3 comments about John Fante: A Literary Portrait (Essay Series 39) (Essay Series 39).

1. This book provides an excellent account of the California screenwriter and novelist's life, and an eminently readable interpretation of his works in terms of his life as an Italian-American author. This is essential reading for anyone interested in Fante and in the Italian-American experience.



2. I knew John Fante. We worked together at screenwriting in Los Angeles. While I started out wanting to applaud Mr. Collins' efforts at capturing his subject, again and again in reading this book I came upon unsubstantiated assumptions that I know to be in part or wholly inaccurate. Collins is a decent enough writer but here he takes on alchemy and produces too much hot air. Comparatively, Steven Coopers biography of Fante was at least workmanlike and based on interviews with Fante's widow, Joyce, and Fante's family. Conversely, Mr. Collins' effort appears to be fundamentally realized by intellectual assertion and personal specualtion. Having know Fante I cannot recommend this work. At best too much of it is guesswork and at worst it is insulting to its subject. I have no wish to be unkind to Mr. Collins but I do recommend that he stick to writing about what he actually knows.



3. This is a brilliant portrait of a misunderstood and underestimated author. I recommend it to any student of California literature.

1 comments about The Great Chief Justice: John Marshall and the Rule of Law (Modern War Studies).

1. John Marshall [1755-1835] was Chief Justice of the United States for the last 34 years of his life. During his long tenure, he turned the Supreme Court from an afterthought into a primary tool for the centralization of federal power; he defined America, though we can still debate whether he got the definition right. This book details how Marshall went about his task.....
   
   This is NOT a biography of John Marshall [see my other reviews]; it is a series of case studies which trace the expanding power of the Federal Judiciary...Marbury v. Madison established the principle of Judicial review of legislative decisions...Virginia v. Cohens asserted federal authority in state affairs...the National Bank...land titles...Indian treaties......there is still disagreement over some of Marshall's decisions, and there was hell to pay over some of them at the time. "John Marshall has made his decision; now let's see him enforce it"...the various ramifications of that statement {which Andrew Jackson MAY not have ever made} are mind boggling....
   
   Charles Hobson is editor of The John Marshall Papers, one of the 2 or 3 greatest living Marshall scholars, and a nice guy [as was Marshall]; he has written a five star book. Do I actually recommend it? Maybe. If you are an attorney or historian with an interest in the topic, it is an absolutely essential volume. Well written, well organized; for me, it was a page turner. For the casual reader, don't waste your money, or insult Mr. Hobson. You will need a good background in either Law [not me], or history [me] to understand it.

5 comments about Photographer of the Early West: The Story of Arundel Hull.

1. Reviewed by Kim Peterson for Reader Views (2/06)
   
   Young Arundel Hull captured history when he shot photos of everyday life during America's westward expansion. Born in 1846, the Indiana native apprenticed at a photography studio in St. Paul, Minnesota, at 16. By age 17, he had opened his own business, perfecting his photographic skills. In 1866, three years later, he sold almost everything and succumbed to the siren call of the West.
   
   Hull arrived in Omaha, Nebraska, that summer and soon captured the bustling town in pictures. He made many prints of businesses and streets and sold them. He also joined E.L. Eaton working at Omaha's first portrait studio. Hull waited until the following spring of 1867, restocked his photographic supplies then headed further west boarding a train on the newly-established railroad. The young man stopped at each station. Often he was the first photographer to document the emerging towns. He traveled as far as Green River, Wyoming, before heading back across the mountains and plains to Omaha.
   
   During 1869, he was back at Omaha's photography studio now owned by the Jackson brothers. When the Union Pacific Railroad requested photographs of the railroad, Hull and William H. Jackson took on the task. The author makes a good case that some of the historic work long attributed to Jackson was actually shot by Hull. Certainly, Hull's work establishes him as a noteworthy early photographer who deserves credit for his role in recording history. Hull had maintained his glass plates and prints for many years including shots of prominent early settlers and Indian chiefs including Chief Sitting Bull's first photo. Unfortunately, a tenant of Hull's gallery pitched the collection wiping out much of Hull's 1867 and 1868 work of note.
   
   The rest of the biography covers Hull's years in Fremont, Nebraska, including the opening of his next photographic studio in 1870, his marriage and growing family, and his civic involvements. Like many early businessmen he contributed generously toward the town's development assisting in the construction of a large creamery, a school, a telephone system and more. In addition to some shots from his early journeys, the book features a number of portraits and photographs from those Fremont years.
   
