CLASSIC DIVE BOOKS
Author - Robert Ballard. These books are not listed for sale. These books are by Robert Ballard, many co-authors and illustrators; and of Ballard as biographies. Several books have only an introduction or foreword by Ballard. Will try to list them chronologically within the 'by Ballard' and 'of Ballard' categories. |
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Robert Ballard is the discoverer
of the Titanic - well, he and a hundred other oceanographers and
a few million dollars or so from the Woods Hole Institute. His books may
not be regarded as classics at the moment but because they are so well
produced, and of such a fascinating interest, they will become so in time.
Even now, within a decade of their release, some books are well out of
print, hard to find, and a treasure when you do. His style - and no doubt
he has a few co-authors and ghost writers assisting - is easy to read and
never overly technical. The books are for the general public, many of whom
are fascinaated by the loss of the 'unsinkable' Titanic in 1912.
But Ballard is more than an oceanographer/explorer, and his excellent work
on the Titanic are not his only achievements. He has gone on to
discover and/or explore many more historic ships, generally of the 20th
century era rather than the ancient shipwrecks that maritime archaeologists
are so fond of. That these later-era steamships do not reveal so much of
our maritime history as the much earlier ancient vessels of the Meditteranean
and the New World is not in any way to delimit the importance of the discovery,
exploration and maritime archaeology on these more 'modern' wrecks. We
may not learn so much more about the way of life at the time of the loss
of the ships, but they still hold a fascinating interest to the general
public, perhaps moreso than an ancient galley off the coast of Africa.
Ballard has, in his books, directed the public attention to the treachery
of the seas, and war, and perhaps in some small way we can learn not to
make the same mistakes again. I was asked once, "Will there ever be another
Titanic?". I replied that indeed there has been - many in fact. But do
you judge a shipwrecks by its size, or loss of life, or circumstances?
Ballard's books alone answers the question.
The Titanic was wrecked in the northern Atlantic on 14 April 1912. The location of the Titanic was discovered on 1 September 1985. Refer also to other Titanic books. |
THE DISCOVERY
OF THE TITANIC
Robert D Ballard Published by: Guild Publishing, London in 1987 (This edition published by arrangement with Hodder & Stoughton) Hard back with dustjacket; 229 printed pages. Dimensions: 24.5 cms tall by 19 cms wide A really interesting book written soon after the discover of the Titanic by Robert Ballard in 1985. The book moves between the search and the history of this great liner and as you would expect, it is extremely well illustrated with a pull out diagram of what the bow section looks like on the sea bed. It is divided into 11 chapters: “Search for a Legend”, “What Happened That Night”, “The Quest Begins”, “Watching From The Sidelines”, “Jason and the Argonauts”, “Discovery”, “Titanic Found”, “Touring the Titanic”, “Last Resting Place of RMS Titanic – Then and Now” and “Epilogue”. The book continues with two other sections. The first is called “An Inventory of the Debris Field” and contains many photographs from that area and the final section from 1867 when Thomas Henry Ismay purchases White Star Line” to 186 when Robert Ballard returns t the Titanic on his second expedition. [pt],[ps] |
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EXPLORING
THE TITANIC
Subtitle: How the Greatest Ship Ever Lost – Was Found Robert D Ballard Published by Pyramid Books, London in 1988 Printed hard back, dustjacket, 64 printed pages. Dimensions: 28.5 cms tall by 22.5 cms wide This large format juvenile book was published some three years after Robert Ballard found the Titanic. The dustjacket when unfolded, has a poster on the reverse showing the Titanic with pictures of the ship and details of date lost and date found. In anticipation of the poster/DJ being removed and used, the hard back cover of the book is printed identically as the dustjacket. There is no index but the book is divided into six chapters: “The Beginning of a Dream”, “The Biggest Ship in the World”, “The Fateful Night”, “Discovery”, “Exploring the Great Ship” and “Solving the Mysteries”. In addition there are some small sections at the back “Epilogue”, “Glossary”, “A Titanic Timeline” and “Recommended Further Reading”. The book is extremely well illustrated with many monochrome and colour photographs/ drawings. The photos being both new (at the time) and old archive pictures. [pt] Further review: Ballard narrates the years of search using modern technology, which located the ship in 1986 at a depth of 12,690 feet, more than two miles down. Graphs, drawings, sketches, photos and text combine for an excellent book on the famous disaster. Ages 8-12. EXPLORING THE TITANIC
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THE DISCOVERY
OF THE BISMARCK
