. If you read this book, you will gain new insights about the Gold Rush and 19th-century sea travel; better yet, you will be amazed by the technological and biological advancements which were a direct consequence of Tommy Thompson's recovery.
I read Ship of Gold to fill in the details of an old family legend. I was pleased to discover a truly amazing work of nonfiction.
Customer Reviews:
absolutely beautiful book, threads past and present, a must for those interested in the Titanic.......2007-03-21
For me, the greatest story of the Titanic was the true story. I'm not really one for nonfiction, and yet this story just fascinates me (and so many others) unbelievably. Anyway, this book is beautifully and poeticly written, full of amazing pictures and history. Best of all, it is incredibly up to date with a wealth of new findings and information about the wreck. Grade: A-
Titanic.......2006-04-24
What Bill C. said is completely off topic this is a book about the greatest sea disaster that changed the world the Titanic. NOT the Lusitania which was sunk even after americans were warned by the german embassy in the US to travelers that any ship flying the british flag would be sunk. Bill C obviously needs to learn his history cause hes really showing how little he knows, The book is great it covers just about every major point of Titanic. If you want to read about the Lusitania which was on her last voyage from the start and was to be scrapped after she returned to england go read bob ballards book about the Sinking of the Lustiania. If you want to read a book about the greatest sea disaster that was foretold 14 years before by a writer and one that changed how things were done from having the wireless systems up 24 hours a day to ensure that distress messages would be receved to lifeboats for everyone regardless the tonnage which was how Titanic was required by law to carry 16 boats cause it stated anyship over 16,000 Tons is required to carry 16 boats even though Titanic was 57,000 Long Tons.
I would recommed this book to anyone that wants a well put together book or anyone that is a Titanic buff.
A lot of bull about the Titanic.........2005-06-17
as the world's greatest ocean liner. The Lusitania (which sunk in 1915) brought the USA into World War One.That Lusitania was an important ship! The Titanic sinking did nothing sinking for the USA or any country that could equal bringing a country into a World War.
Attractive Book for Light Reading.......2002-12-27
Overall, this is a nicely-designed and illustrated book that would make a great gift. Many of the artifact photos (of which there are plenty) are unique to this book. The issue of salvage haunts every page of this book. On numerous occasions author Susan Wels makes the case for RMS Titanic, Inc. and their salvage operations. That may or may not be fine to you, depending upon your view of the whole salvage thing, but you'll probably find that it gets kind of annoying and repetitive after a while. Much is made of the fact that Titanic-finder Robert Ballard initially supported some salvage operations (he is now opposed to them).
All of that aside, the rest of the book is nice to look at and worth reading. The text plays second-fiddle to the photographs, but that's fine for a book such as this.
I was a bit surprised at one error in the text- in describing Captain Smith's safety record, Wels notes that he was captain of the Germanic when it `capsized' in 1899. Well, the Germanic sank upright at its pier because of an ice storm; it was quickly re-floated and spent another 51 years in service; the captain and crew were found not at fault by White Star; and the captain at the time was Edward McKinstry, not Edward J. Smith.
The Titanic saga in one easy, illustrated lesson........2000-07-10
Accurate, up to date, treatment in one volume of what happened to the Titanic. Also with excellent coverage of the discovery of the remains seventy years later, with copious pictures and illustrations. Students needing a short one-volume outline of the tragedy will find it here. Sensitivity and intelligence characterise this fine volume.
Book Description
When Oxford archeologist Mensun Bound—dubbed the “Indiana Jones of the Deep” by the Discovery Channel—teamed up with a financier to salvage a sunken trove of fifteenth-century porcelain, it seemed a dream enterprise. The stakes were high: The Hoi An wreck lay hundreds of feet down in a typhoon-prone stretch of water off the coast of Vietnam known as the Dragon Sea. Raising its contents required saturation diving, a crew of 160, and a fleet of boats. The costs were unprecedented. But the potential rewards were equally high: Bound would revolutionize thinking about Vietnamese ceramics, and his partner would make a fortune auctioning off the pieces. Hired as the project’s manager, Frank Pope watched the tumultuous drama of the Hoi An unfold. In Dragon Sea he delivers an engrossing tale of danger, adventure, and ambition—a fascinating object lesson in what happens when scholarship and money join forces to recover lost treasure.
