- Table View
- List View
Sherman's Ghosts: Soldiers, Civilians, and the American Way of War
by Matthew CarrThis &“thought-provoking&” military history considers the influence of General Sherman&’s Civil War tactics on American conflicts through the twentieth century (The New York Times). &“To know what war is, one should follow our tracks,&” Gen. William T. Sherman once wrote to his wife, describing the devastation left by his armies in Georgia. Sherman&’s Ghosts is an investigation of those tracks, as well as those left across the globe by the American military in the 150 years since Sherman&’s infamous &“March to the Sea.&” Sherman&’s Ghosts opens with an epic retelling of General Sherman&’s fateful decision to terrorize the South&’s civilian population in order to break the back of the Confederacy. Acclaimed journalist and historian Matthew Carr exposes how this strategy, which Sherman called &“indirect warfare,&” became the central preoccupation of war planners in the twentieth century and beyond. He offers a lucid assessment of the impact Sherman&’s slash-and-burn policies have had on subsequent wars and military conflicts, including World War II and in the Philippines, Korea, Vietnam, and even Iraq and Afghanistan. In riveting accounts of military campaigns and in the words of American soldiers and strategists, Carr finds ample evidence of Sherman&’s long shadow. Sherman&’s Ghosts is a rare reframing of how we understand our violent history and a call to action for those who hope to change it.
Sherman's March to the Sea 1864: Atlanta to Savannah
by David SmithRiding on the wave of his victory at Atlanta, Union General W. T. Sherman abandoned his supply lines in an attempt to push his forces into Confederate territory and take Savannah. During their 285-mile 'March to the Sea' the army lived off the land and destroyed all war-making capabilities of the enemy en route. Despite the controversy surrounding it, the march was a success. Supported by photographs, detailed maps, and artwork, this title explores the key personalities and engagements of the march and provides a detailed analysis of the campaign that marked the 'beginning of the end' of the Civil War.
Sherman's March: The First Full-length Narrative Of General William T. Sherman's Devastating March Through Georgia And The Carolinas (Vintage Civil War Library)
by Burke DavisA New York Times–bestselling author&’s account of the devastating military campaign that broke the Confederacy&’s back in the last months of the Civil War. In November 1864, just days after the reelection of President Abraham Lincoln, Gen. William T. Sherman vowed to &“make Georgia howl.&” The hero of Shiloh and his 65,000 Federal troops destroyed the great city of Atlanta, captured Savannah, and cut a wide swath of destruction through Georgia and the Carolinas on their way to Virginia. A scorched-earth campaign that continues to haunt the Southern imagination, Sherman&’s &“March to the Sea&” and ensuing drive north was a crucial turning point in the War between the States. Weaving together hundreds of eyewitness accounts, bestselling author Burke Davis tells the story of this infamous episode from the perspective of the Union soldiers and the Confederate men and women who stood in their path. Eloquent, heartrending, and vastly informative, Sherman&’s March brilliantly examines one of the most polarizing figures in American military history and offers priceless insights into the enduring legacy of the Civil War.
