Customer Reviews

The Lost Ships of Robert Ballard: An Unforgettable Underwater Tour by the World's Leading Deep-Sea Explorer

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I waited very anxiously for several months for this book to be published. I own several of Dr. Ballard's books and find them all fantastic. So when I opened this one, I was somewhat disappointed to find that this book is basically a re-packaging of one of his earlier, now out-of-print books, LOST LINERS, with the Bismarck and Guadalcanal added. Don't get me wrong...this is an absolutely beautiful book and I *highly* recommend it (but again, be advised this is a LOST LINERS rehash). Ken Marschall's paintings are exquisite and haunting. And his rendition of the Lusitania sinking is downright frightening. One has to look closely to see that these are not actual photographs. The most interesting painings show the underwater view of what the ships look like today. Dr. Ballard is never boring and is very thourough. His presentation includes the background research of the companies as well as the ships themselves. With this added information, you come to realize that these ships were more than just boats that sank...you see that they were once alive. I will still give this five stars. LOST LINERS is out of print and not many people may have seen it. Regardless, this is a beautiful book with detailed historical narratives, amazing paintings, neat underwater photographs and, most importantly, the storied achievements of Dr. Robert Ballard.

It has been twenty years since Dr. Ballard discovered the Titanic. Since then he has gone on to explore the hulks of several famous sunken ships. The photographs he has brought back to the surface have been nothing less than astounding. But the limitations of underwater photography prevent broad panoramic views of the ships. In this book there is a combination of photographs (both pre and post sinking) and of brilliant paintings done from these photographs.

Here are descriptions of these ships as they were built, as they sailed. Here also is the story of their sinking. Finally here is the story of how they look today, ghostly remains of what they once were. The photographs record two trips down to the Titanic, and visits to the Britannic, Lusitania, Empress of Ireland, Andrea Doria, Bismark and to the warships sunk in Iron Bottom Sound off of Guadalcanal.

This is a beautiful book of what was.

This large and attractive book combines the work of oceanographer Robert Ballard, author Rick Archibold, and maritime artist Ken Marshall. The course of the book takes you through the history of the trans-Atlantic cruise liner, from its inception in the early nineteenth century, through to today. Along the way, the authors focus on many key happenings, particularly the sinking of certain ships. As an added bonus, information is presented on the Bismarck and the ships of Iron Bottom Sound, in the Solomon Islands. Along the way, the reader is treated to many wonderful illustrations and colorful pictures.

Overall, I found this to be a fascinating book. I enjoyed the stories of ships I had never heard of, such as the Arctic and Atlantic, and I really loved the many pictures. This is a great book, one that is bound to fascinate anyone interested in ship wrecks. I loved it!

Ballard comes through again with a wonderful visual snapshot into history. What if Japan won the Battle of Midway and followed up its victory, the U.S. could have lost control of the Hawaiian Islands and probably the Aleutians. Would the the fleet have retreated to the West Coast? If the United States were unable to gain this victory over Japan in the Pacific, what would have been the consequences for Europe? The U.S. fleet was outnumbered before Midway by a formidable Japanase fleet, but American intelligence and the element of surprise evened the odds. The Battle of Midway, as events were to prove, would surprisingly become the lynchpin for Allied victory over the Axis in World War II
With a U.S Navy research ship and crew, filmmakers from from National Geographic, a bunch of historians and naval experts and, most significantly two American and two Japanese survivors, Ballard hoped to discover wreckage and tell the story of what happened at Midway. Like his previous books, Ballard packs this one full of illustrations, pictures and historical analysis of the battle, also including commentary by four surviving veterans. The main event of the book are the images shown of the U.S.S Yorktown 18,000 feet below the Pacific, still in relatively good shape. The photographs are quite haunting, such as AA guns still trained outward, the ship's number on the hull and the name engraved on the back, a faint glimpse of the hanger deck mural showing the ship's voyages, and my favorite, the ship's brass bell still affixed to the pilot house.
If you're the type of person who enjoys WW2 history and viewing National Geographic Explorer television programs, you will enjoy this coffe table book for years to come.

Just a couple of days were needed to read this large illustrated volume. To say that it is only a picture book, however, is misleading. "A jack of all trades and master of none" is a better description. A history of ocean liners, brief accounts of famous shipwrecks, and brief accounts of explorations of these shipwrecks are all present.

With all this brevity, why do I give it five stars? Because what is here is good. Titanic, Lusitania, Britannic, Normandie, Bismarck, and ships in the naval engagements of Guadalcanal are covered in 256 sturdy, glossy pages. The many illustrations include color and black-and-white photos, color paintings by Ken Marschall, and historical illustrations (like posters and postcards). The glossy hardcover is adorned by Ken Marschall's painting of the Titanic's sunken bow. So you will have this picture without having the dust jacket. Used copies with missing, or damaged, dust jackets are therefore good buys, assuming the hardcover is undamaged and the price is affordable.

Reading this is like attending a wine-sampling party. If you become especially interested in one shipwreck, or in the collection of shipwrecks for Guadalcanal, you can read a book that gives a more detailed account. After my reading, I decided to buy Diane Preston's "Lusitania." Regarding explorations of the shipwrecks, Ballard has written separate books for the Titanic, Lusitania, and Bismarck, and for the Guadalcanal ships. I have written a five-star review of his "The Discovery of the Titanic."

A bibliography is attached, along with a list of sources for the illustrations. Footnotes are unnecessary because this is not a detailed history.

Robert Ballard and Rick Archbold have brought a most intriguing undersea world to the surface with this facinating and richly detailed book. The photographs are most interesting but the illustrations by Ken Marschall are absolutely fantastic and are the highlight of the book.

A must own book for every lover of the sea

Hi friends divers and amateurs historicicinas:
This book are a very good font about the ship wrecks.
I recomend!
Best regards,