Customer Reviews:
Dragon Sea - a Riveting Read.......2007-08-17
I loved this book! Frank Pope opens a window to the complex aquatic battleground of treasure hunters and marine arachaeologist, where ambition, gold fever and extreme pressures test men to the limit - physically, mentally and ethically. An excellent true life adventure, bravely told.
Dragon Sea.......2007-07-24
It is a rare writer that can document without dryness, dramatize without histrionics. Frank Pope has managed to span the gap. Dragon Sea provides both an intellectual discussion of marine archeology and artifact without getting bogged down in academic quicksand. He also provides enough on-scene sweat and nerves to keep the reader wondering what's around the next corner from beginning to end. It is a thoroughly enjoyable book and a wealth of information for diving and archeological punters like myself. I had always wondered about the DB29 disaster. Mr. Pope opened a window on it for me without veering off topic.
A book like this should have been written earlier!.......2007-04-23
I thank Frank Pope for writing such a powerful book on the tragic fate of the Hoi An Hoard. Judging from the dearth of book on this important archaeological discovery and the fascinating aspects of Vietnamese ceramics, the book is indeed very timely and does some justice those treasures.
I picked up this book by accident and was riveted for the whole afternoon, until the very last sentence. Pope had a unique perspective on the whole project, and the book has a great balance between more action-based narrative and probing thoughts on the dilemma of money vs. knowledge, as the reader is drawn into the tumultuous months in the sea during the excavations.
I just hope that everyone reading this will appreciate such discovery, and also the importance of preserving the treasures of humankind varied past.
A top pick for a wide range of collections........2007-04-12
DRAGON SEA: A TRUE TALE OF TREASURE, ARCHAEOLOGY, AND GREED OFF THE COAST OF VIETNAM comes from an archaeologist dubbed the 'Indiana Jones of the Deep' by popular TV, who teamed up with a financier to salvage sunken treasure in Vietnam's Dragon Sea. No small venture, this required a fleet of ships and a crew of 160: their efforts would not only result in success but would change thinking about Vietnamese arts. Readers needn't be archaeology students to appreciate this: epic action and adventure reads with the drama of fiction but includes all facts - including insights on Vietnamese culture and arts - making it a top pick for a wide range of collections.
A Real Page Turner.......2007-03-09
Some years ago, I happened on several Ebay auctions of blue and white covered jars and bowls which were part of the Hoi An Hoard. The description said they were 500 years old and had been recovered from the bottom of the South China Sea. I did some quick Internet reading on the Hoi An Hoard and my interest was sparked. I bought several lots of the beautiful pottery which had rested on the sea floor since before Columbus came to the New World. (From reading Dragon Sea I now know that they are pieces of lesser interest and beauty!)
I recently read that a book had been written about the salvage operation. I quickly ordered Dragon Sea. I read it just as quickly. The story of the Hoi An Hoard is a well written, fascinating tale full of bad guys, good guys and really over worked guys. It is the tale of fortunes won and fortunes lost by gambling on the sea and its hidden treasures. Author Frank Pope, who was actually involved in the Hoi An operation, weaves a quick moving story with wonderful characters. The best part is that those characters are real people -- each with an agenda of his own. The book is filled with wonderful detail -- from the spraying of the beer girls to the skin conditions of the saturation divers who worked for more than a month at incredible depths. But Pope's very best descriptions are of being caught at sea when the Dragon Strikes and the crew and barge are caught in the teeth of a major typhoon. You feel as if you are really there -- and are glad you're not. Pope teaches about sunken treasure, saturation diving,archeology and the politics of academia with ease.
