Bibliograph

The shining sea, David Porter and the epic voyage of the U.S.S. Essex during the War of 1812, George C. Daughan

Type

Label

The shining sea, David Porter and the epic voyage of the U.S.S. Essex during the War of 1812, George C. Daughan

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references (pages 287-322) and index

resource.biographical

contains biographical information

Illustrations

mapsplatesillustrationsportraits

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

The shining sea

Nature of contents

bibliography

Responsibility statement

George C. Daughan

Sub title

David Porter and the epic voyage of the U.S.S. Essex during the War of 1812

Summary

"Shortly after the outbreak of the War of 1812, Captain David Porter set out at the helm of the USS Essex, intent on rounding Cape Horn and hunting British whaling and merchant ships in the Pacific Ocean. Porter's odyssey took him to exotic isles and brought glory to the fledgling American navy, and in The Shining Sea, celebrated historian George C. Daughan tells the full story of this historic voyage for the first time. Porter's cruise is now regarded as the greatest maritime adventure of the period, but his monomaniacal quest to capture a British man-of-war ultimately cost him his ship and the lives of over two-thirds of his crew-a disgraceful end to a daring journey. A thrilling narrative of risk and ruin on the high seas, The Shining Sea brings to life one of the war's greatest tragedies, capturing Porter's immense hubris and his cataclysmic failure. "--, Provided by publisher

Target audience

adult

Classification