Subtitle: Germany's Greatest Battleship Surrenders Her Secrets Robert D Ballard with Rick Archbold. Introduction by Ludovic Kennedy. Published by: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd, London in 1990. Hardback with dustjacket, 231 printed pages. Dimensions: 29 cms tall by 22 cms wide Using a new system of underwater exploration technology, the author and his team have located the Bismarck off the Atlantic coast of France. In a first person account of his work, the author recounts the history of the German warship. This is a large format book that outlines Ballard's search for the Bismarck and tells the history of the ship from its design to sinking. The introduction is written by UK journalist Ludovic Kennedy who was in the British Royal Navy in World War 2 and was there when the Bismarck was found, disabled and sunk. The book is divided into 10 chapters: "Prologue", "The Pride of the Reich", "Out Hunt Begins (1988)", "Exercise Rhine - The Opening Moves", "First Blood", "The Chase", "The Final Salvo", "The Hunt Resumes (1989)", "Bingo!", "Exploring the Bismarck - Bismarck Then and Now", "Bismarck Conclusions" and "Epilogue". There is a further Appendix that is personal to Robert Ballard, a tribute to his son Todd who was killed in a car crash. As with all Ballard's books, it is extremely well illustrated throughout with many drawings and photographs, the majority in colour. Some are historical while the rest are from the discovery expedition and the dives made with the ROV [pt] |
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THE LOST SHIPS OF GUADALCANAL
Rober D. Ballard, with Rick Archbold. Contemporary photography by Michael McCoy. Underwater paintings by Ken Marschall. Technical and historic consultation by Richard B. Frank and Charles haberlein, Jr. Madison Publishing Inc., Toronto, Canada; 1993. First published in the USA by Warner Books Inc. A great refwerence book to a land which has offered excellent easy offshore diving on Japanese ships and a submarine. Includes underwater photographs of HMAS Canberra. Ni mention of the Toa Maru near Gizo which is a popular recreational dive - probably too tame for Ballard and his boys. Most of the wrecks covered are too deep for recreational diving so the book provides an important glimpse of what lies on the seabed awaiting further development of sport diving over the n3ext few decades. There is a photo of one of the popular on-shore wrecks, the Kyusyu Maru, just west of Honiara - but she doesn't look like that now. From the fly: The Lost Ships of Guadalcanal re-creates the whole story of the campaign that changed the course of the Pacific war. For all the fame of its air and land battles, Guadalcanal is also a compelling story of sailors and warships. In fact, more Americans died in Guadalcanal waters than on land. The terror and confusion of night naval action is con- veyed here in grip- ping chapters that describe first the bit- ter American defeat in the Battle of Savo Island and then the struggle to eventual victory in the cli- mactic Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. We then descend in Ballard's submarine to view scenes of American, Australian, and Japanese ships lying together on the ocean floor, their guns still eerily pointing at each other. With over 300 illustrations, this book has all the pictorial richness that helped make bestsellers of Robert Ballard's tWo previous books, The Disc()tlety of the Titanic and The Discovery of the Bismarck. Haunting pictures of the wrecks are paired with photographs of the ships in their prime; a spectacular full-page foldout reveals the USS Quincy and the Canberra, painted in accurate detail by maritime artist Ken Marschall. Full-color maps and diagrams plus a host of paintings and present -day photographs help to both re-create this extraordinary chapter in the history of the Pacific war and convey the excitement of modem underwater exploration. [ps] |
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EXPLORING
THE LUSITANIA
Probing the Mysteries of the Sinking That Changed History. Madison Press Books, Toronto, Canida; 1995. Published in Great Britain by Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1995. Hardcover, dustjacket, 228 pages, well illustrated in colour and mono historic images, index. Dimensions: 28.0 x 22.0 cm. One oof the most popular of the Ballard books because, I presume, it has been dived on - and that her torpedoing it was such a controversial event which hastened America into joining the European based World War 1. The book gives a great history of th3e ship and the images are stunning - but it solves no mysteries. From a promo blurb: This is an investigation into the sinking of the Lusitania by a German torpedo in May 1915. Nearly 1200 civilian lives were lost. But rumours of conspiracies and cover-ups surround the liner: was she carrying munitions? Was she armed? Was there hope that her sinking might draw the US into the war? [ps] |
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LOST LINERS
Robert D. Ballard and Rick Archbold. Paintings by Ken Marschall. Historical consultation Eric Sauder. Hodder & Stoughton Ltd, UK, 1997. Allen & Unwin, Sydney, Australia, 1997. A Madison Press Book. Hardback, dustjacket, 224 pages, large landscape format, index, bibliography, many excellent colour and mono photographs and paintings. Dimensions: 28.0 x 30.0 centimeters This is my favourite 'Ballard Book' - but my appreciation is not so much for Ballard as it is for the absolutely magnificent paintings by Ken Marschall. I keep looking at the image of the Lusitania going down by the bow and thinking, this has to be a photograph. He is a remarkable artist. It really is an excellent book and covers the loss, discovery and exploration of several of the most famous ships to end their days on the seabed: the Titanic of course, the Lusitania, the Andrea Doria, the Britannic - and those wonderful liners thgat were slightly more fortunate ion some respectss although eventually lost to mankind, except for one - the Mautetania, Titanic's sister Olympic, the Normandie (lost to drowning at New York) - and the one ship that is still with us, the Queen Mary (on which I have had the pleasure of sleeping on). The book offers a guided tour, using underwater photography, and tells the story of their glory days. A must for anyone interested in our fascinating maritime history. [ps] |
