DANIEL LENIHAN has been diving for the U.S. National Park Service as a park ranger and archaeologist since 1972. In 1976, he created the only underwater archaeological team in the federal government, and in 1980 was appointed the first chief of the Submerged Cultural Resources Unit (SCRU) of the National Park Service. He has taught diving for research, law enforcement, and rescue purposes. His work has been featured in documentaries on CBS, ABC, BBC, PBS, the Discovery channel, and National Geographic, and his writings have appeared in numerous publications, including Natural History, American History, Naval Proceedings, Shipwreck Anthropology, and the NSS Cave Diving Manual. Lenihan wrote Submerged: Adventures of America’s Most Elite Underwater Archeology Team, published by Newmarket Press in 2002, about his twenty-five years with the National Park Service. He is also coauthor of the Fodor’s guide Underwater Wonders of the National Parks, and served on the editorial board for the Encyclopedia of Underwater Archaeology published by the British Maritime Museum.
RAVE REVIEWS FOR
WAKE OF THE PERDIDO STAR
“A fascinating read you can’t help but enjoy…A swashbuckling sea story written like a sea story should be written.”
“Intriguing coming-of-age adventure full of information about early nineteenth-century diving, salvage, and piracy… The authors do a fine job of blending historical and technical details into their narrative… including a wellconstructed, exciting ending.”
“A robust seafaring yarn that is equal parts Jack London and Robert Louis Stevenson—with a touch of Steven Spielberg thrown in… A fun-filled adventure that rarely takes a wrong turn… Complete with a slam-bang finale.”
“An American swashbuckler with satisfying action and rousing derring-do.”
“You’ll be able to smell the salt air, feel the wet deck wood beneath your feet, even taste the rum. And, if you’re a devoted reader of the seafaring tales of Patrick O’Brian, or count Treasure Island as one of your childhood favorites, Wake of the Perdido Star is well worth the effort. Chock full of pirates, sea battles, shipwrecks and adventure…Brutally realistic as it paints a picture of an era and a lifestyle in which only the strong survive… A fun, rousing tale.”
“Hackman and Lenihan bring a fresh perspective and lots of gung-ho enthusiasm and energy to the historical maritime genre. The action throughout is fast-paced and exciting, some of it surprising, and all of it drenched in saltwater and realistic descriptions of the period’s seamanship, underwater salvage operations and deep-sea diving.”
“An adventure story that earns its place in the esteemed company of such seafaring sagas as Moby Dick and Mutiny on the Bounty.”
“From Joseph Conrad to Patrick O’Brian, there has been no shortage of stories about shipwrecks and pirates. An unexpected addition to the genre comes from actor Hackman and underwater archaeologist Lenihan… always entertaining… The characterization is well done; Jack and his intellectual friend Paul are joined by an interesting, well-drawn cast of both friends and villains. Readers will absorb some arcane information [on] the 19th-century version of scuba diving. Recommended.”
“A knockout of a first novel.”
“A swashbuckling sea yarn.”
“Thrilling… A swashbuckling tale, full of action… is sure to make readers clamor for more.”
“Hackman and Lenihan have crafted an epic tale of honor and betrayal, of revenge and hope, and ultimately of justice and redemption.”
“A swashbuckling sea story of nautical derring-do… salted with plenty of action and some fine sea battles.”
“Propels the reader from the small-town snobbery of 1805 Connecticut to the aristocratic duplicity of Havana, from the pounding seas of Cape Horn and Palau to the ports of Manila, Java, South Africa, and on to the Dry Tortugas.”
“A fun read… An entertaining yarn that offers readers—both adults and adolescents—a jolly good time along the way.”
“A rousing good tale… the action explodes off the pages… It’s rare to find good action backed by solid research and knowledge of the sea.”
“A stirring yarn, filled with heroes and villains who are larger than life, with a knowledge of the seamanship and the diving technology and physiology of the day that equals the great sea writers who have set the standard.”
“A stirring 19th-century coming-of-age adventure.”
“An exciting sea saga… [It] has literary sails filled with authenticity and high-spirited adventure.”