   The book's photography is striking. Many of the shots are remarkably clear, an amazing feat for the complicated process completed in a rough-hewn era using a portable darkroom. Hull had an eye for beautiful composition. The book would have benefited from printing a number of the subjects as full-page photographs. Readers interested in the old West or in photography will find Miller's book interesting and a sound addition to their understanding of the late 1800s.



2. Eugene Miller has produced a fascinating family history in this biography of Arundel Hull. Three themes are woven into the story: The history of photography, the history of railroads, and a glimpse into the history of the early west.
   
   Personal family details gleaned from journal entries, diaries, letters, newspaper clippings, and photographs provide insights to daily life in late 1800s.
   
   This collection of Hull's photos detail a life of adventure, during a time of railroad development, Indian uprisings and a settling of the west. Miller has done a masterful work in this short biography. The pictures and text give the reader a feeling of experiencing the breathtaking views from a railroad trestle, or the screech of the train on the iron rails.
   
   Miller's unique approach in writing this story of his grandfather has motivated me to return to my own overstuffed files of personal family stories, to boxes of memorabilia, and dusty photo albums. I hope to get new insights into my family history.
   
   I recommend this book for photography club members, railroad memorabilia collectors, model railroaders, and anyone who enjoys the history of the early west. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.



3. What a marvelous find! This memorable book will be particularly useful to those interested in western US and photography history. However, it's also a poignant story of a man - and family - whose lives included successes, failures, tragedies, and triumphs.
   
   I was impressed with the reproductions of the photographs. Those alone are worth the price of the book. In addition, diary entries and meticulous historical research provide a view of Americana that isn't often included in history books.
   
   Mr. Miller's writing is crisp and clear. For those planning on writing a family history, read this book as a guide on how to do it right.



4. Eugene Miller has presented the story of his grandfather's travels and life in the American west of the mid to late 1800's.
   The essence of Arundel Hull is captured as the story unfolds tracing his life from a young man to elder statesman. The author aptly shows Mr. Hull rushing to meet his destiny as he embarks on his career at the young age of 16. He is on his way to becoming one of America's earliest, prominent photographers.
   The reader follows Mr. Hull as he works with the development of photography from the daguerreotype to the early collodian process called ambrotype. In 1860, further improvements to this process came about that allowed photographer's to take their camera and darkroom to the field.
   Mr. Hull did just that as he took to the road traveling from Nebraska to Wyomming, Utah, Colorado and back taking pictures to help pay his way as he gained experience. The author states, "Arundel Hull's early work caught the country's excitement in the frontier west during the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad." Among the photographs Mr. Hull is credited with are some of the earliest known of the different cities main streets and buildings that show the architecture of the times. "Many of his early photographs were the 'first ever' of the towns that were boom during those years." It is also a time capsule of what businesses were in the towns during his travels. Mr. Miller sprinkles the book with pictures taken by his grandfather.
   The author also touches upon the personal life of his grandparent's courtship, marriage, and family. He shows the life of this great man from young entrepreneur interested in photography, to his interest in the volunteer fire services, and finally to elder statesman who had strong influence in the railroads progress west.
   This is a loving tribute from a grandson to his grandfather. Mr. Miller has graciously shared with us the story of the man who devoted his life to photographing the West, giving a pictorial glimpse into America at that time.
   This is a well-written, informative book that intrigues you and leaves you wanting to know more about this great American family.



5. Early photographs have always intrigued me. Who were the people staring with solemn face into the camera and who was the person under the black cloth working so diligently to preserve history? One of America's earliest photographers was Arundel Hull. He captured images of the western frontier in the late 1800's, following the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad through Nebraska, Wyoming and Utah.
   
   Hull was an adventurous fellow, an industrious man who set out into the brand new territories and made a buck doing it. He worked with William H. Jackson for a time and while Jackson ultimately gained more fame in the art world it is thought that Hull actually took many of the Pacific Railroad Photos that are attributed to Jackson. However, saving the images of everyday people became a career that Hull embraced amongst his various community involvements in Fremont, Nebraska where he married, put down roots and raised a fine family.
   