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GHOST LINERS
Exploring the World's Greatest Lost Ships Robert D. Ballard; illustrated by Ken Marschall Allen & Unwin, Australia, 1998. Hardback, 64 pages; many colour illustrations. Dimensions: 21.0 x 27.0 centimeters. From a promotional review: The discoverer of this century's most sought after ship wreckage recounts his exploration of the Titanic. Photographs taken during those dangerous dives plus eerily realistic artwork support the awe and reverence Ballard reveals in his text. In additional chapters he examines other, equally sensational ship disasters of the 20th century. He tells of the Lusitania, the Britannic, the Andrea Doria's collision with the Stockholm, and the Empress of Ireland's sinking in the St. Lawrence River. Each story is accompanied by black-and-white and full-color archival and contemporary photographs, diagrams, and magnificent full-color illustrations. Photographs of the sunken ships and artifacts on the ocean floor and riverbeds add notes of sobering reality to seemingly mythic tales. A few well-chosen quotes from passengers and crew about their experiences add a measure of poignancy. Careful observation of the destroyed ships and historical records reveal the often preventable causes of these accidents. Ballard's Exploring the Titanic (Scholastic, 1988) details his development as an undersea explorer, the drama of the sinking, and the thrill of viewing the ship 70 years after her disappearance. Given the strength of Titanic fever that has gripped public imagination, the stories in Ghost Liners will be devoured by students, history buffs, and all who are fascinated by human tragedy. |
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RETURN TO MIDWAY
Robert Ballard and Rick Archibald. Principle photography by David Doubilet. Underwater paintings by Ken Marschall. Hodder Headline Australia, Sydney; 1999. (Madison Publishing Inc., USA). Hardcover, dustjacket, A4 size, many colour photographs and paintings, histporic mono photographs, index, bibliography. From the fly: It has been called "the greatest naval battle since Trafalgar.. On June 4, 1942, near a tiny island 1,500 miles from Hawaii, the course of the Pacific War changed dramatically. Before the battle of Midway the forces of Imperial Japan seemed unstoppable. After Midway the Japanese would never again take the offensive. Fifty-six years later, famed underwater explorer Robert Ballard J embarked on a search for the lost ships" .., that had sunk in that historic battle. '. . ~ Accompanying him were a group of . Japanese and American veterans who. had once faced each other as enemies. Their memories of the epic conflict act as an affecting counterpoint to the story of the high-tech hunt for this great sunken battlefield. Dr. Ballard's search area was enormous and his targets-the Yorktown and four Japanese carriers-layover three miles down, far deeper than the Titanic or the Bismarck. Equipment failures and time constraints kept working against him, and it often seemed that he might return with nothing. But finally, on May 19, 1998, Robert Ballard and his team located the remains of the aircraft carrier U .S.S. Yorktown. Astonishing underwater photographs of the Yorktown by David Doubilet and Ken Marschall's haunting paintings of the nearly intact carrier are among the visual highlights of this richly illustrated book. In addition, archival and modern images and paintings by leading aviation and maritime illustrators complement this gripping account of one of history's great air-and-sea encounters and the mission to document the lost ships that today bear witness to it. [ps] |
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THE ETERNAL
DARKNESS
Robert D. Ballard with Will Hively. Princeton University Press, New Jersey, USA; 2000. Hardcover, dustjacket, 388 pages, index, a very comprehensive further reading section; sixteen colour plates, mono photographs and charts. Also paperback, 408 pages, published 2002 - bottom image. From a promo blurb: Until a few decades ago, the ocean depths were almost as mysterious and inaccessible as outer space. Oceans cover two-thirds of the earth's surface with an average depth of more than two miles - yet humans had never ventured more than a few hundred feet below the waves. One of the great scientific and archaeological feats of our time has been finally to cast light on the 'eternal darkness' of the deep sea. This is the story of that achievement, told by the man who has done more than any other to make it possible: Robert Ballard. Ballard discovered the wreck of the Titanic. He led the teams that discovered hydrothermal vents and 'black smokers' - cracks in the ocean floor where springs of superheated water support some of the strangest life-forms on the planet. He was a diver on the team that explored the mid-Atlantic ridge for the first time, confirming the theory of plate tectonics.Today, using a nuclear submarine from the US Navy, he's exploring the ancient trade routes of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea for the remains of historic vessels and their cargo. In this book, he combines science, history, spectacular illustrations, and first-hand stories from his own