Blue Meridian: The Search for the Great White Shark [Hardcover]

Peter Matthiessen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1971

Bestselling author Peter Matthiessen takes readers on an expedition to find the most dangerous predator on Earth--the legendary great white shark. On a trek that lasts 17 months and takes him from the Caribbean to the whaling grounds off South Africa, across the Indian Ocean to the South Australian coast, Matthiessen records the beauties of strange seas and landscapes and encounters with sharks and other sea life. of photos.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 204 pages
• Publisher: Random House Inc (T); 1st edition (April 1971)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0394462165
• ISBN-13: 978-0394462165
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,646,215 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Matthiessen Masterpiece, February 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Blue Meridian: The Search for the Great White Shark (Classic, Nature, Penguin) (Paperback)

Glad to see this little gem of a book has gotten a well deserved and long overdue reprinting. This is Matthiessen's true first-person account as a crewmember during filming of the feature length documentary "Blue Water, White Death." Several years before "Jaws" made the name of the Great White Shark a household word, millionaire Peter Gimbal set out to find and film the "white death" taking with him the best underwater photographers and naturalists in the world at that time. The search took them from the whaling grounds off South Africa to the Great Barrier Reef of Australia before they caught a glimpse of the ocean's most feared creature. If you like ocean adventures, or any good story about men and women on a quest for the unknown, then Blue Meridian deliveres. If you're aready a fan of Matthiessen then the only question is: Why haven't you read Blue Meridian yet?

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great adventure, May 17, 2000

By 

twilliam (Williamsburg, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blue Meridian: The Search for the Great White Shark (Classic, Nature, Penguin) (Paperback)

It's wonderful to be able to read the narrative of shark dives from the safety and comfort of home.

This is a great narrative of the expedition to search for the Great White shark...hopefully the numerous "specials" on TV and the recent article in National Geographic will help "save" this treasure of the ocean.

You can't help but get involved with this book, just as exciting and fascinating as any novel.

If you enjoyed this one, try _Snow Leopard_ or _Indian Country_.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A story like no other, January 13, 2000

By 

sean timmins - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blue Meridian: The Search for the Great White Shark (Classic, Nature, Penguin) (Paperback)

In a time when the thought of swimming with sharks was to have a death wish, five diver/photograghers and one expedition historian set to the high seas in search of the ellusive Great White shark. This book follows the expedition from the cold waters of South Africa, throughout the Indian Ocean, and ultimately to Dangerous Reef, South Australia in search of thier quarry. Matthiessen Beautifully portays the ocean environment as one of danger and excitement. Having candid encounters with Oceanic Whitetips, hand feeding a barracuda, playing with sea lions, and finally discovering the Great White Death. This book is an excellent companion to the film "Blue Water, White Death".