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CLASSIC DIVE BOOKS
Author - Hugh Edwards. These books are not listed for sale. |
Hugh Edwards is the doyen of Australian diving authorship, but his
talents extend beyond that of a diving writer. He has written maybe twenty
books, most with a theme relevant to the sea, has worked as a journalist,
fisherman, football writer, clearance and salvage diver, leader of shipwreck
search expeditions, and underwater photographer, as well as becoming an
internationally-recognised author. His approach to writing is coloured
vividly by his own experiences, and his p[ersonal skills give credibility
to the subjects on which he writes.
He played a major part in the discovery and exploration of Western Australia's famous silver ships, the Dutch East lndiamen wrecks, in the 1960s. His book on the 1629 loss of the Batavia, 'Islands of Angry Ghosts', won the Sir Thomas White Memorial Prize for the best book written by an Australian in 1966, and has been published in Britain, Australia, Holland, and the United States. Another book, 'Wreck on The Half Moon Reef', on the 1727 Zeewyk, has also been published in several editions in Australia and internationally. Furthermore, he is a bloody nice bloke. |
GODS AND LITTLE
FISHES
Hugh Edwards. First published 1962. Peter davies, London. Hardcover, dustjacket, 238 pages, 24 mono plates centrally placed. The author is no doubt the doyen of writers of underwater material in Australia, and a most expereinced diver. This book was obviously published for the British market, looking for some excitement in the undersea of the Mediterranean and Australian waters. I think this is the first of his several books which included the award winning Islands of Angry Ghosts. Of limited historical interest but a very good read. [ps] |
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ISLANDS OF ANGRY GHOSTS
Hugh Edwards. Published in 1966 Hodder and Stoughton Ltd, London.
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PORT
OF PEARLS - Broom's First 100 Years.
Hugh Edwards Published by author, Perth, WA, 1984. ISBN 0-646-19309-0 Softcover, 198 pages, mono and colour plates. Broome, on the remote northern coast of Western Australia, is known for its pearling industry. Its past history weaves a rich tradition of several cultures including the indigenous Australians, Indonesians, Malays, Japanese and virtually anyone with a colourful background. But cyclones, the Pacific war, sharks and the dreaded bends have left many bones in the local graveyard, and more on the bottom of the sea. There was an appalling death rate among the early divers where ignorance of the hazards of deep and prolonged diving resulted in a painful death or at best, incapacitation, through what became known as decompression sickness. The industry survived; cultured pearls from Broome are now the best in the world. Hugh Edwards’ historical and contemporary insights into Broome make a fitting tribute to the resilient Australian town which is now fast becoming one of the finest tourist destinations in Australia. An excellent read for all divers. [ps] In print, available from Oceans Enterprises. See also author's page. |
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SHARKS AND SHIPWRECKS
Hugh Edwards. Landsowne Press, Melbourne, 1975. Reprinted in 'limp ewdition', ie softcover, also in 1975. Hardcover, dustjacket, landscape format, 128 paages, full colour throughout, and mono photographs. The author is an icon of Australian diving and an award-winning author. This very interesting book is a collection of essays from other authors also. The full list of chapters: the Great White Shark, Ron Taylor; The Pieces of Eight, Hugh Edwards; A Shark Took My Leg, Henri Bource; The Niagra Gold, Johnno Johnstone; An Eel Named Harry, Valerie Taylor; The Shark Fisherman, Hugh Edwards; At the Bottom of Sunda Strait: HMAS Perth, Dave Burchell; A Fragment of Lace, Marilyn Edwards; Riding the Whale Shark, Ben Cropp; The Great Shark of Jurien Bay, Hugh Edwards; Putl:ing the Pieces Together, Jeremy Green; The Elingamite Treasure, Wade Doak; The South Australian Shark Attacks; Brian Rodger and Rodney Fox; Swimming with Sea Snakes, Eva Cropp; A Year of Whales, John Harding; The First Zuytdorp Dive, Max Cramer; The Invisible Invaders, Neville Coleman. As you will note from the contributors, the book covers the interests of maritime archaeology, the marine sciences, sharks of course, treasure diving, shipwrecks and cinematography. A great read. I personally like it as it includes so many good friends that I have had the honour to meet over the past four decades. [ps] |
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SKIN DIVING
Hugh Edwards First published 1975, Paul Hamlyn Pty Ltd, Sydney. Hardcover, dustjacket, 96 pages, A4 size, mono photographs throughout, several colour plates. Despite Hugh Edwards being arguably the doyen of Australia's diving authors (see Islands of Angry Ghosts), this is a fairly superficial book, covering a n umber of topics including technique, ‘sharks and other sea creatures', photography, ‘diving for treasure' etc - a ‘popular' book by a mainstream publisher for the popular market. Of no great historic value. [ps] |
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THE WRECK
ON HALF-MOON REEF:
The True Story of the Dutch East India Ship Zeewyk Hugh Edwards. Published by Scribners, 1970. Harcover, dustjacket, 193 pages, photographs. The story of the wreck of the Dutch East Indiaman Zeewyk in 1727 off the West Australia coast. The author and others found the wreck in 1963. Paperback edition also released. |
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