Treasure Hunt: Shipwreck, Diving, and the Quest for Treasure in the Age of Heroes

In this painstakingly researched volume, naval historian Earle addresses the struggle to salvage major shipwrecks from the late 17th century through the early 19th century. He focuses primarily on British expeditions, although the wrecks come from many countries, most notably Spain, which lost countless treasure ships to reefs, battles and hurricanes. Particular emphasis is placed on the dreamers who gambled fortunes to rummage the ocean floors, as well as on professional divers and their dangerous craft. For Earle, the slow transformation of wild undersea treasure hunts into a semireasonable business tracks the dawning of the Industrial Age and the attempt to temper risk through the new stock markets. Overall, Earle is only as good as his primary sources. Where the records are colorful, we get engaging characters and vivid detail. Where the records run dry, readers are subjected to tedious descriptions of lawsuits and patent applications. Particularly strong sections include Daniel Defoe's appearance as a luckless investor and the wreck of the Earl of Abergavenny , which drowned 260 souls, most notably Capt, John Wordsworth, the younger brother of William Wordsworth. While the book would have benefited from some trimming, it remains a fascinating overview of an occupation that continues to lure scientists, scoundrels and dreamers. (July)