Sherman: A Soldier's Life
by Lee B. KennettIn Sherman, acclaimed military historian Lee Kennett offers a bold new interpretation of William T. Sherman as civilian, solider, and postwar army commander. This vividly detailed picture follows Sherman from his education at West Point to his abortive career as a San Francisco banker to his triumphant role as Civil War hero. Sherman’s actions during the Civil War were not without controversy, and he was at one point accused of mental incompetence. But with a blend of drive, determination, and mastery of detail, he would go on to become a remarkable leader, capture Atlanta and Savannah in the Great March, and help end the war. Drawing on previously unexplored research, Kennett presents a comprehensive portrait of this singular individual who had so much impact on American history. Lee Kennett is a Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Georgia and the author of G.I.: The American Soldier in World War II and Marching Through Georgia. He lives in North Carolina. “A lively account ... Well-researched, well-reasoned, well-written, and highly recommended.” — Providence Journal
Sherman: The M4 Tank in World War II (Casemate Illustrated Special)
by Michel Esteve“A superbly organized, well-written, detailed history of the Sherman tank” with hundreds of photos and diagrams included (Armor Magazine).The Medium Tank, M4, better known to the British as the Sherman, was the most widely used medium tank by the United States and western Allies in World War II. Reliable, relatively cheap to produce, and easy to maintain, thousands were distributed to the British Commonwealth and the Soviet Union by the Lend-Lease program. It first saw combat in North Africa, where it outclassed lighter German and Italian tanks. By 1944 the M4 was outgunned by the German heavy tanks, but it still contributed to the fight when deployed in numbers and supported by artillery and fighter-bombers.A detailed insight into the development and deployment of the M4, this book covers the design and construction of the chassis, turret, engine, armaments, and munitions, and differences between the variants of the M4. It covers the difficulties facing the crews who fought in this legendary tank, exploring the training they received and the different combat methods perfected by the Allies, including landing from a landing craft, maneuvering in the bocage of Normandy, and fighting in the snow.Fully illustrated with hundreds of contemporary and modern photographs and detailed diagrams, this complete account provides all the technical details of the construction of the M4, its maintenance and repair, and the logistics required to support it in combat.Whether you are a collector, a modeler, or simply passionate about military history, this book will provide you with an unparalleled insight into the M4.“Period photos, preservation shots, interior details, variant schematics, archival excerpts, armament and ammunition drawings, and more . . . Make it your introduction to this legendary tank family.” —Cybermodeler
Sherman: The Ruthless Victor (The Generals Series)
by Ed Breslin Agostino von HassellAn overview of the life of the controversial Union Civil War general, William Tecumseh Sherman.He was named after an enemy of the United States. He was proslavery despite his loyalty to the Union. He burned and pillaged an already beaten foe on a march history will never forget.If, as he famously said, “war is hell,” William Tecumsah Sherman can be classified as a flamethrower of ruthless ferocity. Defined by his contradictions, Sherman achieved immortality in his role as Ulysses Grant’s hammer in the Civil War. A failed banker and lawyer, Sherman found his calling with the outbreak of war in 1861. With indecision a common ailment among Union generals early the conflict, Sherman’s temperament and unwavering focus on the mission at hand—preserving the Union—helped shift the fortunes of North and South.Authors Agostino Von Hassell and Ed Breslin present Sherman as once man and phenomenon. From Bull Run to Shiloh, from Vicksburg to Chattanooga, and from Atlanta to Savannah, Sherman carved the Confederacy with a feral singularity of purpose. At times disheveled and informal to a fault, “Uncle Billy” became a hero whose legend only grew with allegations of villainy.
Sherman’s March and the Emergence of the Independent Black Church Movement: From Atlanta to the Sea to Emancipation
by Jr. L. H. WhelchelA discourse on the historical emergence of African American Churches as dynamic cultural presences which occurred in the aftermath of the Civil War, and specifically in the wake of General Sherman's march from Atlanta to Savannah.
Sherston's Progress
by Paul Fussell Siegfried SassoonThe third volume in Siegfried Sassoon’s beloved trilogy, The Complete Memoirs of George Sherston, with a new introduction by celebrated historian Paul Fussell A highly decorated English soldier and an acclaimed poet and novelist, Siegfried Sassoon won fame for his trilogy of fictionalized autobiographies that wonderfully capture the vanishing idylls of Edwardian England and the brutal realities of war. Having been deemed mentally ill for his anti-war sentiments and sent for treatment, George Sherston comes under the care of neurologist Dr. W. H. R. Rivers, who allows Sherston to sort through his attitudes toward the fighting (events that have also been semi-fictionalized by Pat Barker for her bestselling and critically acclaimed Regeneration Trilogy). After six months in the hospital, Sherston leaves to rejoin his regiment. He is soon dispatched to Ireland, where he attempts to reclaim some of the idyllic fox-hunting days of his youth, then to Palestine. He finally ends up at the Western Front in France, where he is shot in the head while on a reconnaissance mission and invalided back home. As the capstone of Sassoon's masterful Sherston trilogy, Sherston's Progress—whose evocation of Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress is not at all accidental—literally brings home the unforgettable journey of George Sherston from aristocratic childhood through war hero and anti-war martyr, all the way to wounded veteran trying to move on from the Great War. .
