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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 359.3220973
EAN num: 9781591145134
Format: Illustrated
ISBN number: 1591145139
Label: US Naval Institute Press
Manufacturer: US Naval Institute Press
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 440
Printing Date: 2003-04
Publishing house: US Naval Institute Press
Sale Popularity Level: 65595
Studio: US Naval Institute Press
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
Called a definitive account when very first published in 1980 and the winner of several book awards, this revised and expanded edition is available now for the very first time in paperback. Tyrone G. Martin, the author, was captain of the USS Constitution during the nation's bicentennial celebrations. After decades of research and study, Martin was able to confirm that the innovative diagonal riders which ensured the frigate's long life were present at the ship's launching. He also provides details about the famous ship's participation in battles that have long been ignored or glossed over in official reports. Pictorial battle diagrams are included.
The book not only tells Constitution's complete story, but also presents a picture of life in the U.S. Navy during the nineteenth century--its proud moments as well as its concerns, attitudes, and tensions. Fascinating details are presented on the organization, care, feeding, and disciplining of the crew, and on events that involved such famous names in early American naval history as Edward Preble and Stephen Decatur. Just as previous editions were sought-after as sources of pleasure and information, this new edition will appeal to everyone who enjoys a good sea story and to serious students and sailing ship buffs seeking a reliable reference. 440 pages. 47 photographs. 7 line drawings. 5 maps. Notes. Glossary. Bibliography. Index. Paperback. 7 x 10 inches.
Amazon.com Review:
Considered a definitive account when very first published in 1980, A Most Fortunate Ship is now available in a revised edition to commemorate the bicentennial anniversary of the USS Constitution, America's most famous naval vessel. The warship earned the nickname 'Old Ironsides' because of its apparent invincibility fighting enemy ships such as the HMS Guerriere, the HMS Java, and ships sailed by the Barbary pirates. The prose is good, but the graphics are even better: beautiful illustrations dot these pages, as do rare photographs and helpful battle diagrams. Tyrone Martin's depiction of everyday life in the early 19th-century American navy is especially interesting.
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers -
Cmdr Ty Martin gives an interesting viewpoint on the history of USS Constitution. Giving brief histories and opinions of the ship's more famous captains and insight to what it was like to be a crew member.
He also goes into construction and repairs through the years as well as details of her major/ most famous battles.
It's a good book for the naval history buff but of little use for the modeler. I bought it as reference for a model and was disappointed in that regard but enjoyed the history lesson immensely.
Rated by buyers -
Captain Martin has left no stone unturned in his research and he has presented the story of the history of the U.S.S. Constitution, the oldest continuously commissioned ship in the U.S. Navy or any other, in a manner that is riveting, informative and captivating. This is not a dry historical moniton narrative.
Anyone interested in naval history should read this book, particularly those who would like to learn of how the United States navy got its start and how the Constitution figured into it.
Rated by buyers 
-
Tyrone Martin writes an excellent account of arguably America's most revered warship, USS Constitution. A former commander of "Old Ironsides" (still a commissioned vessel in the U.S. Navy), Martin is personally well versed in the ship's history, writing a very readable, well documented history. Not only does the narrative cover the ship itself -- from design, construction and launching in the mid-1790s to its most recent preservation in the 1990s -- but the people, both officers and enlisted who served her. The personality and idiosyncracies of such officers as Talbot, Hull, Bainbridge, Elliot is especially insightful. Martin also does an excellent job of suggesting both the fragile nature yet durability of large sailing vessels. Constitution weathered numerous stroms, groundings and even a hurricane, not to mention enemy fire. But thanks to a skillful, resourceful crew, and good fortune, was able to jury-rig, repair, and replace key components at sea thereby continuing military and diplomatic service well into the late 19th Century.
Only three concerns prevent me from rendering this book Five Stars. First, early in the book Martin let's the ship's log dominate his prose, resulting in a Point A - to Point B - to Point C monotony. The author shakes this pattern later in the book, letting his own personal style and experience lend a smoother flow and insight to his writing. This is especially apparent in the final few chapters discussing the "battle" to preserve "the big frigate" for posterity. Second, Martin is intimately familiar with nautical terminology, using the nomenclature throughout the book. Fortunately, the book includes a glossary of terms BUT fails, in many instances, to define what Martin fails to adequately describe in the text. This leaves the less nautically informed to wonder, "Where exactly on the ship is that?" Similarly, Martin would have done well to provide a diagram of the frigate labling key equipment, rigging, jibs, yards, etc. for quick reference and orientation (esp. for we flatlanders). Finally, there is the matter of the maps. Diagrams of the Constitution's major engagements (e.g., Guerriere, Java, Cyane, Levant), when combined with the text, are very instructive in visualizing the action. However, the author would have done well to plot Constitution's voyages in more detail as an aid to the less geographically literate. He does, however, an excellent job in the text of providing present-day place names to 19th Century references. Still, keeping track of the ship's progress is somewhat tedius.
In all, I recommend "A Most Fortunate Ship" to those interested in 19th Century sailing ships and the USS Constitution in particular -- its history and preservation. Martin's narrative makes clear why "Old Ironsides" is a national treasure.
Rated by buyers -
Last summer I went to Boston to visit the historical sites and the Constitution (ship not paper). Visiting the Constitution piked my interest in that fine ship, so I ended up picking up this book. The author took alot of time doing research on the ship through the ages and I'm glad he did because now we have this little gem. This book gives a little insight to the tenuous hold the United States had at the beginning and it also gives some insight into why the United States needs a military. It also shows the value of portraying historic treasures (like the Constitution) because they help people remember their past and thus get a better direction on their future.
Rated by buyers -
The U.S.S. Constitution is the oldest ship still in service in the U.S. Navy. This book is a well-written with excerpts of the ship's logs and excellent illustrations. I am amazed at how much history of the United States I did not learn in high school! If you enjoyed watching Horatio Hornblower on A&E, you'll enjoy this book for sure.
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