expeditions in a uniquely personal account of how twentieth-century explorers have pushed back the frontiers of technology to take us into the midst of a world we could once only guess at. Ballard begins in 1930 with William Beebe and Otis Barton, pioneers of the ocean depths who made the world's first deep-sea dives in a cramped steel sphere. He introduces us to Auguste and Jacques Piccard, whose 'Bathyscaph' descended in 1960 to the lowest point on the ocean floor.He reviews the celebrated advances made by Jacques Cousteau. He describes his own major discoveries - from sea-floor spreading to black smokers - as well as his technical breakthroughs, including the development of remote-operated underwater vehicles and the revolutionary search techniques that led to the discovery and exploration of the Titanic, the Nazi battleship Bismarck, ancient trading vessels, and other great ships. Readers will come away with a richer understanding of history, earth science, biology, and marine technology - and a new appreciation for the remarkable men and women who have explored some of the most remote and fascinating places on the planet. Table of Contents: Preface vii Acknowledgments xi Introduction 3 Part I Depth - A Simple Tethered Sphere; Bathyscaphs Race to the Bottom; The Tragic Dawn of the Modern Deep Submersible. Part II Discovery - Scientists Begin Exploring the Deep; The Midocean Ridge; Womb of the Earth; Hydrothermal Vents; Exotic Oases; Black Smokers; Recipe for a Salty Ocean. Part III Detachment - A Tethered Eyeball Races to Find the Titanic; Recovering Our Past by Remote Control; Should Humans Continue to Dive? [ps] |
GRAVEYARDS
OF THE PACIFIC
From Pearl Harbour to Bikini Atoll. Robert D. Ballard with Muchael Hamilton Morgan, with introduction by Stephen E. Ambrose. Publisher: National Geographic Books, USA, 2001 Hardcover, 224 pages, over 150 b&w & colour photographs and illustrations. This is another ecellent book from the Ballard stable, with informative text and photographs on the Pacific War, and on some of the ships sunk, discovered and explored. These are warship's - perhaps that is why the author's have ommitted the most famous of all the diveable shipwrecks, the SS Presdient Coolidge at Espiritu Santo, then the New Hebrides, now Vanuatu. She was acting as a troop ship when the liner went down with the loss of just two lives - but it is the manner of her demise that perhaps the American's may feel it is best kept quiet - she hit a 'friendly' mine. She is now the world's best most accessible shipwreck - but that is another story which I have told in 'The Lady and the President - The Life and Loss of the SS President Coolidge'. Of the diveable wrecks, Truk Lagoon gets a reasonable mention but not those of Guadalcanal nor Rabaul. Our own fateful HMAS Canberra gets reasonable coverage, and an underwater photo - she is too deep for recreational divers. Overall, this is a great book to read on the Pacific War, albiet from an American aspect, but then they were very much part of it, thank God! From promotional text: Published in the 60th anniversary year of the infamous bombing of Pearl Harbor, Graveyards of the Pacific is Dr. Robert Ballard's compelling survey of the major WWII Pacific battlefields and graveyards including Midway, Guadalcanal, and Truk Lagoon. This authoritative overview of the Pacific war begins with a thrilling account of Ballard's search for an elusive midget sub sunk just prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, and ends with the American Nuclear tests on Bikini Island, where captured German and Japanese craft were scuttled. Featuring rare archival photographs, firsthand accounts of Ballard's explorations and the stories of survivors and eyewitnesses to the Pacific conflicts (gathered by National Geographic over the last year for this project), Graveyards of the Pacific is unique in the thoroughness of its coverage of the Pacific war. In this lavishly illustrated and definitive book, Ballard, a pioneering marine scientist and explorer best known for his discovery of the Titanic, has succeeded in recreating a defining period in American history. [ps] |
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COLLISION
WITH HISTORY
The Search for John F. Kennedy's Pt 109. Robert D. Ballard National Geographic Books, USA, 2003. Hardcover, 200 pages; 100 colour & b&w photographs. Dimensions: 26.06 x 21.08 x 1.85 centimeters From promo blurb: With the support of the Kennedy family, best-selling National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Robert D. Ballard embarks on the search for PT-109, the boat made famous by commander John F. Kennedy's heroic rescue efforts following a harrowing collision with a Japanese destroyer in WWII. The companion to a major National Geographic Explorer television documentary Forty years after his death and 60 years after his first collision with history four miles off the island of Gizo in the South Pacific, John F. Kennedy and his story still inspires readers. JFK's heroic efforts to save his 11-man PT 109 (personal torpedo boat) crew including - swimming close to 80 miles over a period of six days through Japanese- and shark-infested waters, at one point even towing an injured crewman by a rope in his teeth for a two-mile swim- come to life interwoven through a comprehensive history of PT boats and the World War II campaign in the Solomon Islands. Collision with History combines first person presence on Ballard's search expedition for the wreckage, survivor accounts, and Kennedy family members' recollections to introduce the reader to the young war hero who would later become president. Covering subjects such as modern exploration, World War II, and personal heroism, Ballard weaves a tale that spans 60 years. |