Sherston’s Progress (Memoirs of George Sherston #3)
by Siegfried SassoonThis autobiographical novel of the eminent English poet, Siegfried Sassoon was first published in 1936. Following on from Memoirs of a Fox-Hunting Man (1928) and Memoirs of an Infantry Officer (1930), Sassoon’s third and final instalment, Sherston’s Progress, is set in an asylum for shell-shocked officers, and deals with the author’s final acceptance of these realities, and ultimately to resolve his emotional turmoil.Sassoon’s fluid, sensitive prose, the fine perceptions of the poet, is spoken here in the voice of the average man. With charm and humor and quiet understatement, he has managed to articulate the hidden feelings of any sensitive man who in the normal course of his life is suddenly exposed to the nightmare of war.A gripping finale to the trilogy.
Shield
by Poul AndersonKoskinen had returned to earth with a strange new "Shield" - a device which enclosed the wearer in a force shield which absorbed all energies below a certain level. Light could come through the Shield, but no weapon known to man could penetrate it.Koskinen had developed the Shield in collaboration with the Martians. From the moment of his return to earth he was in deadly danger. His own country sent men to kill him to prevent the Shield from falling into enemy hands.Soon the whole civilised world was searching for this one man - a man armed with the greatest potential military weapon mankind had ever seen the only question was which power would possess the Shield as its very own?
Shielding the Suspect
by C.J. MillerC.J. MILLER WEAVES A STORY OF DECEPTION AND FRAMING THAT WILL KEEP YOU GUESSING....She woke up on her ex-fiancé's boat with his blood on her hands. Is it possible that Susan Prescott killed Justin and didn't remember it? When the artist is accused of murder, the only one who will believe and protect her is Brady Truman. Brady, her former lover. Brady, who must dispel his agonizing self-doubts if he hopes to help anyone else....To find the real killer-and the hit men gunning for them-Susan and Brady have to deal with their still-simmering desire.It all hinges on Susan's memory. Will returning to the boat trigger her recall...or plunge her deeper into danger?
Shieldmaiden: The Shieldmaiden Trilogy (The Shieldmaiden Trilogy #1)
by Marianne Whiting'I so enjoyed this book. It was easy to read and a joy for anyone who enjoys reading about the Viking culture... I absolutely loved this book' ***** Amazon VINE VOICE review'Good character description and development. An interesting and engaging story... This book ticks all these boxes. A great Read' ***** Amazon review'The author has managed to weave historical fact into the story beautifully. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading the next one of the trilogy' ***** Amazon reviewThe first book in the compelling Shieldmaiden Trilogy about a young Viking who must grow from a headstrong teenager into a woman and respected warrior.________She was born with a great destiny...A young Viking woman picks up her sword and goes in search of retribution and justice. In 934 the English are fighting the Norse for supremacy over the North. Worship of the old Norse gods is challenged by Christianity. Traditional loyalties are tested and revenge can be swift and violent. In Cumbria a man is outlawed and killed. Faced with a life of destitution and servitude, his daughter Sigrid's only option is to appeal to the King of Norway to reverse his judgement on her father and allow her to inherit the family farm. But Norway is far away and Sigrid has only her wits and her skill with the sword to help her cause. Sigrid sets out to regain her birthright, encountering kings, warriors and villains on her quest. While her fighting skills earn her admiration, she must also learn about duty, honour and loyalty if she is to grow from a headstrong teenager into a woman and a respected warrior.