I no more than put the book down than my husband snatched it up. He read deep into last night and awoke this morning with his glasses still perched on the end of his nose. Two thumbs up from our household! P.S. I treasure my 500 year old jars from the bottom of the South China Sea even more now that I know the amazing story of suffering, intrigue and greed which brought them to me.
Amazon.com
The harrowing survival story of English explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton and the ill-fated Endurance has intrigued people since the 1914 expedition--spurring astounding books such as Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage and The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition. As Shackleton and 27 sailors attempted to cross the frozen Antarctic continent from one side to the other, they were trapped in an ice pack, lost their ship to the icy depths, survived an Antarctic winter, escaped attacks from sea lions, and traversed 600 treacherous miles to the uninhabited Elephant Island. Leaving 22 men behind, Shackleton and five others sailed 800 miles across the southern Atlantic Ocean in a 20-foot open boat to tiny South George Island, where they hiked across unmapped mountains to a whaling station. In 1916, 19 months after the Endurance became icebound, Shackleton led a rescue party back to retrieve his men. Remarkably, every crew member survived.
Jennifer Armstrong, the award-winning author of Black-Eyed Susan and The Dreams of Mairhe Mehan, brings the unbelievable journey to life with delicious details: how a handsome young stowaway was discovered too late to cast him off; how the ship itself would become frost-white, looking like "another species of sparkling white iceberg as it nosed its way through the pack;" and how the ice-pack-dwelling Emperor penguins seemed to enjoy the banjo music of crew member Leonard Hussey. The true-to-life story is as thrilling as they come, and Armstrong's lively, crystal-clear writing style is just as compelling. More than 40 photographs of the expedition populate this inspiring nonfiction adventure story that young readers will devour from cover to cover. (Ages 10 to 14) --Karin Snelson
Book Description
The harrowing story of the ill-fated Endurance, now in paperback.
In August 1914, Ernest Shackleton and 27 men sailed from England in an attempt to become the first team of explorers to cross Antarctica from one side to the other. Five months later and still 100 miles from land, their ship, Endurance, became trapped in ice. The expedition survived another five months camping on ice floes, followed by a perilous journey through stormy seas to remote and unvisited Elephant Island. In a dramatic climax to this amazing survival story, Shackleton and five others navigated 800 miles of treacherous open ocean in a 20-foot boat to fetch a rescue ship.
Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World vividly re-creates one of the most extraordinary adventure stories in history. Jennifer Armstrong narrates this unbelievable story with vigor, an eye for detail, and an appreciation of the marvelous leadership of Shackleton, who brought home every one of his men alive.
Customer Reviews:
A gripping tale.......2007-07-03
If you ever think your job is hard, or you feel like complaining about the traffic or the weather or that your Internet connection is slow, just stop. Stop and consider the ordeal and misery suffered by the 28 men on Ernest Shackleton's 1914-16 Antartic expedition.
Nothing will seem so bad then.
The Shackleton expedition is probably the greatest survival story ever. After their ship became trapped in ice, the men were forced to spend a winter aboard in the cold and darkness of Antarctic winter. Then their ship was crushed, and they were forced to drag their belongings across the ice by foot. Then things got bad.
They tried to pull their lifeboats across the ice to open water, but found it impossible. Food supplies dwindled and they survived by eating penguins and seals. The ice floes split beneath their feet. They were constantly cold and wet. Then things got worse.
They finally reached the ocean and survived a torcherous six-day ride across raging seas, with little sleep or drinking water, reaching a barren island with their throats parched with thirst. One man had frostbite on his toes. Then, six of them took an even more impossible voyage, a 16-day sail to reach help on South Georgia Island. But even when they got there, they weren't done -- they still had to climb a mountain range.
