Historic Shipwrecks [Paperback]

Valerie Fenwick (Author), Alison Gale (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2000

The Protection of Wrecks Act, passed some 25 years ago, is designed to ensure that shipwrecks of historical or archaeological importance are protected. This book provides a guide to the 47 wrecks listed under the act.'

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Tempus Pub Ltd; 2nd edition edition (December 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0752414739
• ISBN-13: 978-0752414737
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,321,773 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very "readable" account of an important topic., May 9, 2007

By 

Ned Middleton (British professional underwater photo-journalist & author) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Historic Shipwrecks (Paperback)

Valerie Fenwick comes to this work as an archaeologist and editor of the International Journal of Nautical Archaeology. Alison Gale is described as specialising in maritime heritage management and an author. My first impression, therefore was that these two co-authors had the right background to produce a book about those vessels which they describe as Britain's most important shipwrecks. As always, when tackling any work produced by academics, I was worried whether or not the ordinary layman would understand the content. Those fears, however, were soon proved groundless and I found much of the content to be an excellent "read."

Historic Shipwrecks - is a paper-back book measuring 9½" x 6¾" in which the authors detail the history and subsequent fate of 47 designated and protected shipwrecks. The book has been skilfully put together in a very easy-to-follow manner. Commencing with a map of the British Isles showing the approximate location of each site, preface and list of illustrations, we then find that most useful item of "How to use this book" followed by an informative introduction. Having sets the scene with vitally important background information, it is time to get down to cases.

The main body of the book is thoughtfully divided into various chapters which link certain shipwrecks together. The first of these, for example, is called "Untold Voyages" - so named because the four oldest wreck sites in the UK have no story because the vessels themselves have no name. In this way, we are able to compare like with like as we read the history and fate of the Amsterdam in one section and the story of the Resurgam in another.

Well illustrated throughout, there is something on almost every page ranging from historic photographs, drawings, maps, artefacts and a number of underwater photographs. Perhaps this is a book which every diver should own - because they will only wish they had purchased a copy once it is out of print.

NM