Shifty's War
by Marcus BrothertonAs a boy growing up in the remote mining town of Clinchco, Virginia, Darrell "Shifty" Powers's goal was to become the best rifle shot he could be. His father trained him to listen to the woods, to "see" without his eyes. Little did Shifty know his finely-tuned skills would one day save his life--and the lives of his friends. As one of the original men who trained at Camp Toccoa, Georgia, Shifty was one out of only two soldiers in Easy Company to initially earn the coveted expert marksman designation. He parachuted into France on D-day and fought for a month in Normandy; eighty days in Holland; thirty-nine in the harshly cold winter of Bastogne; and for nearly thirty more near Haguenau, France, and the Ruhr pocket in Germany. Shifty's War is a tale of heroism and adventure, of a soldier's blood-filled days fighting his way from the shores of France to the heartland of Germany, and the epic story of how one man's skills as a sharpshooter and engagingly unassuming personality propelled him to a life greater than he could have ever imagined.
Shiloh (The Civil War Battle Series, Book #2)
by James Reasoner[From the back cover] Ahead of Cory, flashes of light split the early morning grayness. Those were the muzzle flashes of the rifles the Yankees were firing at them, he realized. He stopped trotting forward and brought up his rifle, pulling back the hammer as he did so. He saw a flash not too far ahead of him, aimed toward the spot where it had been, and fired. Then he dropped to one knee and reached for the pouch on his belt, fumbling out one of the paper cartridges. As he bit the end of the cartridge and tore it open with his teeth, he sensed as much as heard something whip past him, just above his head. A feeling colder even than the Tennessee River washed through him. That was a Yankee minie ball that had just missed him, he realized. If he had not knelt down to reload, it would have caught him squarely in the chest. One of the Yankees had aimed at his muzzle flash, just as he had aimed at theirs. His hands shook a little. He forced them to be steady as he poured the powder from the cartridge down the barrel of his rifle, then followed it with a piece of wadding and tamped it home with the ramrod. The conical bullet followed that, and Cory rammed it down as well. He came to his feet as he slid the ramrod back into its slot under the barrel of the rifle. He thumbed back the hammer and put a percussion cap on the strike plate, pressing down so that it was well seated. The rifle was ready to fire again He felt like throwing it down, turning, and running. The firing was fierce all around him. Cory looked for the Texan and saw the man's back disappearing into the gloom up ahead. Cory followed, hoping that he wouldn't run right into a Yankee bullet.
Shiloh 1862
by James Arnold Alan PerryThe first major battle in the Western theatre of the American Civil War (1861-1865), Shiloh came as a horrifying shock to both the American public and those in arms. For the first time they had some idea of the terrible price that would be paid for the preservation of the Union. On 6 April 1862 General Albert Sidney Johnston caught Grant and Sherman by surprise and very nearly drove them into the River Tennessee, but was mortally wounded in the process. Somehow Grant and Sherman hung on and the next day managed to drive back the hordes of grey-clad rebels.
Shiloh and the Western Campaign of 1862
by O. Edward Cunningham“May well be the best, most perceptive and authoritative account of the Battle of Shiloh.” —The Weekly StandardThe bloody and decisive two-day battle of Shiloh on April 6-7, 1862 changed the entire course of the American Civil War. The stunning Northern victory thrust Union commander Ulysses S. Grant into the national spotlight, claimed the life of Confederate commander Albert S. Johnston, and forever buried the notion that the Civil War would be a short conflict.The conflagration had its roots in the strong Union advance during the winter of 1861-1862 that resulted in the capture of Forts Henry and Donelson in Tennessee. The offensive collapsed General Johnston’s advanced line in Kentucky and forced him to withdraw all the way to northern Mississippi. Anxious to attack the enemy, Johnston began concentrating Southern forces at Corinth, a major railroad center just below the Tennessee border. His bold plan called for his Army of the Mississippi to march north and destroy General Grant’s Army of the Tennessee before it could link up with another Union army on the way to join him.On the morning of April 6, Johnston boasted to his subordinates, “Tonight we will water our horses in the Tennessee!” They nearly did so. Johnston’s sweeping attack hit the unsuspecting Federal camps at Pittsburg Landing and routed the enemy from position after position as they fell back toward the Tennessee River. Johnston’s death in the Peach Orchard, however, coupled with stubborn Federal resistance, widespread confusion, and Grant’s dogged determination to hold the field, saved the Union army from destruction. The arrival of General Don C. Buell’s reinforcements that night turned the tide of battle. The next day, Grant seized the initiative and attacked, driving the Confederates from the field. Shiloh was one of the bloodiest battles of the entire war, with nearly 24,000 killed, wounded, and missing.Edward Cunningham, a young Ph.D. candidate, researched and wrote Shiloh and the Western Campaign of 1862 in 1966. Though it remained unpublished, many Shiloh experts and park rangers consider it the best overall examination of the battle ever written. Indeed, Shiloh historiography is just now catching up with Cunningham, who was decades ahead of modern scholarship. Now, Western Civil War historians Gary Joiner and Timothy Smith have resurrected this beautifully written, deeply researched manuscript from undeserved obscurity. Fully edited and richly annotated with updated citations and observations, original maps, and a complete order of battle and table of losses, it represents battle history at its finest.