The Shackleton story has been told many times. This version, by Jennifer Armstrong, is aimed at youth readers, but anyone would enjoy it. The story here is enhanced by nice use of pictures. If you like this, you can move on to the longer, more detailed, books on the expedition.
Awesome, kid-friendly account of the Shackleton expedition........2007-01-10
This is the book that first got me interested in the misadventures of Shackleton and his crew. And I like to think this is what could get kids interested in a better-than-fiction adventure.
The events of the disaster are tackled in rather a heroic light, which should appeal to children. Besides, Shackleton and his men were certainly heroes. The book covers all the basics in an easy-but-remarkably-written expository text. Yet it reads almost like a story in parts, with lots of room for factoids, and that should attract both types of kids--those looking for a good story and those looking for facts. It's a great balance, and allows for a surprisingly emotional view of the situation.
The format is wonderful, too-- who doesn't like to look at pictures? It's almost remisiscent of a magazine, which adds to the appeal.
Great information, a great survival adventures, and perfectly packaged.
Wonderful, wonderful job.
years of disaster.......2006-12-01
The years of disaster
The book shipwreck at the bottom of the world was a very interesting book the book had a good sense of the true story. When the book started off it showed that there was stuff like that, that actually happened. This book was a if not the best book i have read.
The book was very good and I highly recommend it for good readers
When you read it, it seems like it is very hard to follow but it is not hard once it gets going.
Highly recommended!.......2006-07-10
This book exposes the hardships and courage needed to endure two years in the Antarctic with none of the technological advances that we have available to us now. The author does an excellent job of introducing us to the captain and some of the crew. She draws us into their world as their adventure slowly changed into a heroic tale of survival. I used it with sixth graders and found lots of material to tie it into the California Language Arts Standards. Great book for adults and middle and upper school students.
Pictures make this story come alive!.......2006-02-25
This amazing story was made all the better for me with the pictures that were included in the book. I read parts of this book to sixth graders, and they loved seeing the pictures as I read the text. The straight forward story was great to read too. I've read other accounts of this adventure and thoroughly enjoyed this one the most.
Book Description
The excruciating tale of the Ross Sea party, the other side of ShackletonÂ's Endurance expedition
In 1914, Sir Ernest Shackleton sailed south aboard the Endurance to make history by crossing the Antarctic continent. ShackletonÂ's story is legend, but few know the harrowing story of the Ross Sea party, ShackletonÂ's support group dispatched to the other side of the continent to build a lifeline of food and fuel depots to bear his crossing.
“I had not anticipated that the work would present any great difficulties,” Shackleton wrote. Yet everything went tragically wrong when the Ross Sea ship, the Aurora, tore free of her moorings and disappeared in a gale, leaving ten men marooned with only the clothes on their backs and few provisions. With little hope of rescue from a world embroiled in World War I, the men decided to accomplish their mission against all odds.
Long overshadowed by the mission these men bargained their lives to sustain, this heartrending story of survival against all odds now gets its due in this definitive, surprising account of the final journey of the heroic age of polar expedition.
Customer Reviews:
Inspiring tale of adventure and discovery.......2007-08-24
This book is quite a gripping story both in based in tragedy and triumph.
I saw the PBS special on the Shackleton Journey, but many times, like this, the book is much better.
The book was highly researched and vividly written describing the many astonishing moments of the expedition.
It was a ten-man journey the relies heavily on personal journals about some happy moments and some very terrible times. It goes into detail about the decreasing health of the journeymen and stuggles with scurvey, frostbite, snow blindness and the horrible mental and emotional anguish that many sucumb to on this dangerous 1330-mile mission to Antarctica.
Can You Be A Hero If Your Efforts Are Ultimately Pointless?.......2007-06-04
Both sucessful and failed feats of courage are lauded by literature. Many have heard (and read) of the failed expedition of Ernest Shackleton to cross Antarctica. Shackletom failed to even reach the continent, as his ship, the Endurance failed to reach land.