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RETURN TO TITANIC
A Look at the World's Most Famous Lost Ship Robert Ballard with Michael Sweeney. National Geographic Books, USA, 2005. Hardcover, 192 pages; 125 photographs, maps. Dimensions: 23.72 x 20.73 x 2.24 centimeters Almost twenty years after making the world's most famous underwater discovery, Robert Ballard returns to Titanic with hi-tech cameras and robots to provide the clearest, most dramatic images ever seen. Ballard documents what has become of the world's best-known ship, torn apart by salvagers over the last 2 decades, and pronounces a new and vital conservation ethos - that future such wrecks must be preserved as historical monuments. This compelling, illustrated book is a journey back in time to the tragic sinking of the Titanic in 1912; a hard look at the present salvaging and natural deterioration of the wreck; and a blueprint for future conservation of this icon. Says Ballard, "every possible book has been written on the Titanic, and Titanic addicts have them all. They will not have this." Return to Titanic brings new dimension, visually and factually. First, the incomparable hi-tech cameras Ballard created to document wrecks on the Mediterranean seafloor in summer 2003 will be used to reveal the changes in Titanic since the first images were made by National Geographic in 1985. Second, he will analyze the salvaging of the wreck by private groups, as well as the natural deterioration since 1985; finally he will establish the global conservation ethos that this and other wrecks be revered as "pyramids of the deep," rather than ransacked. TITANIC has 5 chapters in 192 pages, with 125 images, diagrams, and maps. Images will include period pictures and drawings from the early 1900s, pictures of the 1985 discovery of the wreck, and modern images, culminating in the hi-tech images of the June 2004 expedition. Sweeney's deft hand combines with Ballard's own intriguing story of discovery, his masterminding of robots and hi-definition cameras to document the wreck, and his commitment to conservation in the 21st century. The human element plays a big part in Return to Titanic, as Ballard and Sweeney clarify that technology and conservation are but means to preserving the spirits of the humans lost in the tragedy. Sidebars throughout, identify the artifacts of survivors, such as letters, watches, clothing, and tell their stories. |
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THE LOST SHIPS
OF ROBERT BALLARD
An Unforgettable Underwater Tour by the World's Leading Deep-Sea Explorer Robert D. Ballard, Rick Archbold, Ken Marschall. Thunder Bay Press (CA), USA, 2005. Patrick Stephens Ltd, UK. 2006. Hardcover, 255 pages; well illustrated. Dimensions: 29.41 x 30.07 x 2.82 cm. From a promotional blurb: In the first decades of the twentieth century, luxurious liners and warships ruled the waves. Many of these fabled ships - Titanic, Britannic, Bismarck and others - shared a common bond: their wrecks have been located or visited by the world-renowned deep-sea explorer, Robert D. Ballard. Together, the legendary ships lost during the Second World War and the glory days of the luxury liner comprise an extraordinary underwater museum, around which world-renowned deep-sea explorer, Robert Ballard gives us a guided tour. The book is illustrated throughout with specially commissioned paintings by Ken Marschall, the world's foremost painter of the Titanic, her contemporaries and other famous maritime wrecks. In crisp detail, Marschall depicts the great ships, both in their prime and on the ocean floor in eerie repose. Complementing Marschall's paintings is a vast collection of modern day underwater photography, archival images, illustrations and memorabilia that recall the ships' former glory. In May 2004, Ballard returned to the site of his most famous underwater discovery, the Titanic, to map the ship and analyse the causes and rate of its decay. This latest expedition, documented in a new epilogue, also underscores Ballard's ongoing commitment to the preservation of this unique underwater legacy. |
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ROBERT BALLARD'S
BISMARCK
Ken Marschall and Robert Ballard and Michael McCoy Chartwell Books, USA, 2007. Hardcover, dustjacket, 231 pages. Dimensions 29.06 x 22.1 x 2.21 centimeters. |
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ROBERT BALLARD'S
TITANIC.
Exploring the Greatest of All Lost Ships By Robert D. Ballard J H Haynes & Co Ltd, UK, 2008. Hardback, 240 pages; well illustrated. Dimensions: 28.0 x 21.0 cm. From promotional blurb: In April 1912 the magnificent new liner RMS Titanic struck an iceberg and sank beneath the icy waters of the North Atlantic. This is the compelling first-hand account of Dr Ballard's 12-year quest to find the sunken liner. With the help of rare archive pictures, charts, paintings and a 25-inch 'photo mosaic' of the ship, Ballard recounts the Titanic's fateful last night and describes the moment-by-moment drama of the expeditions that found and explored her. The exact location of the Titanic is revealed and, finally, many of the mysteries that have surrounded her tragic fate are laid to rest. Features stunning deep-sea photography. Includes archive pictures, charts and a unique photo-mosaic of Titanic. |
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ROBERT BALLARD'S
GUADALCANAL.