Shiloh: A Case Study In Surprise
by Major William J. McCaffreyThe commander must remain ever vigilant against surprise, for attacks born of the unexpected have the potential to alter quickly and irreversibly the relative combat power of opposing forces. A commander is better prepared to meet this threat when he is familiar with those factors which have contributed to surprise during past conflicts. This thesis investigates the surprise phenomenon through a case study of the battle at Shiloh Church.General Ulysses S. Grant, during the American Civil War, bivouacked his army near Shiloh Church on the Tennessee River's west bank while he awaited General Don Carlos Buell and the Army of the Ohio. On Buell's arrival the combined armies were to attack Corinth, Mississippi, where the Confederate forces under General Albert Sidney Johnston were known to be entrenched. Realizing the combined strength of the two Union armies would eventually prove overwhelming, Johnston decided to attack Grant's position before Buell could reinforce. He therefore attacked early Sunday morning, 6 April 1862. Apparently unaware that an attack was imminent, Grant had encamped his army with little regard for defense. The Confederates enjoyed success and forced the Union army against the Tennessee River. However, Buell reinforced Grant that evening, and on the following day the Union armies counterattacked and drove the Confederates back toward Corinth. Thus, the battle ended on a rather indecisive note.Among the more important conclusions of the thesis are:1. Although the Union forces below division level anticipated the Confederate attack. Grant and his command echelon were completely surprised.2. Surprise was achieved because the Union had violated several principles of war, chiefly: objective, offensive, maneuver, unity of command, and security.3. The Confederates were not without fault, for, had certain mistakes been avoided, their army might have won a total victory.
Shinsengumi: The Shogun's Last Samurai Corps
by Romulus HillsboroughShinsengumi: The Shogun's last Samurai Corps is the true story of the notorious samurai corps formed in 1863 to arrest or kill the enemies of the Tokugawa Shogun.<P><P>The only book in English about the Shinsengumi, it focuses on the corps' two charismatic leaders, Kondo Isami and Hijikata Toshizo, both impeccable swordsmen. It is a history-in-brief of the final years of the Bakufu, which collapsed in 1867 with the restoration of Imperial rule. In writing Shinsengumi, Hillsborough referred mostly to Japanese-language primary sources, including letters, memoirs, journals, interviews, and eyewitness accounts, as well as definitive biographies and histories of the era.The fall of the shogun's government (Tokugawa Bakufu, or simply Bakufu) in 1868, which had ruled Japan for over two and a half centuries, was the greatest event in modern Japanese history.The revolution, known as the Meiji Restoration, began with the violent reaction of samurai to the Bakufu's decision in 1854 to open the theretofore isolated country to "Western barbarians." Though opening the country was unavoidable, it was seen as a sign of weakness by the samurai who clamored to "expel the barbarians."Those samurai plotted to overthrow the shogun and restore the holy emperor to his ancient seat of power.
