February 2006    

The Wreckers Author: Bella Bathurst Publisher: Houghton Mifflin $25.00 Cloth (326 p.) ISBN: 0618416773 B&T         YBP Reviewed by Marcia Amidon Lüsted, Statusing Department Subtitled A Story of Killing Seas and Plundered Shipwrecks, From the 18th Century to the Present Day, Bella Bathurst's new book is an exploration of the realities and myths behind wreckers. My previous knowledge of wreckers comes entirely from Daphne du Maurier's book Jamaica Inn, where ships were lured onto rocks and "wrecked" by the coastal inhabitants who wanted their cargoes, which were then used or sold. After reading Bathurst's book, I have a whole new picture of who wreckers were and still are today: those who live alongside some of the worst seas in the world for ships, and how they have learned to not only assist and rescue the sailors from these ships, but also to use every bit of unusual cargo that might come their way as a result. In many places, wreckers had a fearsome reputation for not only leading ships to disaster by the use of false lights or foghorns, but also for murdering and mutilating the sailors and passengers in order to take their cargo and personal items. Bathurst attempts to show that these kinds of wreckers really did exist, but she isn't able to completely prove that these sorts of actions took place. However, we do come to see that wreckers were highly skilled at stripping a sinking ship of everything useful in a short amount of time, and that often they relied on these shipwrecks for their survival in some very primitive and forsaken places. The book is also a fascinating tour of Britain's coastline and her most infamous sailing conditions and shipwrecks, which in itself is a fascinating read. The book generally leaves the reader with the impression that wreckers are usually good people taking advantage of shipwrecks but not causing them, and often rescuing their passengers, too. It is also a reminder that there are still many places in the world where ships are routinely wrecked and plundered, and that there may be entire villages where every inhabitant wears the same kind of sneakers as a result of a convenient shipping container washing up on the beach. This is a lively and interesting book to read, and it shines an entirely new light on the distribution of consumer goods! Published by YBP Library Services 999 Maple St., Contoocook, NH 03229 USA v: 800.258.3774   f: 603.746.5628 w: www.ybp.com   e: academia@ybp.com All rights reserved.