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Sea of Darkness: Unraveling the Mysteries of the H.L. Hunley Hardcover – March 24, 2015

by Brian Hicks (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 135 ratings
See all formats and editions
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On a dark night in February of 1864, the H.L. Hunley, the first submarine to sink an enemy ship in combat, torpedoed the Union blockade ship USS Housatonic, a feat that would not be repeated for another 50 years. But fate was not kind to the Hunley that night as it sank with all of its crew on board before it could return to shore. Considered by many to be the Civil War’s greatest mystery, the Hunley’s demise and its resting place have been a topic of discussion for historians and Civil War buffs alike for more than a hundred years.

Adding still more to the intrigue, the vessel was discovered in 1995 by a dive team led by famed novelist and shipwreck hunter Clive Cussler, sparking an underwater investigation that resulted in the raising of the Hunley on August 8, 2000. Since that time, the extensive research and restorative efforts underway have unraveled the incredible secrets that were locked within the submarine at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

Join Civil War expert Brian Hicks as Sea of Darkness recounts the most historically accurate narrative of the sinking and eventual recovery ever written. Hicks has been given unprecedented access to all the main characters involved in the discovery, raising, and restoration of the Hunley. Complete with a foreword and additional commentary by Clive Cussler, Sea of Darkness offers new, never-before-published evidence on the cause of the Hunley’s sinking, providing readers a tantalizing behind-the-scenes look inside the historic submarine.
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  1. Print length
    512 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Spry Publishing LLC
  4. Publication date
    March 24, 2015
  5. Dimensions
    6.5 x 1.5 x 9.1 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1938170601
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1938170607
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“The comprehensive story of the Confederate submarine HL Hunley from the first rivet until today. This is a must-have book for anyone who loves submarines, appreciates American history, or wants to learn more about the HL Hunley. I could not put this book down, and neither will you once you start to read it!”

—Wreck Diving Magazine



“Brian Hicks’s unique perspective provides the true story of the Confederate submarine remembered as the Hunleyfrom the beginning to the present. Through exacting research he reveals a fascinating phenomenon that provides an intellectual adventure. His every detail is visibly accountable as he preserves the time period with intimate research of the people and the undersea vessel that forever changed the history of naval warfare.”

—Clive Cussler, best-selling adventure novelist and founder of the National Underwater and Marine Agency


“Never was an author better positioned or better prepared to write such an engaging and entertaining history. Hicks is an accomplished writer by trade, a Southern history buff by avocation and a close friend of many of the key movers and shakers who found, raised and are now restoring the submarine … There will always be unanswered questions, but all of the answers we do have are artfully woven together in Brian Hicks’ [Sea of Darkness].”

—Frank L. Cloutier, The Post and Courier (Charleston, SC)


“Through skillful interweaving of the past and the present, Sea of Darkness illuminates the murky waters of the American Civil War. Hicks delivers an accurate, detailed account of military history that reads like an adventure novel, with a vibrant cast of characters and a storyline that will transport readers into the depths of naval warfare.”

—Colonel W. Hays Parks, U.S. Marine Corps, Retired


“The Hunley project is about discovery. It’s about learning what history can teach us. This project shows us what science, innovation, technology, and the human spirit can make possible. It is about courage.”

—Warren Lasch, Friends of the Hunley

“… In Sea of Darkness, we go on a journey through time between the early 1860s, when men first dreamed up the idea of an iron submersible, to the modern preservation efforts to save the now 152-year-old ship, whose whereabouts lay shrouded in mystery for 131 years … In sections the book reads like a historical adventure novel, with all the suggestive and pensive undercurrents of the doomed ship and crew. But Hicks’ true story also pieces together facts about the ship, theories on why she sank and details regarding the ongoing effort to reveal all the secrets the Hunley held for so many years.”
—Paul Grimshaw, Grand Strand Magazine

About the Author

Brian Hicks is a metro columnist for The Post and Courier in Charleston, South Carolina, and the author or coauthor of six previous books. He has written about Southern history and politics for more than 25 years, including turns as a statehouse newspaper correspondent in three states.

Hicks’ journalism has appeared in national and international publications since 1986. His work has been featured on National Public Radio, Discovery Channel, CBS Sunday Morning, and in National Geographic and Smithsonian magazine. He was won more than 30 journalism awards, including the Society of Professional Journalists’ Green Eyeshade Award for humorous commentary and the South Carolina Press Association’s award for Journalist of the Year.

Hicks has followed the story of the H.L. Hunley since 1998 and has had more access to the submarine and the people who discovered and recovered it than any other journalist. His previous books include Raising the Hunley, Toward the Setting Sun, Ghost Ship, and City of Ruin: Charleston at War 1860–1865.

A native of Tennessee, he currently lives in Charleston, South Carolina.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Spry Publishing LLC (March 24, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 512 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1938170601
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1938170607
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.94 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1.5 x 9.1 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 135 ratings

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
135 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book great, well-written, and enjoyable. They also find the information informative, fascinating, and detailed. Readers appreciate the history accuracy and holistic historical picture. In addition, they describe the writing quality as excellent and like a mystery thriller.

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ReadabilityInformation qualityHistory accuracyWriting quality
22 customers mention "Readability"22 positive0 negative

Customers find the book great, well-written, and enjoyable. They say it's the most definitive book on the Hunley and an excellent read for civil war buffs. Readers also mention the organizing device in the telling of the tale works very well.

