Shipwrecks of the Great Lakes

Rating:
Summary: Decent book for the casual enthusiast but poorly researched
Review: Paul Hancock's entry into the Great Lakes shipwreck genre is a very nicely produced book with many dramatic photos and a high level overview of a small sampling of accidents. The book is a good coffee table style book for the casually interested, but will disappoint those already acquainted with the genre or those looking for a more comprehensive and accurate reference. Despite the lavish production, the book is poorly researched, relying solely upon the secondary resources of a single archive. Subsequent errors in photo identification and historical fact abound, such as the misidentification of the schooner Northwest and the outright fabrication of the loss of the sidewheeler Planet, while details concerning the losses of several others vessels are grossly inaccurate. The book contributes no new information to the historical record and is simply an unchecked rehash of the (sometimes erroneous) work of previous researchers. The book is solely for the entertainment of the casual enthusiast and is a blatantly commercial effort bearing a striking similarity to the now out of print book Wrecks and Rescues of the Great Lakes by James Barry. Of the small sampling of Great Lakes wrecks considered, nearly all have already been written about extensively by previous authors, usually with greater historical accuracy. If you are seriously interested in the history of Great Lakes shipwrecks, this is a good book to skip. However, if you are looking for a coffee table book with large, dramatic photos of Great Lakes ships and shipwrecks, this is an excellent volume.