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Title: A Most Fortunate Ship: A Narrative History of Old Ironsides, Revised Edition by Tyrone G. Martin, William Bainbridge ISBN: 1-59114-513-9 Publisher: United States Naval Inst. Pub. Date: May, 2003 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $26.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 (5 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Old Ironsides... With Just A Little Rust.
Comment: Tyrone Martin writes an excellent account of arguably America's most revered warship, USS Constitution. A former commander of "Old Ironsides" (still a commissioned vessel in the U.S. Navy), Martin is personally well versed in the ship's history, writing a very readable, well documented history. Not only does the narrative cover the ship itself -- from design, construction and launching in the mid-1790s to its most recent preservation in the 1990s -- but the people, both officers and enlisted who served her. The personality and idiosyncracies of such officers as Talbot, Hull, Bainbridge, Elliot is especially insightful. Martin also does an excellent job of suggesting both the fragile nature yet durability of large sailing vessels. Constitution weathered numerous stroms, groundings and even a hurricane, not to mention enemy fire. But thanks to a skillful, resourceful crew, and good fortune, was able to jury-rig, repair, and replace key components at sea thereby continuing military and diplomatic service well into the late 19th Century.
Only three concerns prevent me from rendering this book Five Stars. First, early in the book Martin let's the ship's log dominate his prose, resulting in a Point A - to Point B - to Point C monotony. The author shakes this pattern later in the book, letting his own personal style and experience lend a smoother flow and insight to his writing. This is especially apparent in the final few chapters discussing the "battle" to preserve "the big frigate" for posterity. Second, Martin is intimately familiar with nautical terminology, using the nomenclature throughout the book. Fortunately, the book includes a glossary of terms BUT fails, in many instances, to define what Martin fails to adequately describe in the text. This leaves the less nautically informed to wonder, "Where exactly on the ship is that?" Similarly, Martin would have done well to provide a diagram of the frigate labling key equipment, rigging, jibs, yards, etc. for quick reference and orientation (esp. for we flatlanders). Finally, there is the matter of the maps. Diagrams of the Constitution's major engagements (e.g., Guerriere, Java, Cyane, Levant), when combined with the text, are very instructive in visualizing the action. However, the author would have done well to plot Constitution's voyages in more detail as an aid to the less geographically literate. He does, however, an excellent job in the text of providing present-day place names to 19th Century references. Still, keeping track of the ship's progress is somewhat tedius.
In all, I recommend "A Most Fortunate Ship" to those interested in 19th Century sailing ships and the USS Constitution in particular -- its history and preservation. Martin's narrative makes clear why "Old Ironsides" is a national treasure.
Rating: 5
Summary: Awesome book...
Comment: Last summer I went to Boston to visit the historical sites and the Constitution (ship not paper). Visiting the Constitution piked my interest in that fine ship, so I ended up picking up this book. The author took alot of time doing research on the ship through the ages and I'm glad he did because now we have this little gem. This book gives a little insight to the tenuous hold the United States had at the beginning and it also gives some insight into why the United States needs a military. It also shows the value of portraying historic treasures (like the Constitution) because they help people remember their past and thus get a better direction on their future.
Rating: 5
Summary: Hard To Put Down
Comment: The U.S.S. Constitution is the oldest ship still in service in the U.S. Navy. This book is a well-written with excerpts of the ship's logs and excellent illustrations. I am amazed at how much history of the United States I did not learn in high school! If you enjoyed watching Horatio Hornblower on A&E, you'll enjoy this book for sure.
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Title: Old Ironsides by Thomas C. Gillmer ISBN: 0070245649 Publisher: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press Pub. Date: 01 February, 1997 List Price(USD): $21.95 |
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Title: A Voice from the Main Deck: Being a Record of the Thirty Years' Adventures of Samuel Leech (Classics of Naval Literature Series) by Samuel Leech, Michael Crawford, Richard Henry Dana ISBN: 1557501920 Publisher: United States Naval Inst. Pub. Date: June, 1999 List Price(USD): $34.95 |
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Title: The Golden Thirteen: Recollections of the First Black Naval Officers (Bluejacket Paperback Series) by Paul Stillwell, Colin L. Powell ISBN: 1591148405 Publisher: United States Naval Inst. Pub. Date: 31 May, 2003 List Price(USD): $18.95 |
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Title: Old Ironsides : Americans Build a Fighting Ship by David L. Weitzman ISBN: 0395746787 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Co Pub. Date: 28 April, 1997 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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Title: The Battle of Cape Esperance: Encounter at Guadalcanal by Charles O. Cook ISBN: 1557501262 Publisher: United States Naval Inst. Pub. Date: December, 1992 List Price(USD): $32.95 |
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