Ship Busters!: A Classic Account of RAF Torpedo-Bombers in WWII
by Ralph BarkerA &“vividly told&” history of torpedo attacks from the air in the Second World War, by a member of the Royal Air Force (The Sunday Times). Low-level strikes against enemy shipping by torpedo-carrying aircraft were perhaps the most dangerous forms of air attack developed during WWII, and few isolated actions had such a direct impact on naval and military actions. This book tells the story of the RAF men involved, from the early attacks by single Beauforts off the Dutch and Norwegian coasts to the massed assaults of later years by the famous &“strike-wings.&” The author, who joined the RAF in 1940 as a wireless operator/ air gunner, and served in the UK, the Middle East, and West Africa, and whose career on torpedo work ended in a crash in which his pilot and navigator were killed, includes many historic actions: the lone moonlight attack by a twenty-two-year-old flight sergeant on the pocket-battleship Lützow; the torpedoing of the Gneisena in Brest harbor; the Channel Dash of the Scharnhorst, Gneisena, and Prinz Eugen and the heroic Swordfish attacks; and the vital strikes from Malta in 1942 against the Italian fleet and the supply shipping of the Afrika Korps. The result is a fascinating book, vivid in its true picture of aircrew life, stirring in its descriptions of heroic actions, intensely moving in its record of human endeavor.
Ship Decoration, 1630–1780: 1630-1780
by Andrew PetersThis book is a detailed comparative study of the decorative work figurehead, topside ornamentation and stern gallery design carried by the ships of the major maritime states of Europe in the zenith of the sailing era. It covers both warships and the most prestigious merchant ships, the East Indiamen of the great chartered companies. The work began life in the year 2000 when the author was commissioned to carry out research for an ambitious project to build a full-size replica of a Swedish East Indiaman, which produced a corpus of information whose relevance stretched way beyond the immediate requirements of accurately decorating the replica.In tracking the artistic influences on European ship decoration, it became clear that this was essentially the story of the baroque style, its dissemination from France, and its gradual transformation into distinct national variations in Britain, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden. It is an inherently visual subject and the book illustrates developments with numerous photographs of contemporary ship models, paintings and plans, as well as the author's own interpretive illustrations of details.As the first major work on the topic for nearly a century, it will be of obvious appeal to ship modellers and historians, but with comparative examples drawn from architecture and sculpture, it also makes a broader contribution to the history of the applied arts.
Ship Dioramas: Bringing Your Models to Life
by David GriffithThe author of Ship Models from Kits &“has brought nautical scenes to life in his latest book&” (Daily Record). This book is about the art of displaying waterline models. By their very nature, ship models that do not show the full hull and are not mounted on an artificial stand cry out for a realistic setting. At its most basic this can be just a representation of the sea itself, but to give the model a context to tell some sort of story is far more challenging. In a diorama, the composition is a vital element and this book devotes much of its space to what works and what does not—and illustrates with photographic examples why the best maritime dioramas have visual power and how to achieve that impact. Individual chapters explore themes like having small craft in attendance on the main subject, multiple-model scenarios, dockyards and naval bases, and the difficulties of replicating naval combat realistically. It also looks at both extremes of modelmaking ambition: the small single-ship exposition and the largest, most ambitious projects of the kind meant for museum display. The book concludes with some of the most advanced concepts of how to create drama and the illusion of movement, and how to manipulate perspective. David Griffith&’s book is &“compelling and inspiring . . . littered with practical examples of work in progress, simple dioramas to the most complex . . . I highly recommend it to all ship modellers without hesitation&” (Scale Modelling Now).
Ship Spotter's Guide
by Angus KonstamShips have been part of military campaigns since the Ancient world, and this expertly illustrated and detailed Spotter's Guide offers a look at the 40 most iconic and recognizable ships throughout history. From the Viking longship through to the powerful modern aircraft carriers, and from the ironclads of the American Civil War to the awesome fighting ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Each ship is beautifully illustrated and is accompanied by a brief history. A perfect gift, this book is a must-have for any naval enthusiast and historian.
