Synopses & Reviews
The 1854 collision at sea between the American ship andlt;Iandgt;Arcticandlt;/Iandgt; and the andlt;Iandgt;Vesta,andlt;/Iandgt; a much smaller French steamship, set in motion one of the most harrowing events in maritime history. David W. Shaw has based this fascinating account on the firsthand testimony of the few who survived the wreck, including the andlt;Iandgt;Arctic'sandlt;/Iandgt; heroic captain, James C. Luce, who was forced to fight his mutinous crew as they took the lifeboats and left hundreds of passengers to suffer a cruel and painful death. Not only did 400 people -- including Luce's own frail son -- die by daybreak, but the wreck also ended the domination of the seas by the American maritime fleet for the rest of the nineteenth century. andlt;BRandgt; Utterly compelling, andlt;Iandgt;The Sea Shall Embrace Themandlt;/Iandgt; is a stirring slice of heretofore little-known American history. Beautifully written, it puts the reader on deck as a ship full of men, women, and children do battle both with a mighty ocean and with their own baser instincts.
Review
Duncan C. Spencer andlt;Iandgt;The Washington Postandlt;/Iandgt; A straightforward cautionary tale, clearly told....There is restraint and judgment here in the telling.
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Charles Pellegrino Coauthor with James Cameron of andlt;Iandgt;Ghosts of the Titanicandlt;/Iandgt; A stunning account, based on logical conclusions and meticulous research.
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Duncan C. Spencer
The Washington Post
A straightforward cautionary tale, clearly told....There is restraint and judgment here in the telling.
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andlt;Iandgt;People Magazineandlt;/Iandgt; Gripping....Shaw's true achievement is bringing to life the long-lost people aboard the Arctic.
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Publishers Weekly Spellbinding, visceral, and thoroughly investigated.
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Walter Lord Author of andlt;Iandgt;A Night to Rememberandlt;/Iandgt; A riveting story told by a superb writer.
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andlt;Iandgt;Publishers Weeklyandlt;/Iandgt; Spellbinding, visceral, and thoroughly investigated.
Synopsis
The 1854 collision at sea between the American ship
Arctic and the
Vesta, a much smaller French steamship, set in motion one of the most harrowing events in maritime history. David W. Shaw has based this fascinating account on the firsthand testimony of the few who survived the wreck, including the
Arctic's heroic captain, James C. Luce, who was forced to fight his mutinous crew as they took the lifeboats and left hundreds of passengers to suffer a cruel and painful death. Not only did 400 people -- including Luce's own frail son -- die by daybreak, but the wreck also ended the domination of the seas by the American maritime fleet for the rest of the nineteenth century.
Utterly compelling, The Sea Shall Embrace Them is a stirring slice of heretofore little-known American history. Beautifully written, it puts the reader on deck as a ship full of men, women, and children do battle both with a mighty ocean and with their own baser instincts.
About the Author
A journalist for nearly twenty years, andlt;Bandgt;David W. Shawandlt;/Bandgt; has written extensively about nineteenth-century American history in four of his previous books. His most recent is andlt;Iandgt;America's Victory,andlt;/Iandgt; a riveting account of the world's most famous yacht race in 1851. Shaw's expertise as a sailor and his in-depth knowledge of the Civil War make him ideally suited to tell the story of Confederate raider Charles W. Read and his infamous voyage of 1863. Shaw has contributed articles to numerous publications, including andlt;Iandgt;The New York Times, Sail, Entrepreneur, Cruising World, Woman's World,andlt;/Iandgt; and andlt;Iandgt;New Jersey Monthly.andlt;/Iandgt; He lives in New Jersey with his wife.
Table of Contents
Contents Preface
Prologue: September 28, 1854
- Gentlemanly Demeanor
- Symmetry of Form
- Sea Trial
- Speed at All Costs
- Fortune of War
- Portent
- Unwitting Passengers
- Collision Course
- The Fisherman's Escape
- A Noble Gesture
- Deadly Damage
- Bravery Tested
- Cowardice
- Final Moments
- Death's Cold Grasp
- Battle for Life
- Rescue
- Distressing News
- Resurrection
- Aftermath
Author's Note
Appendix: "The Loss of the Arctic"
Glossary
Bibliography
Acknowledgments
Index