Fatal Treasure: Greed and Death, Emeralds and Gold, and the Obsessive Search for the Legendary Ghost Galleon Atocha
by Jedwin Smith
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Book Summary Information
Author: Jedwin SmithEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2005-02-22
ISBN: 0471696803
Number of pages: 272
Publisher: Wiley
Book Reviews of Fatal Treasure: Greed and Death, Emeralds and Gold, and the Obsessive Search for the Legendary Ghost Galleon Atocha
Book Review: Frustrating read
Summary: 3 Stars
Fancinating subject matter that should have been handled better. I would give it 5 stars just for the subject matter, 1 star for the writing style. The non-linear story telling was difficult to follow - jumping back and forth from the mid 70s, to the 80s, and even jumps to to the 90s. Lack of maps kept one from understanding the actual scope of the search. Some interesting story lines were introduced, but then disappear. For example, I would have loved to have read more on Kane - the prickly other brother - rather than the perfect son -the dead ringer for Mel, who now runs the company. but what was the most distracting aspect of the book was the author's persistent efforts to insert himself into the story. He seems to be convinced that the readers are interested in him. He even resorts to making a story out of his interview with the mother - years after the death of her son Dirk.
Also, it is amazing that the author spent a good deal of time with the search crew his first time out, and apparently never entered the water. My 14 year old boy scuba dives - nothing to it, and some of the search depths are snorkling depths. He seems to only see it as living in Atlanta working 9-5, or living the gypsy life at sea. Doesn't he take vacations? Long weekends? If he was so passionate about 'following his dream' he would have been down there more often - it is just a long day's drive, or a $100 plane ride. I hope someone comes out with the full story on this great treasure hunt.
Summary of Fatal Treasure: Greed and Death, Emeralds and Gold, and the Obsessive Search for the Legendary Ghost Galleon Atocha
"In real life-especially off the Florida coast-things can have fatal consequences. Fatal Treasure is a truly compelling read."-Aphrodite Jones, New York Times bestselling author of Cruel Sacrifice and All She Wanted
In 1622, hundreds of people lost their lives to the curse of the Spanish galleon Atocha-and they would not be the last. Fatal Treasure combines the rousing adventure of Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea with the compelling characters and local color of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. It tells the powerful true story of the relentless quest to find the Atocha and reclaim her priceless treasures from the sea. You'll follow Mel Fisher, his family, and their intrepid team of treasure hunters as they dive beneath the treacherous waters of the Florida Straits and scour the ocean floor in search of gold, silver, and emeralds. And you'll discover that nearly four centuries after the shipwreck, the curse of the Atocha is still a deadly force.
"On this day, the sea once again relinquished its hold on the riches and glory of seventeenth-century Spain. And by the grace of God, I would share the moment of glory . . . . I was reaching for my eighth emerald, another big one, when the invisible hands squeezed my trachea. In desperation, I clutched at my throat to pry away the enemy's fingers. But no one had hold of me."
-From the Prologue
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