The Mammoth Book of Storms,Shipwrecks and Sea Disasters

by Richard Russell Lawrence (Editor)

No other environment matches the danger of a hostile sea. This remarkable collection brings together over 60 extraordinary eyewitness accounts, from through the ages, of mishap, error and survival on the high seas. It includes modern cases like the high-ocean dismasting of Kingfisher 2, Richard van Pham's 100 days adrift in 2002, the Kursk submarine disaster and the Exxon Valdez, as well as legendary and lesser known historical events like the HMS Proserpine catastrophe, the Monsarrat storm at sea, and the wreck of the Medusa.

Genres: Nonfiction, Naval History

512 pages, Paperback

First published September 9, 2004

Reviews

[Pete daPixie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow...this really is a Mammoth. I wasn't sure I was going to finish this one, but it got better the more I sailed into it.
Here is a collection of marine horror stories through the ages, from St Paul's Malta wreck, the Spanish Armada's battering, the excellent account of Owen Chase's whaling ship 'Essex', the Royal Charter Storm, the Titanic, Maurice and Maralyn Bailey's 117 days adrift, the Torrey Canyon, Exxon Valdez, Kursk and, as they say, many, many more.
Some of these accounts are quite detailed, a few chapters length in a 'normal' book. Some are just a page or two, but definitely a Mammoth collection.
Other titles in this series, The Mammoth Book of Haunted House Stories, or The Mammoth Book of Oddballs and Eccentrics....or how about The Mammoth Book of Sex, Drugs & Rock 'n Roll!

[Warren S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Given the word Mammoth is in this books title, you would expect there to be a lot inside, and you would not be wrong. The true tales related in the book range from biblical times right up to the early 2000's. There are about 40 tales of disaster at sea in this book and they range are broken up into acts of god (or nature), acts of war, and errors.

I found the most interesting tales to be the Bailey's who spent 117 days at sea. Their strength and courage are a great testament to the human ability to survive and overcome hardship. Equally riveting for me was the wreck of the Royal Charter and the odyssey of the Essex crew who survived crossing the South Pacific after their vessel was attacked and sunk by a whale. This tale formed the basis for the book Moby Dick.

Some tales are just heart rending such as that of the survivors from the sinking of the Spanish Armada and the Thatcher family trying to survive a storm off New England.

One part includes excerpts from the inquiry into the sinking of the Titanic which provided insights into actions by crew and passengers. There is a recounting of the sinking of the Britannic which I had not encountered previously. Similarly interesting in a technical way were the Kursk and Exxon Valdez incidents.

While some of the stories may have been a bit long winded, overall I really enjoyed the book and was looking for more accounts of real life peril on the high seas. A recommended read for anyone interested in marine adventure.

[Amy Dale · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I'd hoped. There were only a handful of stories that were really interesting in the nearly 500 pages. I skimmed through a lot of it. I'm not sure what the issue really was except most stories were long winded and dry,I think I was expecting more drama and terror maybe.. The Titanic section dealt mostly with what was mechanically happening with the ship moment by moment rather than the horror of the passengers. Just disappointing to me.

[J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

eh ok