Ken Marschall and Robert Ballard and Michael McCoy Chartwell Books, USA, 2007. Hardcover, dustjacket, 227 pages. Dimensions 29.06 x 22.1 x 2.21 centimeters |
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ROBERT BALLARD'S
LUSITANIA.
Probing the Mysteries of the Sinking That Changed History Robert Ballard, Ken Marschall, Spencer Dunmore Chartwell Books, USA, 2007. Hardcover, dustjacket, 227 pages. Dimensions 29.06 x 22.1 x 2.21 cm. J H Haynes & Co Ltd, UK, 2009. Hardback, 240 pages. Other Information: Illustrations (some col.) Published In: United Kingdom, 09 February 2009. Dimensions: 28.0 x 21.0 centimeters From a promotional blurb for the British edition: Almost from the moment the Cunard liner Lusitania was sunk by a German submarine in May 1915, controversy has surrounded her. Why did she sink so quickly? Had the liner been carrying munitions for the British? Did Winston Churchill allow the sinking in the hope that it might draw America into the war? Rumours of conspiracies and cover-ups still surround the liner. In 1993 Robert Ballard led an expedition to the wreck of the Lusitania off the coast of Ireland in search of the answers. Ballard's conclusions are authoritative and provide a fascinating, definitive account of what happened. The definitive account of what happened to the Cunard liner Lusitania - the celebrated sinking that helped bring America into the First World War. High-quality underwater imagery sheds light on the cause of the sinking. |
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ARCHAEOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
Edited by Robert Ballard (and contributor). Publisher: Princeton University Press. USA , 2008. Hardback, 296 pages, glossary, index; 170 color illus. 8 line illus. Dimensions: 25.0 x 203.0 x 2.0 centimeters. From promotional blurbs: (This) is the definitive book on the newly emerging field of deep-sea archaeology. Marine archaeologists have been finding and excavating underwater shipwrecks since at least the early 1950s, but until recently their explorations have been restricted to depths considered shallow by oceanographic standards. This book describes the latest advances that enable researchers to probe the secrets of the deep ocean, and the vital contributions these advances offer to archaeology and fields like maritime history and anthropology. Renowned oceanographer Robert Ballard - who stunned the world with his discovery of the Titanic deep in the North Atlantic - has gathered together the pioneers of archaeological oceanography, a cross-disciplinary group of archaeologists, oceanographers, ocean engineers, and anthropologists who have undertaken ambitious expeditions into the deep sea.In this book, they discuss the history of archaeological oceanography and the evolution and use of advanced deep-submergence technology to locate and excavate ancient and modern shipwrecks and cultural and other sites deep under water. They offer examples from their own expeditions and explain the challenges future programs face in obtaining access to the resources needed to carry out this important and exciting research. 'Archaeological Oceanography' is a must-have book for anyone interested in this emerging field. Never has there been a collection of articles as comprehensive as this one. For the first time in a single source are authoritative articles on the technology, field techniques, and even the preservation of these irreplaceable deep-water cultural resources with discussions on ways to bring them to the public's eye. The contributors are experts in their fields and present readable, data-packed overviews. The book will be the standard for many years to come. There is nothing else like this book. Dr. Ballard and his coauthors have led the way in exploring deep shipwrecks. They are the world leaders in deepwater archaeology. Their credentials are unquestioned. The book will be a significant contribution to the field. Table of Contents: Part One: The Technology and Techniques of Archaeological Oceanography Chapter 1: Oceanographic Methods for Underwater Archaeological Surveys by D. F. Coleman and R. D. Ballard. Chapter 2: The Development of Towed Optical and Acoustical Vehicle Systems and Remotely Operated Vehicles in Support of Archaeological Oceanography by J. B. Newman, T. S. Gregory, and J. Howland. Chapter 3: High-resolution Optical Imaging for Deep-water Archaeology by H. Singh, C. Roman, O. Pizarro, B. Foley, R. Eustice, and A. Can. Chapter 4: The Development of Excavation Technology for Remotely Operated Vehicles by S. Webster. Chapter 5: Conservation of Archaeological Finds from Deep-water Wreck Sites by D. Piechota and C. Giangrande. Part Two: Contemporary Shipwrecks in the Deep Sea Chapter: The Search for Contemporary Shipwrecks in the Deep Sea: Lessons Learned by R. D. Ballard; Part Three Deep-water Shipwrecks in the Mediterranean and Black Seas. Chapter 7: Searching for Ancient Shipwrecks in the Deep Sea by R. D. Ballard. Chapter 8: The Remote Exploration and Archaeological Survey of Four Byzantine Ships in the Black Sea by C. Ward and R. Horlings. Part Four: Submerged Landscape Archaeology. Chapter 9: Archaeological and Geological Oceanography of Inundated Coastal Landscapes: An Introduction by D. F. Coleman. Chapter 10. Underwater Prehistoric Archaeological Potential on the Southern New England Continental Shelf off Block Island 200 D. F. Coleman and K. McBride. Chapter 11: Sinkholes in Lake Huron and the Possibility for Early Human Occupation on the Submerged Great Lakes Shelf by D. F. Coleman. Part Five: Telepresence and Submerged Cultural Sites. Chapter 12: Long-term Preservation and Telepresence Visitation of Cultural Sites beneath the Sea by R. D. Ballard and M. J. Durbin. |