   The book is biographical and most interesting. Using the diary entries of Hull's wife Florence, newspaper articles and more than seventy historic photographs, the author truly transports the reader back in time to witness the exciting times of early American growth. Eugene Miller happens to be the youngest grandson of Arundel Hull; he is the son of Arundel's youngest daughter, Nina. I am quite sure that Mr. Miller has done justice and paid tribute to his family, but also he has done great service to America by reminding us of those individuals who made our country what it is today.

2 comments about Down the Hill: A True Story of Early Logging in the Pacific Northwest.

1. Here's an excellent book about logging and lumbering in the greater Tacoma, WA area. It traces the arrival of those hardy men and women that carved a living out of this wild and untamed area. The author was personally involved as a child and spent a number of his early years in a variety of jobs from the ground up. It is also an excellent testament to the vision of some of those early lumbering businesses that started tree farms and re-forested large tracks of land long before it was a government requirement. If you're interested in the techniques of logging with the various apparatus or riggings and what each is called in the woods, this is the books for you. One thing you'll learn for sure is that no self-respecting logger would ever call himself a "lumberjack" and the only place you'd hear someone call "timber" as a tree falls is in the movies.



2. I have read this book before and wanted a copy to keep in the family archives. Roy Stier is my second cousin and this is a true history of his branch of our family.

2 comments about The Lincoln Nobody Knows (American Century).

1. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in studying Lincoln or the Civil War. The author does an excellent job in presenting a mostly unbiased opinion. By stating in the introduction that he allows room for error in his opinions, he sets himself aside from the fanatics and characterizes himself more as a historian in search of the truth than as a man trying to paint Lincoln as he thinks he should be viewed. Moreover, the breath, not sacrificing the depth, of this book is incredible. It covers Lincoln's family and personal life and carries the reader all the way through his assassination. The Lincoln Nobody Knows presents Lincoln as both a down to earth man and as a complex, indispensable historical figure. It causes one to revaluate what he previously held to be fact about Lincoln and it allows room for interpretation-the author doesn't always give an opinion for the reader. Most are "inclined, quite naturally, to discover in Lincoln the beliefs that they themselves espouse," (57). This remains feasible since Lincoln will always be an enigma, but to his credit Current presents sound facts for his arguments and presents both sides, drawing upon many respectable sources. He begins by describing Lincoln's personal and family life-his mother's possible illegitimate birth all the way to Lincoln's relationships with women and Ann Rutledge specifically. It then goes into his involvement in the beginnings of the civil war, his policies and their changes, and the way he conducted the war. That being done, the author finishes by discussing his larger role as a politician, an emancipator, a commander in chief, a martyr and a myth. All of this does well in presenting the multidimensionality of Abraham Lincoln, and it makes one realize that there are not easy answers to questions about good old Abe. It is important to note that much of this text is controversial and a portion of it has implications beyond his contributions to American history-it attempts to define who Lincoln was as a man, not as an idol.



2. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in studying Lincoln or the Civil War. The author does an excellent job in presenting a mostly unbiased opinion. By stating in the introduction that he allows room for error in his opinions, he sets himself aside from the fanatics and characterizes himself more as a historian in search of the truth than as a man trying to paint Lincoln as he thinks he should be viewed. Moreover, the breath, not sacrificing the depth, of this book is incredible. It covers Lincoln's family and personal life and carries the reader all the way through his assassination. The Lincoln Nobody Knows presents Lincoln as both a down to earth man and as a complex, indispensable historical figure. It causes one to revaluate what he previously held to be fact about Lincoln and it allows room for interpretation-the author doesn't always give an opinion for the reader. Most are "inclined, quite naturally, to discover in Lincoln the beliefs that they themselves espouse," (57). This remains feasible since Lincoln will always be an enigma, but to his credit Current presents sound facts for his arguments and presents both sides, drawing upon many respectable sources. He begins by describing Lincoln's personal and family life-his mother's possible illegitimate birth all the way to Lincoln's relationships with women and Ann Rutledge specifically. It then goes into his involvement in the beginnings of the civil war, his policies and their changes, and the way he conducted the war. That being done, the author finishes by discussing his larger role as a politician, an emancipator, a commander in chief, a martyr and a myth. All of this does well in presenting the multidimensionality of Abraham Lincoln, and it makes one realize that there are not easy answers to questions about good old Abe. It is important to note that much of this text is controversial and a portion of it has implications beyond his contributions to American history-it attempts to define who Lincoln was as a man, not as an idol.

