James P. Delgado PhDMisadventures of a Civil War Submarine: Iron, Guns, and Pearls (Ed Rachal Foundation Nautical Archaeology Series)

This is an interesting and well written book. It is interesting because of the subject, a submarine that almost no one knew existed with a surprisingly complex story to be told. And the story is interesting not just because it's about the submarine, its inventor and the story of its construction, use and eventually "misplacing", but also how the author found out about it and was able to interest people into researching and documenting this relic.And the book is well written too. While the author is an academic, he make the narrative easy to read for the general reader. And he also expands the tale to include more general information of the period in which the sub was build and used and I found that to be something that added to the story.Very highly recommended!

Being a retired archaeologist who has excavated several historic period, western american sites, the background research was excellent. The data as presented is sound with background research explained and data sources identified. In other words a professionally prepared document with enough information, asides and humor for the lay reader. I learned alot about Civil War Period maritime technology which has led me to explore the works of other authors' who have done work on submersibles of this period. Another kudos is the explanation of the problems, dangers, and frustrations of doing professional research in remote places. The health hazards of this time period in the S.E. U.S. and in Central America adds to other works concerning death rates etc. of peoples who were not adapted to local disease vectors. U.S. imperialism was explained as a background source for the development of submarine technology and its potential for commercial use.

Good read

Excellent