"...Great book to read before one goes to visit the actual submarine commandeered by the Confederates." Read more

"Great book that’s both informative and entertaining. If you are a history buff, especially Civil War, you will love this one!" Read more

"An excellent story of the CSS Hunley and the search, recovery and salvage of a historic submarine and its crew...." Read more

"...So far, I've found this to be a very interesting and sometimes exciting history...." Read more

16 customers mention "Information quality"16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative, fascinating, and well-researched. They appreciate the explanation of where and how the Hunley was built. Readers also mention the events of searching are fascinating. Overall, they describe the book as an outstanding mystery thriller.

"This was a great explanation of where and how the hl Hunley was built, tested, and shipped to Charleston during the Civil war and how it actually..." Read more

"Great book that’s both informative and entertaining. If you are a history buff, especially Civil War, you will love this one!" Read more

"...It was very thorough, even leaving open some unanswered questions." Read more

"...So far, I've found this to be a very interesting and sometimes exciting history...." Read more

7 customers mention "History accuracy"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's history accurate. They say it provides a great holistic historical picture of not only the Huntley but the United States. Readers also mention the book contains an important revelation about one of the battles.

"...in the War Between the States, this was an important revelation about one of the battles, which is usually underreported in most histories...." Read more

"...A good read and historicaly accurate." Read more

"Amazing history I did not know. Was recommended by a friend. Have now recommended it to others." Read more

"...events of searching, locating, raising and preserving a magnificent piece of history." Read more

6 customers mention "Writing quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book extremely well-written, with lots of detail about the history of the Hunley. They say it reads like a mystery thriller and is fascinating.

"...They are equally facinating...." Read more

"This book is written in a very interesting way; the author gives us not only the history of the construction, financing and military operations of..." Read more

"...This is an OUTSTANDING book that reads like a mystery/thriller. --You will not be disappointed !!!" Read more

"Excellent read! Very well researched and very good reading. A bit self serving to Clive Cussler but then he was a moving force in all this." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Rich
5.0 out of 5 stars How a 1864 wartime entrepreneurs submarine was the first ever to sink a blockade warship
Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2024
Verified Purchase
This was a great explanation of where and how the hl Hunley was built, tested, and shipped to Charleston during the Civil war and how it actually sunk a blockade warship…how Clive Cussler was involved with it’s recovery. Great book to read before one goes to visit the actual submarine commandeered by the Confederates.
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Raymond S. Hancock
5.0 out of 5 stars Historically Accurate
Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2022
Verified Purchase
Great book that’s both informative and entertaining. If you are a history buff, especially Civil War, you will love this one!
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Richard
5.0 out of 5 stars Two stories told together
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2024
Verified Purchase
There are actually two stories told -- the Civil Was story and the recovery story. They are equally facinating. Having had a strong interest in the War Between the States, this was an important revelation about one of the battles, which is usually underreported in most histories. It was very thorough, even leaving open some unanswered questions.
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SKI
5.0 out of 5 stars Know your Submarine History
Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2022
Verified Purchase
An excellent story of the CSS Hunley and the search, recovery and salvage of a historic submarine and its crew. There are still unanswered questions concerning the CSS Hunley's sinking so look deeper into the story and visit the museum in Charelston, South Carolina to see for yourself the courage of those who crewed this man powered submarine. Amasing.
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Beverleaf
4.0 out of 5 stars A Well Planned Comprehensive History
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2017
Verified Purchase
This book is written in a very interesting way; the author gives us not only the history of the construction, financing and military operations of the Hunley, but he flashes forward and back from the military history to the modern-day recovery of the vessel and its preservation (still ongoing) in Charleston, SC. I'd have given it 5 stars but I'm not quite finished ... one star at a time! So far, I've found this to be a very interesting and sometimes exciting history. After having seen the actual Hunley in its current state at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center in Charleston, I was excited to read more about the adventures of H.L. Hunley and his "fishboat" and this book was just the ticket! I will probably return to give this book its 5th star. If you are an American history buff, this book belongs in your library.
2 people found this helpful
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Harry
5.0 out of 5 stars A great read!
Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2019
Verified Purchase
I purchased this book to assist me in the preparation of speeches which I give every year at the annual Hunley/Housatonic Memorial service. We honor those pioneers and mourn their loss along with teh five sailors from the USS Housatonic. A good read and historicaly accurate.
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Goose
5.0 out of 5 stars I bought this book for my Dad... he received it AFTER I read it.
Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2015
Verified Purchase
I'm not a history reader. This book was meant as a gift to my father who is a CSS Hunley submarine fan.
I just wanted to check out the photographs. --I COULD NOT STOP READING IT !!!
My Dad did indeed get this book albeit 2 days late, and gently used.
This is an OUTSTANDING book that reads like a mystery/thriller. --You will not be disappointed !!!
One person found this helpful
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CKl.
5.0 out of 5 stars Quickly Became a Favorite Book
Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2020
Verified Purchase
The author tells two stories: that of finding and recovering the Hunley and that of the Hunley's journey into battle during the Civil War. I found the style similar to Erik Larson's and just an enjoyable. I quickly liked the characters and was immersed in the story (pun intended).
One person found this helpful
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