The Lusitania Controversies: Book One: Atrocity of War and a Wreck-Diving History [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Gary Gentile (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 312 pages
• Publisher: Gary Gentile Productions; 1st edition (November 2, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1883056063
• ISBN-13: 978-1883056063
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,192,503 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars lusitania, February 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Lusitania Controversies: Book One: Atrocity of War and a Wreck-Diving History (Hardcover)

I HAD THE EXPECTATIONS THAT THIS WOULD BE ABOUT THE STORY OF THE SHIPWRECK AND THE RECENT DIVES. UNFORTUNATELY I GOT NEITHER FROM THE BOOK. IT IS REALLY THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR. THAT IS ALL WELL AND GOOD, BUT DO NOT TRY AND DISGUISE IT AS A BOOK ABOUT THE LUSITANIA.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book actually has several clear themes......, February 8, 2001

By 

a reader (Bothell, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lusitania Controversies: Book One: Atrocity of War and a Wreck-Diving History (Hardcover)

Contrary to how the other reviewer feels, I think that Gary Gentile is quite honest in the book's outward presentation and makes it completely clear that the book is NOT just about the sinking of the "Lucy", but is the story of the history of wreck diving, his involvement in that story as well as his development as a diver, coupled with a healthy dose of the later "controversies" surrounding the rumors, mysteries and government secrecy enshrouding the sinking of the Lusitania. Telling both the story of wreck diving as well as his own story enables the reader to build up to the point when Gentile actually participates in technical dives on the Lusitania.....descriptions of dives that are clearly more exciting and understandable because the reader has literally been able to understand and follow Gentile's evolution as a wreck diver as well as that of the sport itself. Despite the occasional and obvious (although thankfully brief) departures down "ego thumping lane", I THOROUGHLY enjoyed both Volumes 1 and 2 and found myself wishing that I was there. What more can you ask of a writer than that? I intend to read more of his work.

4.0 out of 5 stars A good read for the tech diving enthusiast, February 11, 2001

By 

David J Shaw (Clearwater Bay, . Hong Kong) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lusitania Controversies: Book One: Atrocity of War and a Wreck-Diving History (Hardcover)

Volume 1 and 2 have to be read as they are really one book. I think the title is slightly misleading in the sense that diving the Lusitania is the culmination of a lifetimes diving in an evolving sport. The books are the story of that evolution, and the part the author played in the process. More than that, the books are also about the authors life so far, and how that interacted with his development as one of the foremost wreck divers in the world.

As a diver who does not reside in the US, I note again what appears to be a common thread in the US diving scene (in the past anyway) of delicate egos that at times seek to dominate their own sphere of influence in the diving world. The author over the years stikes this time and again, and documents it in his books.

I thoroughly enjoyed both books, the style in which they were written, the documentation of the evolution of the sport, and the adventures related. The books would have benefitted in my opinion by appendicies that gave technical details of the dives written about, as this would have detailed another aspect of the development of the sport.

These books are some of the better ones written on the subject, and a must for anyone interested in the sport.