The Discovery of the Titanic

by Robert D. Ballard and Rick Archbold

Book Overview

Here is the first-hand account of Dr. Ballard's quest to find the Titanic. Including rare archival photos and charts, this volume recounts the Titanic's tragic last night and describes the drama of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0446513857
• ISBN13: 9780446513852
• Release Date: February 1988
• Publisher: Warner Books (NY)
• Length: 230 Pages
• Weight: 2.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 8.9" x 11.2"

Customer Reviews

A most outstanding book.

Dr Robert Ballard will forever remain the man who found the Titanic. In so doing, he became the world's most famous ocean explorer who found the world's most famous ship. It is not for me to inform readers of the story of the Titanic. Almost everyone grew up knowing something about that ship - even if the finer points of information they thought they knew were inaccurate. Having then achieved the outstanding feat of finding this elusive shipwreck, Bob Ballard has put together the most complete - and yet again "outstanding," tale of search, discovery and finally success, coupled with an accurate portrayal of the life and death of the ship itself. All the facts and historic photographs are there - and, speaking as a professional shipwreck historian, he really has done the most thorough job of work here. Finally, he has put together the most (and I deliberately use that word again) "outstanding" collection of artwork created by Ken Marschall. I may be wrong, but it seems to me nobody had heard of this artist until the first editions of this book appeared - now he is a household name amongst those in the know. From thousands of photographic images taken far below the surface, Bob Ballard created montage after montage of the various sections and profiles of the wreck (i.e. big photographs made up of thousands of little photographs) so that Mr Marschall was able to provide us with paintings which look like single colour photographs of this and that section which go together to make up the entire wreck. I congratulate Dr Ballard on an excellent and professional job of work. Altogether, the most outstanding book for which 5 stars are not enough. NM

A most outstanding book.

Dr Robert Ballard will forever remain the man who found the Titanic. In so doing, he became the world's most famous ocean explorer who found the world's most famous ship. It is not for me to inform readers of the story of the Titanic. Almost everyone grew up knowing something about that ship - even if the finer points of information they thought they knew were inaccurate. Having then achieved the outstanding feat of finding this elusive shipwreck, Bob Ballard has put together the most complete - and yet again "outstanding," tale of search, discovery and finally success, coupled with an accurate portrayal of the life and death of the ship itself. All the facts and historic photographs are there - and, speaking as a professional shipwreck historian, he really has done the most thorough job of work here. Finally, he has put together the most (and I deliberately use that word again) "outstanding" collection of artwork created by Ken Marschall. I may be wrong, but it seems to me nobody had heard of this artist until the first editions of this book appeared - now he is a household name amongst those in the know. From thousands of photographic images taken far below the surface, Bob Ballard created montage after montage of the various sections and profiles of the wreck (i.e. big photographs made up of thousands of little photographs) so that Mr Marschall was able to provide us with paintings which look like single colour photographs of this and that section which go together to make up the entire wreck. I congratulate Dr Ballard on an excellent and professional job of work. Altogether, the most outstanding book for which 5 stars are not enough. NM

HONEST LOOK AT DISCOVERY

Ballard's book takes us from his early days at Woods Hole, where he dreamed of finding Titanic, to the discovery in '85, and finally to the 1986 expedition, that examined the wreck thoroughly. It is written well, and illustrated beautifully, with pictures of the wreck site set alongside ones showing the ship in 1912. Ballard's honesty in writing this book is striking. He makes no attempt to portray himself as a great hero, finding Titanic like an oceanic cowboy, but rather lays out his strengths and weaknesses for others to judge. He is clearly proud of his accomplishment, yet regrets some of his actions, if only for the meaning others might take from it. Few authors have ever been so modest. I was also pleased that the book dealt with the sinking itself as much as it did. The bulk deals with the discovery of course, but the last chapter sheds light on Titanic mysteries based on the wreckage. One never feels the chilly, star lit night of 1912 to be very far away.

Still the best Titanic book there is!

In September 1985, after a long, greuling expedition, Dr. Robert Ballard discovered the wreck of the legendary ocean liner R.M.S Titanic. He returned a year later and showed the ship in even greater detail. This book is not just about the Titanic and the search for the wreck but is also about how Robert Ballard build his career at Woods Hole before he started searching for Titanic. It's just a shame that recent expeditions to the wreck haven't treated it like Ballard thought they would.

a very good book

hi, i'm 17 and i've read a book about Titanic but i forgot who the author is... but as far as i can remember, i'm sure the author is Mr.Robert D. Ballad. With all the pictures i saw in the book and the tragedy.. i couldn't believe that the things i saw in the movie Titanic are different from the real. When i saw the movie Titanic, i cried.. but when i read the book and get to know the truth, i shivered and felt pity. I sometimes wonder what will it feel like to be there and hear the sound of children's crying and the sound of people's shouting... but it was really a night to remember......