Ship of Ghosts: The Story of the USS Houston, FDR's Legendary Lost Cruiser, and the Epic Saga of her Survivors
by James D. HornfischerBONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from James D. Hornfischer's Neptune's Inferno. "Son, we're going to Hell." The navigator of the USS Houston confided these prophetic words to a young officer as he and his captain charted a course into U.S. naval legend. Renowned as FDR's favorite warship, the cruiser USS Houston was a prize target trapped in the far Pacific after Pearl Harbor. Without hope of reinforcement, her crew faced a superior Japanese force ruthlessly committed to total conquest. It wasn't a fair fight, but the men of the Houston would wage it to the death. Hornfischer brings to life the awesome terror of nighttime naval battles that turned decks into strobe-lit slaughterhouses, the deadly rain of fire from Japanese bombers, and the almost superhuman effort of the crew as they miraculously escaped disaster again and again-until their luck ran out during a daring action in Sunda Strait. There, hopelessly outnumbered, the Houston was finally sunk and its survivors taken prisoner. For more than three years their fate would be a mystery to families waiting at home. In the brutal privation of jungle POW camps dubiously immortalized in such films as The Bridge on the River Kwai, the war continued for the men of the Houston--a life-and-death struggle to survive forced labor, starvation, disease, and psychological torture. Here is the gritty, unvarnished story of the infamous Burma-Thailand Death Railway glamorized by Hollywood, but which in reality mercilessly reduced men to little more than animals, who fought back against their dehumanization with dignity, ingenuity, sabotage, will-power--and the undying faith that their country would prevail. Using journals and letters, rare historical documents, including testimony from postwar Japanese war crimes tribunals, and the eyewitness accounts of Houston's survivors, James Hornfischer has crafted an account of human valor so riveting and awe-inspiring, it's easy to forget that every single word is true.
Ship of Gold
by Thomas B. Allen Norman C. PolmarShip of Gold is an exciting, fast-paced tale of action, intrigue, and adventure on the high seas-told with the ringing authenticity only firsthand knowledge can impart.In 1945, the U.S. submarine Tigerfish mistakenly torpedoed and sunk a Japanese cargo ship. The ship, allegedly carrying supplies to allied POWs, had been given safe passage. But, in fact, the Osaka Maru was a Japanese Trojan horse: a cunning ruse devised by a powerful secret society to transport tons of gold out of Japan under the very eyes of the enemy. Some thirty years later, the commander of the Tigerfish is murdered in Washington. As the CIA launches its investigation into his death, a race to raise the ship and recover its treasure begins, which mounts to an international incident involving the U.S., China, the Soviet Union and Japan.The action of this taut thriller provides the behind-the-scenes reality of the national security system at work-the CIA, the Oval Office, the Pentagon, and the National Security Council-all scrambling to solve the crisis and to have control of the operation. It is a stunning portrait that all too closely resembles real life. This gripping, authentic thriller, which culminates in the most exciting naval chase since The Hunt for Red October, is must-reading for fans of Tom Clancy, Clive Cussler, and Alistair MacLean.
Ship of Rome (Masters of the Sea, Book #1)
by John StackAgainst a backdrop of the clash of the Roman and Carthaginian empires, the battle for sovereignty takes place on the high seas. Atticus, captain of one of the ships of Rome's small, coastal fleet, is from a Greek fishing family. Septimus, legionary commander, reluctantly ordered aboard ship, is from Rome, born into a traditionally army family. It could never be an easy alliance. But the arrival of a hostile fleet, larger, far more skilful and more powerful than any Atticus has encountered before, forces them to act together. So Atticus, one of Rome's few experienced sailors, finds himself propelled into the middle of a political struggle that is completely foreign to him. Rome need to build a navy fast but the obstacles are many; political animosities, legions adamant that they will only use their traditional methods; Roman prejudice even from friends, that all those not born in Rome are inferior citizens. The enemy are first class, experienced and determined to control the seas. Can Atticus, and the fledgling Roman navy, staffed with inexperienced sailors and unwilling legionaries, out-wit and out-fight his opponents. SHIP OF ROME, full of magnificent sea-battles, packed with strong characters, torn between two powerful empires, is the first book in a new series, MASTERS OF THE SEA, by a brilliant new author.