5 comments about Bloody Roads South: The Wilderness to Cold Harbor, May-June 1864 (Bloody Roads South).

1. This first book of Noah Andre Trudeau's trilogy covering the final stages of the Civil War offers an excellent account of the fighting in the Wilderness and at Cold Harbor between May - June 1864. The personal accounts of the soldiers experiences during the fighting are well presented. The action scenes are well written and the book flows along quite well. An enjoyable book to read for anyone interested in this period of time.



2. An entertaining read to be sure, but also a cut-and-paste account that offers no real analysis and relies too much on post-war sources.



3. This is a 330 page account of the entire Overland campaign that reads much like a diary from April to mid June as the Army of the Potomoc goes from north of the Rapidan to Petersburg. The account shifts back and forth from the workings of the two armies to Richmond/Washington and elsewhere.

   Most of the book focuses on primary sources to tell the story, with nice anecdotes on just about every page. However, without the use of footnotes and with only 4 maps total (which are incredibly hard to comprehend), the flow of battle is exceedingly hard to follow.

   This book certainly doesn't compare to the Rhea trilogy that covers the same campaign in any way whatsoever. This is more of a primer for the beginner before reading Rhea's books.




4. One of the biggest difficulties authors of war-history are confronted with is keeping the imparitality. Even if you read books about the Roman wars you can read between the lines the admiration for the technical perfection of the invaders or the sympathy for the brave Gauls fighting against all odds. As a rule Civil War historians succumb to the same problem.
   This book is a wonderful exception. That may be because of the structure of the presentation: It is a day-by-day-account, the standpoint, the decisions and the events of either side separated in own phrases. If you are interrested only in the Confederate point of view, you can read the respective phrases and then you only know, what they saw, thought and did. Even between the lines there are no polemics. And the told stories are not only the generals' view but also testimonies of officers, non-commissioned officers and common soldiers.
   The only thing I missed badly were appropriate maps. With the included ones you will get a rough overview, but a lot of the mentioned places you won't find in that book. That's a pity, because otherwise it would have been a perfect one.



5. Good, concise overview of the very bloody (84,000 casualties in approximately 40 days of continuous battle)Virginia Overland Campaign between Robert E. Lee and U. S. Grant in May and June of 1864. Actual battle narrative is relatively brief and to the point. The strength of Mr Trudeau's book comes through his excellent use of personal anecdotes and observations. To hear the actual participants describe the scenes, smells, sounds, and pathos of the battles gives one a better understanding of the horrors of those grisly conflicts. The time of chivalry was over; TOTAL WAR was afoot. As Mr. Trudeau points out, Grant knew how to win, but could his men withstand the gruesome sacrifice during almost 40 days of constant battle? Lee also knew that this was the ultimate crucible and he must use every trick he could to defeat this foe. But, in the end after Cold Harbor and a combined 84,000 casualties, of which only 30,000 were Confederate, who was the victor? Lee knew that he could never replace his valiant fighters, but, Grant knew that he had an almost inexhaustible supply of soldiers and with each battle they were getting better and better. So in the end Grant, "The Butcher" as he was called behind his back, literally ground Lee and his army to dust.
   One inexcusable flaw in this otherwise good Civil War history was the lack of battle maps. To discuss a battle without a good map makes if very difficult to follow the action even for a good civil war buff. I have no clue as to why Mr. Trudeau did not include any good maps in his book. Therefore, I highly recommend that you get several good maps to follow along with his otherwise excellent description of the battles.

5 comments about General George Washington: A Military Life.

1. This book didn't capture and articulate the struggle of the Continentals in the manner in which "1776" by David McCullough did. It merely laid out facts in a straightforward manner which wasn't that inspiring and quite aseptic. I usually judge the greatness of a book by how often I highlight passages by the author. The cap stayed on my highlighter for most of the book. For students of the era it's a book worth reading, I simply wouldn't put it at the top of my must-read list.