Less well known is the story of the Ross Sea Party -- the group charged with laying in supplies that Shackleton would need as he crossed the pole and returned northward. This book tells the saga of the poorly funded "other half" of the planned expedition.
Focusing more on the shore party, rather than on the shipboard party on the Aurora, the book details the mistakes that were made in the first summer attempt to stock the depots, where Macintosh drove the sled dogs to death and made very little progress, to the stranding of the shore party at the end of the first summer when they were not picked up by the ship.
Presuming the ship lost, and wondering if a rescue would even be attempted during WWI, the 10 men were determined to do the job they were sent to do and proceeded through all odds to strive to lay the depots that Shackleton would never need.
Kelly Tyler-Lewis examines the physical and mental struggles of the shore party including their deep divisions over leadership styles. Culled from the diaries of the expedition, she has weaved a gripping tale of man's struggle against incredible odds.
Thought-provoking chronicle of adventure and adversity.......2007-01-10
The attractive front-cover design is the first indication of the quality of this work, which is well researched and written and a thoroughly engrossing read. Highly recommended.
The Strong Men.......2007-01-09
I have read nearly every book in print dealing with the exploration and saga of Shackleton and his men. Kelly Tyler-Lewis' book The Lost Men rates as one of the best. The "harrowing story" of these hearty men stranded in the desolate Ross Sea is incredible, for lack of words.
Duty-bound, these men laid the stores for a transantarctic voyage that would never materialize. These were men who risked their own lives to ensure the safety of others whose whereabouts were unknown.
The Lost Men is an epic struggle of man versus the ravages of nature and reveals the triumphs and the tragedies involved. It is a book of determination, leadership and accountability.
Of special interest are the generous notes included dealing with such issues as diet (e.g., Their diet lacked nearly all essential vitamins necessary for such a feat), body temperature (e.g., One man recorded a body temperature of 94.2), and navigation of pack ice (e.g. in 2002 it took two Coast Guard ships over two weeks to break through ice roughly thirty miles to Hut point.)
The Lost Men is an exciting and riveting book. As a two-time traveler to McMurdo Sound, I highly recommend this work.
The Most Useless Journey in the World.......2006-08-26
"The Lost Men", by Kelly Tyler-Lewis is the sister book to the original saga of Sir Ernest Shcakelton's journey to Antarctica. The original called "The Worst Journey in the World" tells of Shackelton's failed expedition to cross Antarctica. His ship the Endurance was smashed by ice in the Weddell Sea and his men stranded until their eventual rescue by Shackelton himself after a harrowing journey in a 22 foot open boat across the southern ocean.
Shackelton's Ross Sea Party, the subject of "The Lost Men", is the other half of Shackelton's ill-fated expedition. The Ross Sea party was charged with sailing to the opposite side of Antarctica from the Wedell Sea and laying storage depots of food and supplies along Shackelton's route. The harrowing saga of these men to lay these depots is brilliantly described by historian Tyler-Lewis. Despite extreme conditions, shortages of supplies, faulty leadership and blizzard after blizzard, the Ross Sea party managed to lay supply depots along Shackelton's route and waited for him in vain. The whole expedition proved to be all for naught as Shackelton's plans went awry. Two of the men from the Ross Sea party succumbed to the conditions having been weakened by the vitamin-C deficiency disease scurvy.
If you like adventure novels this one is for you. If you have read "The Worst Journey in the World" this book will complete the saga.
The writing is crisp and well done. Tyler-Lewis has done a fantastic job to bring history to life. You can feel the pain and suffering of the men in her words. Bravo!
