Old Ironsides: Eagle of the Sea: The Story of the USS Constitution [Hardcover]

David Fitz-Enz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 16, 2004

This is the story of the oldest warship afloat in the world, the venerable frigate U.S.S. Constitution. Later used as a training ship and for goodwill tours around the globe, the ship was brought to Boston and restored, where it remains today as a floating museum.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...provides a wonderful journey (Jerry McGovern Press- Republican )

A fascinating and well-documented story of America's most celebrated warship. Fitz-Enz not only does an incredible job of describing the Constitution's battle history, but he also provides readers with a clear insight into the intricacies of early sailing vessels and the strategies of sea power...a superb work. (Russell Bellico )

It makes you want to walk the deck of the U.S.S. Constitution. And we all should. (Joseph Ryan )

The Constitution has not wanted for chroniclers, but this is a welcome addition because it both adds new information that puts 'Old Ironsides' in context of both American and naval history. A well-written, action-filled narrative. (James C. Bradford )

I appreciated the historical research that included the background and history of the age of sail, the nuances of the many trades involved and the action of "Old Ironsides" woven together with care and love for the subject. The book is a broadside of history, action and the romance of the sea. (Andrew P. O'Rourke )

Of very great interest to any student of the naval history of the era. (Paddy Griffith, PhD )

The Constitution began as just another ship, but it became "Old Ironsides" and then it became a symbol of the United States. How it was designed and built, and how it went on to become such a significant part of America and its history, is the subject of this exhaustively researched and beautifully written work by David Fitz-Enz. A must for all students of American naval history. (Charles H. Cureton, PhD )

From the Inside Flap

This is the story of the oldest war ship afloat in the world, the venerable frigate U.S.S. Constitution, the cornerstone of the nascent American navy created by an act of Congress in 1794. Having seen its first action against Barbary pirates in 1803-05, the ship went on to heroics during the War of 1812, during which it acquired the nickname "Old Ironsides" after a British sailor observed a cannon ball bouncing off its side. Later used as a training ship and for good will tours around the globe, the ship was ultimately brought to Boston and restored, where it remains today as a floating museum and enduring symbol of the Age of Sail. In Old Ironsides, Col. David Fitz-Enz tells the complete story of the ship, from its "breeched" birth to the ongoing restoration efforts that keep it active today.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing; 1ST edition (December 16, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589791606
• ISBN-13: 978-1589791602
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,618,840 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Poorly Executed Popular History with a Host of Errors, March 28, 2005

By 

Dr. Maturin (Colorado Springs, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Old Ironsides: Eagle of the Sea: The Story of the USS Constitution (Hardcover)

I'm very surprised to see the 5-star ratings of the previous reviewers; I'm not sure what their backgrounds are or if we in fact read the same book! My background includes the study of the age of sail for over 40 years, the reading of approximately 200 books on the AoS, the writing of two such books, and 27 years in the navy and naval reserve.

I read this book eagerly, having seen Col. Fitz-Enz speaking about it on CSPAN BookTV, and I was frankly charmed by him and his enthusiasm for what's also been my favorite ship since I was in grade school. However, I quickly became appalled at the disorganization, stream-of-consciousness flow, and huge quantities of factual errors. (Just a couple of errors as illustration: Adm. Sir John Jervis defeated but did not "destroy" the Spanish fleet at the Battle of St. Vincent (only 4 of 24 ships were taken); the other historic ship currently preserved in the Charlestown Navy Yard is the USS "Cassin Young" ...not the USS "Cason"; the famous British author C.S. Forester (creator of the "Horatio Hornblower" series) is NOT an "American" author). There are dozens, if not scores, of errors throughout the book, including considerable misspellings and misapplications of common and technical naval and nautical terms. I find this last remarkable, considering the author stresses that he was motivated by his interest in the technology of how man has gone to war throughout history.

Col. Fitz-Enz clearly did considerable reading and research, but clearly understood far less than he needed to before beginning to write. He does have some interesting remarks and insights (I liked particularly his mini-essay on how life moved so much slower 200 years ago). However I fear, as published, this is a marginal work; it's as if it were a "first draft" rushed to print. Moreover, I would have thought he would have spent some decent research time onboard "Old Ironsides" as well as in the tremendous USS Constitution Museum, the Museum's outstanding Library and Archives, and in the Naval Historical Detachment Boston's offices (the remarkable technical craftsmen who constantly maintain the ship); from personal experience, I can testify that they would have opened almost everything up to him and spent considerable time with him. However, it seems he only spent 3 hours on one of the ship's public "turnaround" towed cruises in Boston Harbor, talking briefly with the ship's XO. Living in upstate New York, he could have easily made another trip to Boston; however, for some reason he chose to spend most of his travel time and money in trips to Britain and Washington, DC. It's also surprising that the publisher did not have someone at all familiar with the age-of-sail in general, or "Old Ironsides" in particular, look the manuscript over to catch the myriad technical errors and frequent misconceptions of naval life and history. It's also surprising that there doesn't seem to have been any copy editor to rework organization and flow.

Considering that there are a number of truly excellent books already out there on the USS "Constitution," it's not clear why the author thought he had anything new to offer that might mitigate the poor showing of this book.

This is quick-and-dirty popular history, more suitable for a script for a cruise-ship lecture than a printed book. Far better choices would be Ty Martin's "A Most Fortunate Ship," or Thomas Gillmer's "Old Ironsides: the Rise, Decline, and Resurrection of the USS Constitution."

I truly am sorry for this negative review; I believe the author's heart was in the right place and his enthusiasm quite genuine, but his product has been very poorly executed.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting but somewhat disappointing, April 4, 2005

By 

P. Brunhuber (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Old Ironsides: Eagle of the Sea: The Story of the USS Constitution (Hardcover)

This book covers more about life in the age of sail than it does the history of the USS Constitution. While I learned a lot, probably less than half the book is spent on the ship itself. I was hoping for an exhaustive history and instead got a view of life at sea with only references to the Constitution herself. More time seems to be spent describing public fundraising efforts to save her from being broken up then on her wartime contributions and circumnavigation of the globe.The descriptions of her single ship actions are limited and rely almost exclusively on the reports of the Captains who fought the ships (the reports themselves are printed in entirety) instead of being thoroughly researched and explained. A pretty good book but not what I was hoping for.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars One "Constitution" That Needs Amending, March 31, 2005

By 

David M. Garrett (San Antonio, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Old Ironsides: Eagle of the Sea: The Story of the USS Constitution (Hardcover)

I find myself in harmony with "Dr. Maturin's" review. Little new here not more eloquently or accurately provided in Ty Martin's "A Most Fortunate Ship" (reviewed earlier and a hands-down recommendation in this genre). Organization is indeed poor, "facts" not in order, etc. A cherished American icon, the author does the venerable lady nor the reader no great service with this entry. As a university treatise reviewed for Masters or Doctoral consideration, this "manuscript" would be subjected to considerable criticism apparently absent from the publisher's editorial policy. And as the earlier reviewer notes, there is no substitute for being there, talking to the experts. An amateur Civil War historian, I have gained considerable insight from hours walking battlefields, speaking with NPS staff, other historians, etc. I would expect at least as much from an author as justifiably enamored with "Old Ironsides" as is Mr. Fitz-Enz.