GHOST SHIP

OnDecember4th,1872,a100-footbrigantinewasdiscovereddriftingthroughtheNorthAtlanticwithoutasoulonboard.Notasignofstruggle,notashredofdamage,noransackedcargo—andnotatraceofthecaptain,hiswifeanddaughter,orthecrew.WhathappenedonboardtheghostshipMaryCelestehasbaffledandtantalizedtheworldfor130years.Inhisstunningnewbook,award-winningjournalistBrianHicksplumbsthedepthsofthisfablednauticalmysteryandfinallyuncoversthetruth.TheMaryCelestewascursedassoonasshewaslaunchedontheBayofFundyinthespringof1861.Herfirstcaptaindiedbeforecompletingthemaidenvoyage.InLondonsheaccidentallyrammedandsankanEnglishbrig.LatershewasabandonedafterastormdroveherashoreatCapeBreton.Butsomehowtheshipwasrecoveredandrefitted,andintheautumnof1872shefelltothereluctantcommandofaseasonedmarinernamedBenjaminSpoonerBriggs.ItwasBriggswhowasatthehelmwhentheMaryCelestesailedintohistory.InBrianHicks’sskilledhands,thestoryoftheMaryCelestebecomesthequintessentialtaleofmenlostatsea.Hicksvividlyrecreatestheeventsleadinguptothecrew’sdisappearanceandthenunfoldsthecomplicatedandbizarreaftermath—thedarksuspicionsthatfellontheofficersoftheshipthatinterceptedher;thefarcicalAdmiraltyCourtsalvagehearinginGibraltar;thewildmythsthatcirculatedafterSirArthurConanDoylepublishedathinlydisguisedshortstorysensationalizingthemystery.EverythingfromavoodoocursetoanalienabductionhasbeenhauledouttoexplainthefateoftheMaryCeleste.But,asBrianHicksreveals,thetruthisactuallygroundedinthecombinedtragediesofhumanerrorandbadluck.ThestoryoftheMaryCelesteacquiredyetanothertwistin2001,whenateamofdiversfundedbynovelistCliveCusslerlocatedthewreckinacoralreefoffHaiti.Writtenwiththesuspenseofathrillerandthevividaccuracyofthebestpopularhistory,GhostShiptellstheunforgettabletruestoryofthemostfamousandmostfascinatingmaritimemysteryofalltime.FromtheHardcoveredition.