Book Description
The first comprehensive illustrated guide to ships lost at sea and the treasures they have yielded, capturing the romance and the risks of treasure hunting. From Roman ships laden with bronze statues to the gold--carrying blockade runners of World War II, this highly illustrated historical atlas is the first comprehensive guide to ships lost at sea and the treasures that have yielded. Tales of shipwrecks. The Atlas features spellbinding accounts of 40 of the most significant shipwrecks of all time. These accounts reveal how and why the ships sank and describe the often extraordinary feats of salvage accomplished through the centuries. There are tales of Chinese junks lost in the shark--infested waters of the South China Sea; of Spanish galleons laden with jewels; of prospectors in pursuit of gold around the world. Salvaged treasure. The Atlas is sumptuously illustrated with photographs of treasure salvaged from the wrecks, including rare coins, precious porcelain, finely crafted jewelry, and even mercury. Illustrations of diving equipment through the ages explain the development of salvage and underwater archaeology. Exquisite thematic maps. Beautiful hand--drawn maps illustrate the seas and oceans of the world during the different historical periods. They highlight the trade routes and ports of an era, detail the cargoes carried, show the notorious black holes that have bedeviled shipping, and plot the positions of some of the most remarkable shipwrecks. Comprehensive gazetteer. Twenty full--color maps plot the sites of over 1,400 wrecks around the world, showing the depths at which they lie. Accompanying profiles give details of the date on which each ship went down, its cargo, and any salvage attempts so far. Many of the wrecks still lie there on the ocean bed, their treasure awaiting recovery. Expertly researched and lavishly illustrated, this outstanding world history of shipwrecks will fire the imagination of everyone who is drawn to the risks and romance of treasure hunting.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Book!.......2007-01-28
One of the best I've seen, and I've seen many over the years.
Treasure book.......2007-01-10
Very nice book. Gave it to my sailing husband. He has read it over and over.
Well researched and well presented........2004-10-05
Shortly after this book was first published, I attended the London Dive Show and I recall how I had to convince the lady selling this particular book to let me purchase her last "counter" copy because she had sold out within a couple of hours of opening on that first day.
This book is a collection of shipwreck and treasure stories from ancient and modern times shown in the context of where they are in the world. Measuring 12½ in x 10¼ in (315mm x 260mm), it is packed with almost 200 pages of exactly the sort of information every diver wants to read. In short, this hardback book is a steal at £20.
A quick glance at the contents page reveals how the author uses the word world-wide theme of the book to good effect with chapters on; Bronze Age to Byzantium, Vikings, Chinese Junks, Levantine Trade, Portuguese Carracks, Armada, Spanish Plate Fleets, Pirates and Privateers, East Indiamen, Revolution, Great Collectors, Gold Rush, Mail Ships and Liners and ships from WW2. These are followed by carefully detailed Annexes which show; The relevant maps, shipwreck listings, glossary, bibliography, index and acknowledgements.
The treasures are enough to make any mouth water - and they are not yet all found. Altogether I consider this to be a scholarly piece of work - and no Divers bookshelf can be considered complete without a copy.
NM
A fun book to breeze through........1998-07-10
A great coffee table book I've owned for a few years, this book is full of interesting facts that are put together in an interesting way. Not a hard-core history book by any means. Not really in-depth, either. Pretty pictures make it good for all ages of reading.
Book Description
Featuring the breathtaking images of award-winning photographer Russell Kaye, An Illustrated Viking Voyage tells the tale of an awe-inspiring modern expedition.
In 1997, journalist and history buff W. Hodding Carter, along with a ragtag band of amateur sailors, set out to retrace Leif Eriksson's journey to North America. They sailed a handmade ship modeled after a traditional Viking "knarr." It was the first voyage by Westerners to precisely follow the Vikings' route in nearly a thousand years.
Beginning in a small boathouse in Maine, Carter's fifty-four-foot open-decked Viking boat, the Snorri, took shape from wooden planks and individually pounded iron rivets. Over the next year, the Snorri sailed from the ports and fjords of Greenland through the Arctic circle to a victorious landing at l'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland.
