A Most Fortunate Ship: A Narrative History of Old Ironsides by Tyrone G. Martin

by Tyrone G. Martin

Considered a definitive account when first published in 1980, A Most Fortunate Ship is now available in a revised edition to commemorate the bicentennial anniversary of the USS Constitution, America's most famous naval vessel. The warship earned the nickname "Old Ironsides" because of its apparent invincibility fighting enemy ships such as the HMS Guerriere, the HMS Java, and ships sailed by the Barbary pirates. The prose is good, but the graphics are even beautiful illustrations dot these pages, as do rare photographs and helpful battle diagrams. Tyrone Martin's depiction of everyday life in the early 19th-century American navy is especially interesting.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1982

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sorry, Mr. Martin. I just couldn't summon as much interest in the subject as you could. Being a civilian and a landlubber, I didn't understand, and you didn't explain, half of what you wrote about, and after the umpteenth visit to Wikipedia to find out what the whatchamacallit does and what happens when the whatzit falls off, I gave up. I'm sure for the right party this is a treasure of detail but not for me. Abandoned ship, and this book.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

The DEFINITIVE biography of USS CONSTITUTION, the oldest commissioned warship afloat, from launching in 1797 into the late 20th century. To be honest the read is probably a bit dry for the casual history buff - direct, un-embellished, matter-of-fact - but that is what also makes the book such a treasure trove, laying out Old Ironsides' amazing history in detail.