2. Bravo Dr. Edward Lenge! This book is a fascinating account of the military career of the Father of our Country! George Washington (1732-1799) was the first US President; a planter at
   Mt. Vernon and is solidly planted as the indispensable man during the American Revolution. Without Washington's grit and
   daring, perseverance and leadership there is a real possibility that the American experiment would have died an early death.
   Washington with a band of rag-tag, often hungry and ill-trained troops defeated the greatest military machine in the eighteeth century in the shape of the British regulars led by General
   William Howe.
   1776 saw Washington victorious in Boston recapturing the city for the patriot cause. 1777 was a bitter year which began brightly with victories at Trenton and Princeton only to founder in the defeats suffered at Brandywine Creek and Germantown.
   The harsh winter of Valley Forge in late 1777-1778 led to a reformulation of the army which pressed ahead to victory over
   Cornwallis at Yorktown in 1781.
   All of the major battles led by Washington are chronicled in
   depth from Boston to Monmouth to final victory. Washington had
   great flaws as a military man; he was sometimes indecisive; overly bold; poor in topographical placing of troops and could
   be harsh. Nevertheless, it was because of his inimitable courage
   and grit which led the army to victory over loyalists, a hard to
   work with Congress and the mighty British army .
   The American Revolution was hardfought, bloody and our freedom was bathed in the blood of brave men and women. This story needs to be told.
   Lengel's book begins with Washington's career in the French and Indian War which culminated in Braddock's defeat; covers the years from 1759-1776 when his acquisition of land, slaves and
   the formation of the Virginia Regiment won him colonial fame to
   the culminating crown of his career; victory in the War of Independence. Washington was a great man who accomplished much with what he had to work with in men, materials and his strong
   willpower never allowing him to quit in tough situations.
   Lengel's book is well illustrated with helpful maps and an impressive bibliography of first person accounts and letters and correspondence from Washington's fertile pen. This is one of the
   best books I have ever read on Washington's military career.
   Well done!



3. Well written and researched, the writing style a little difficult at times. I felt the author was over critical of Washington, especially since he spends 99% of the narrative criticizing him and, in the last chapter, alots only a few pages to defending him. Overall a good read, but I would pickup His Excellency by J. Ellis, 1776 by Mccollough, or Washington's Crossing by Fischer first.



4. General George Washington: A Military Life by Edward G. Lengel. 2005. 450 pages.
   
   This book covers the military career of George Washington from his days as a youth watching the adventures of his brother through the Seven Years War/French and Indian War, the Revolution, The whisky Rebellion and ends with the former President of the United States (POTUS) Washington still on duty at the end of his life.
   
   This book is primarily concerned with Washington the military man. It provides a good history of his military career and some historical evaluation. The author is not a military man or military scholar; rather he is involved with the George Washington Papers Project. The author's lack of military experience however does not impact his selection of material or his evaluation of Washington the soldier.
   
   While Washington's exploits during the Seven Years War and the Revolution are fairly well known some of the details and the scope of these exploits are often not understood. This lack of understanding is partly the result of our distance from the way things were in the 18th century and partly because Washington was a unique and extraordinary leader and man. In many ways he was much more akin to our modern sensibilities than he was to those of the military establishments of his time. Though he himself operated firmly in an 18th century frame of reference.
   
   Washington was a one man staff system who directed his logistics both on the practical side and on the political side, always wary to avoid burdening the populace and maintaining civilian control and a sense of proper order in the army. Washington was heavily involved in conducting his own intelligence and agitory propaganda work to a degree which modern commanders do not do because much of these functions are delegated to dedicated and specially trained staff.
   
   Peeling back the aspects of Washington's organization and activities which today are handled by a staff we come to the issue of Washington in the traditional sense of a military man as we commonly think of them. Washington was by all accounts of friend and foe a very physically brave man on par even with Hernando Cortez. Washington's ability to lead men was remarkable for a man with little education. He was, compared to his 18th century peers, a very modern leader reinforcing the positive and challenging his men to meet his expectation rather then the blunt bully who used the vine stave.
   
   At a tactical level Washington's forces failed more often than they succeeded. Too often the failure was a result of an overly complicated plan. Though Washington was seemingly always itching for a fight he tended towards plans of such intricate timing and advance that they were often doomed. On the operational and strategic level Washington's talents were much more evident. Though he maintained a fixed obsession with New York City he quickly understood the tie between the revolution and its promise to the country and world and the need to keep his army in the field defying the British.
   
   The notion that Washington was a Fabian in his tactics does not strictly hold water. Washington though recognizing the need to maintain the army as a whole in the field in order to preserve the revolution routinely risked the entire main army in battle. The campaigns in New York City, Brandywine, Germantown, even Monmouth showed a desire for that one decisive action which would decide the issue. The author does understand this.
   