Through the extraordinary images of photographer Russell Kaye, and a colorful running text from Carter, the chronicle of this remarkable voyage is captured in rich detail. Experience the feat of building an authentic Viking vessel; the power of sublime Arctic landscapes; the beauty and treachery of icebergs; and the fishermen of local villages who offered advice and companionship despite language barriers.
An unforgettable adventure as seen through a celebrated photographer's lens, An Illustrated Viking Voyage chronicles a once-in-a-millennium occurrence, one which fans of Viking lore and seafaring journeys will come back to time and again.
Customer Reviews:
Coffee table book with great pictures but nothing else.......2004-01-10
This book gathers some magnificent pictures of the trip and its preparation. In particular, there are multiple images of bergs and growlers that are breathtaking.
However, those of us interested in the story of the trip, its preparation, the re-creation of the ship, the research of the itinerary and, in general, in knowledge about either vikings' shipbuilding technology or seafaring will be greatly disappointed. The text provided in the book amounts to a few lines per page in very large font, and does not attempt to describe any of the research associated with this trip, or even any of the details of the trip itself. There is so little text across the whole book that it can be read in 10 to 15 minutes...
If you intend to buy this book, be aware that this is a coffee table book: pictures only. I was interested in knowledge rather than photography - for me it was a total letdown.
Retracing an historic odyssey.......2001-07-06
Leif Eriksson was a great explorer, traveling from Greenland to North America long before the time of Christopher Columbus. Eriksson and his Viking crew were the first known Europeans to set foot upon the North American Continent. More than a thousand years after Eriksson's time, a group of sailors and friends from Maine had the dream of recreating his voyage. "Viking Voyage" tells the story of that dreams realization. Using designs from Denmark and Greenland, an authentic Viking boat was built. The sailors from Maine were joined in their quest by crew members from Greenland and Denmark. The new Vikings set off on two voyages in 1997 and 1998, following the path of Eriksson from so long ago. They had to overcome many difficulties, and at one point faced the prospect of their boat beginning to fall apart in mid ocean. They journeyed through the often treacherous Artic waters between Greenland and Canada. They faced the same cold and misery that the Vikings of old had known. The crew also had moments of great exhilaration, and they began to think and feel in much the same way as the Vikings. Their voyage became not only a recreation of Eriksson's expedition, but an odyssey through time itself. "Viking Voyage" is richly illustrated with beautiful photographs, and it helps us to understand the Viking way of life. There is a special magic within this book: a magic of seeking and reaching for dreams.
Books:
- Sledgehammers: Strengths and Flaws of Tiger Tank Battalions in World War II
- Son of the Morning Star
- Spirit Song: The Introduction of No-Eyes
- Suite Française
- Temple and Cosmos: Beyond This Ignorant Present (The Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol 12 : Ancient History)
- The Anime Encyclopedia: A Guide to Japanese Animation Since 1917, Revised and Expanded Edition
- The Black Rifle: M16 Retrospective (Modern US Military Small Arms Series- Volume Three)
- The Book of Irish Families, Great & Small (Third Edition, Expanded)
- The Cambridge Companion to Medieval Women's Writing (Cambridge Companions to Literature)
- The Communist Manifesto (Penguin Classics)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- History: Fiction or Science
- Why We Want You to be Rich: Two Men - One Message
- Modern Architecture Since 1900
- Structure as Architecture: A Source Book for Architects and Structural Engineers
- Show Me a Hero: A Tale of Murder, Suicide, Race, and Redemption
- Winter of the Ice Wizard
- The Wig My Father Wore
- Priceless: On Knowing the Price of Everything and the Value of Nothing
- The Architect's Handbook of Professional Practice, Student Edition
- Biology of Bacilli: Applications to Industry
General
| 19th Century
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Over the Edge of the World: Magellan's Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe (P.S.)
As Far as My Feet Will Carry Me
We Die Alone: A WWII Epic of Escape and Endurance
Caliban's Shore: The Wreck of the Grosvenor and the Strange Fate of Her Survivors
The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom