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TITANIC: THE LAST GREAT
IMAGES
By Ian Coutts, Robert D. Ballard, (with Don Lynch and Ken Marschall). Perseus Books, USA; 2008. Hardcover, 191 pages, many illustrations. Dimensions: 27.69 x 29.72 x 2.29 centimeters. Publisher: Patrick Stephens Ltd, UK; 2008. Hardback, 192 pages, dimensions: 30.0 x 28.0 centimeters. From promotional blurb. Over seventy years after the great ocean liner sank, marine geologist Robert Ballard discovered the wreck of the Titanic 12,500 feet beneath the surface of the icy North Atlantic. Now Ballard presents the world with an opportunity to live the story of the famous ship through his amazing last great images, before Titanics remains are gone forever. This is a story told in rusted, twisted metal and debris, but it is also a human story told in a porcelain dolls face, an empty shoe, and an abandoned derby hat. Titanic: The Last Great Images maps the wreck of the ship from a variety of perspectives to give a completely new picture of the triumph and tragedy that was Titanic. This illustrated volume-and a National Geographic special-weave the strands of the ocean liners story together in renderings done by the ships original designers, charts of the debris field, and period illustrations. Robert Ballard provides the clearest, most accurate view of the ship we have ever seen. In crisply detailed underwater photography, disintegrating ruins and shattered pieces reveal pride of workmanship, a rigidly defined class system, and indelible images of terror and courage. This book shows what makes the Titanic worthy of the worlds undying fascination.N Contains ew underwater photographs from Dr Ballard's latest expedition. Glorious illustrations by the world's foremost Titanic artist, Ken Marschall. Don Lynch's extensive knowledge of the ship and its passengers - the highest and lowest in society. Maps of the wreck from various perspectives give a completely new picture of the remains of this magnificent liner, now crumbling into oblivion. Period photographs, memorabilia and schematics. Don Lynch is historian for the Titanic Historical Society and Ken Marschall's paintings have appeared in several key Titanic books. |
INTRODUCTIONS &
FOREWORDS |
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LOST SUBS
From the Hunley to the Kursk, the greatest submarines ever lost - and found. By Spencer Dunmore; contemporary underwater photographs by Jonathan Blair and Brian Skerry. Introduction by Robert D. Ballard. Chartwell Books, USA, 2007. Madison Press Limited, 2002. Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 2002. Hardcover, 176 pages, well illustrated, index, bibliography. Dimensions: 23.39 x 25.96 cm An exceptional book, fascinating to read as most submarine loss books are. Includes the Squalus and the Thetis of course. From the 2007 edition promo: As millions have come to know from such immensely popular books and movies as The Hunt for Red October and U-571, the world of submarines is secretive and dangerous. On the ocean floor lie over a century and a half of subs, lost both in war and in peace. Now, for the first time, the individual stories of these sunken ships are woven together to create an amazing history of underwater warfare and exploration - and the price that subs and sailors have paid. [ps] |
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HOSTAGES TO
FORTUNE
The Dramatic Story of the Last Olympian - HMHS "Britannic" Simon Mills; foreword by Robert Ballard. [I can only presume that this is Robert D. Ballard - there is another Robert Ballard as a maritime archaeologist - I think]. Wordsmith Publications, United Kingdom; 2002. Hardback, 224 pages, 130 b&w and 27 colour photographs, bibliography, index. Dimensions: 27.0 x 20.0 cm. |
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REMEMBER PEARL
HARBOUR
American and Japanese Survivors Tell Their Stories Thomas B. Allen; introduction by Robert D. Ballard. National Geographic Society , USA, 2007 Hardcover, 64 pages; dimensions: 26.59 x 23.47 x 0.99 cm. |
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TITANIC -
AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY
Text by Donald Lynch; paintings by Ken Marschall; introduction by Robert D. Ballard. Madison Press Books, USA, 2010. Paperback, 228 pages. |
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See also: | VOLCANOES IN HUMAN HISTORY
The Far-reaching Effects of Major Eruptions Jelle Zeilinga De Boer, Donald Theodore Sanders, Jelle Zeilinga De Boer. Foreword by Robert D. Ballard |
ABOUT BALLARD -
BIOGRAPHIES |
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EXPLORATIONS
Robert D. Ballard. Weidenfeld & Nicolson, UK, 1995. Hardback, 352 pages; sixteen pages of b&w illustrations. Dimensions: 24.0 x 16.0 cm. Reader's review: Ballard's discovery of the remains of the Titanic in 1985 finally brought him worldwide fame, yet he had pioneered in deep-ocean exploration for nearly two decades. A marine geologist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Massachusetts, he has participated in numerous expeditions using deep-diving submersibles. Here he and McConnell (Challenger: A Major Malfunction) give a gripping account of his undersea adventures. He has worked with French expeditions mapping the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the Galapagos Rift; at the latter site, he discovered molten lava on the sea floor and an unexpected oasis of life‘giant clams and tube worms. Ballard examined the sunken ships of WWII's battle of Guadalcanal; he found the lost submarine Thresher and the wreck of the Bismarck. Deep-sea explorers and astronauts share extreme hazards and dependence on high-tech equipment; for the excitement of discovery, Ballard and his fellow scientists have the edge. Another review: This fast-paced autobiographical work reveals Ballard's strong self-confidence as he describes his discoveries of the wrecked Titanic (which made him famous), the sunken submarine Thresher, and the German battleship Bismarck; his exploration of the undersea Mid-Atlantic Ridge; and discovery of deep-sea hot springs with previously unknown flora and fauna that form a hydrogen sulfide-based food chain. Interstingly, there is another
'edition' of this book, same publisher, same date. (Maybe the above details
are for a separate book).
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ADVENTURES
IN OCEAN EXPLORATION
From the Discovery of the "Titanic" to the Search for Noah's Flood Robert D. Ballard, and Malcolm McConnell, 2001 National Geographic Books, USA. Hardcover, 288 pages; 200 colour photographs, b&w photographs, illustrations. Dimensions: 30.99 x 23.93 x 2.13 centimeters Its not all about Ballard as such - moreso on his 'adventures' which have been prolific and exciting. A great read. Frtom a promo blurb. In an era when satellite photographs chart even the most remote landmasses in astonishing detail, we often think of the world as being mostly explored, but in fact the vast majority of our planet lies unrevealed beneath the ocean. In this watery wilderness, an environment every bit as inaccessible as space, Dr. Robert Ballard has pursued an extraordinary dual career as an outstanding marine scientist and a pioneering discoverer. One of our leading oceanographers and National Geographic's Explorer-in-Residence, Ballard tells of plunging 12,000 feet to the floor of the Atlantic, finding new life in the superheated water around active volcanoes on the Pacific seabed, and locating scores of wrecks, from Homeric galleys to the Nazi battleship Bismarck. We peer from the cramped cabin of a research submarine at bioluminescent fish glowing in the sunless depths, gasp for air as the bathyscaph Archimede fills with acrid smoke miles beneath the surface of the sea, and join a crack team of technicians on the bridge of a research ship as they 'fly' a state-of-the-art unmanned submersible over the Titanic's ghostly hull. Capturing all of the irresistible lure of the sea in 200 vivid illustrations and a lively text that spans thousands of years of seafaring and oceanography, this is a book as expansive as its subject, filled with fascinating information, stirring history, and a full measure of the infectious excitement of discovery Robert Ballard knows so well. [ps] Bottom cover illustration from tyhe edition available in Australia. |
ROBERT BALLARD
- Makers of Modern Science
By Lisa Yount Chelsea House Publishers, 2009. Hardcover, 176 pages; black-&-white photographs & line illustrations, glossary, chronology, further reading, internet resources, index. Dimensions: 22.86 x 15.24 x 1.78 cm. From a promotion blurb: As a boy growing up on California's coast, Robert Ballard was fascinated by marine geology and life underwater. While working for the U.S. Navy, he built his expertise in the new technology of submersibles, which served him well in later expeditions. In the 1970s, Ballard took part in several key discoveries in marine science, including direct proof of the theory of plate tectonics and the first sightings of hot water vents and colonies of unique organisms that surround them on the deep-sea floor. But Ballard's most famous expedition found the remains of a famed luxury liner - the RMS Titanic - in 1985. In the years that followed the Titanic discovery, his expeditions sought shipwrecks from both world wars. This absorbing new title shares the life and work of Robert Ballard as he combs the deep for the answers to science's secrets. |
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See also: | HER NAME TITANIC |
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