   Washington is so far the only sitting POTUS to, as Commander in Chief, command troops in the field, in uniform as President. This occurred during the Whiskey Rebellion though the mere presence of Washington contributed to the end of the rebellion with out a full scale national conflagration. Washington, in a little known tidbit, also returned to military service after his final term as POTUS. He, at the behest of POTUS John Adams, accepted a commission to ready the American military for potential conflict with France. When Washington died he did so under commission and therefore still technically as a serving military officer in the armed forces of the United States.
   
   This book reads quickly, the prose not being a millstone to the material, and does a fine job of presenting this aspect of Washington to the reader.



5. I thought this was a well written and informative book. Sometimes we try to portray Washington as a God, but not in this book. Edward G. Lengel gives an unbiased fair view of Washington's military life. Sometimes I believe he was overly critical, but then, I am not a military historian. I would recommend this to anyone interested in the American Revolution.

No comments about Hard Travelin': The Life and Legacy of Woody Guthrie (American Music Masters).

5 comments about Raising the Hunley: The Remarkable History and Recovery of the Lost Confederate Submarine.

1. To a Civil War buff, the story of the Hunley is irresistable. The book begins with the conception and execution of the "fish boat" in Mobile and continues with its introduction into service in Charleston. The book then interweaves the distant past with the very recent past, telling the tale of the boat's crews (3 crews, none who answered to 'Lucky') and the tale of the multiple personalities involved in raising her some 135 years later. The writing is only adequate; the story of the boat and her design is more interesting reading than that of her crew and her salvagers. Nonetheless, this is an enjoyable book that can easily be read in one (pleasant) day.



2. I first ran across the story of the Hunley in a popular journal on archaeology and was fascinated by the tale of courage, desperation, and originality. Subsequently I saw parts of a film on the subject, and I was hooked. I found the book by Brian Hicks, Schuyler Kropf in Amazon.com's menu and decided to pursue more information on the subject.

   The authors are journalists rather than professional historians or archaeologists, but they do have a talent for writing and a sense of the character of the South and Civil War history that gives the book a more readable quality. They also seem to have researched their topic well. The final pages of the book recount their efforts to follow the "fish boat's" story from first inception to final successful strike against the USS Housatonic, a Union ship participating in the blockade of the Charleston harbor. Considering that the Hunley was a secret weapon and a stealth weapon at that, its paper trail would be expected to be a difficult one to follow. The authors made a remarkable success of it, giving life to their subject.

   Interesting too was the narrative of the Hunley's resurrection and restoration. The serendipitous survival of the boat in a nearly intact condition is itself an amazing story. The great care with which it was removed from the water and painstakingly preserved is a credit to underwater archaeology. Certainly it could easily have been a disaster. What the preserved remains had to say about the vessel itself: its construction, its advanced styling, the likelihood of it's having continued to be water free for long enough to allow small stalactites to form, etc. made it an even more entertaining study. It's definitely on par with the Titanic for human interest.




3. If your interests run to one of the most ingenious achievements in naval history, the gritty determination of desperate men, or simply a good, old-fashioned mystery, this book should captivate you as much as it did me. The authors have sifted through rarified documents and firsthand accounts to present a very intriguing story as only investigative writers in Charleston might. The real merit of this book is its careful, reader friendly presentation of what could otherwise have been an abstruse topic. Here are basic charts, drawings, photos, expert insights, interviews, and personal backgrounds all introduced in historical context. Throughout the book appropriate facts are cleverly recalled and embroidered in the story of the evolving discoveries. When you finally put this book down, you will wish it could have been twice as long and had provided answers to the Hunley's remaining mysteries.



4. An absolutely fascinating book. In depth and accurate historical research
   gives this book its feeling that the authors where there as it happened. A
   work of non-fiction that can be as exciting as a work of fiction, but it is all true !!



5. What an exciting and informative book! Part history, part research, part archealogy, but all joined and very readable. The incredible dedication and bravery of the crews who parished aboard the "fish-boat" deserve the highest honor. These men of the past never gave up, just as the modern day team who had to move natural and govermental mountains to raise her from her watery grave. Since the research is on going and the mysteries haven't been all solved this book does not have the definative answers, I try to log unto the hunley.org site periodically to check for new developments. It's well worth reading by anyone interested in Civil War history, early submarine warfare or archealogy.

No comments about Paradoxes of Fame: The Francis Scott Key Story.