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  • In the Waves

  • My Quest to Solve the Mystery of a Civil War Submarine
  • By: Rachel Lance
  • Narrated by: Rebecca Lowman
  • Length: 9 hrs and 59 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (1 rating)
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In the Waves cover art

In the Waves

By: Rachel Lance
Narrated by: Rebecca Lowman
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Summary

"One part science book, one part historical narrative, one part memoir…harrowing, and inspiring.” (The Wall Street Journal

How a determined scientist cracked the case of the first successful - and disastrous - submarine attack.

On the night of February 17, 1864, the tiny Confederate submarine HL Hunley made its way toward the USS Housatonic just outside Charleston harbor. Within a matter of hours, the Union ship’s stern was blown open in a spray of wood planks. The explosion sank the ship, killing many of its crew. And the submarine, the first ever to be successful in combat, disappeared without a trace. 

For 131 years the eight-man crew of the HL Hunley lay in their watery graves, undiscovered. When finally raised, the narrow metal vessel revealed a puzzling sight. There was no indication the blast had breached the hull, and all eight men were still seated at their stations - frozen in time after more than a century. Why did it sink? Why did the men die? Archaeologists and conservationists have been studying the boat and the remains for years, and now one woman has the answers. 

In the Waves is much more than just a military perspective or a technical account. It’s also the story of Rachel Lance’s single-minded obsession spanning three years, the story of the extreme highs and lows in her quest to find all the puzzle pieces of the Hunley. Balancing a gripping historical tale and original research with a personal story of professional and private obstacles, In the Waves is an enthralling look at a unique part of the Civil War and the lengths one scientist will go to uncover its secrets.

©2020 Rachel Lance (P)2020 Penguin Audio
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic reviews

“A page-turning tale of personal obsession to solve a great historical mystery frozen in time. Rachel Lance dives deep into an era during the Civil War when combatants took almost unimaginable risks, then uses a thrilling combination of creativity, ingenuity, and curiosity to answer questions long thought lost beneath the waves. A wonderful adventure told by that rarest of breeds - a scientist who writes beautifully and won’t relent until she knows.” (Robert Kurson, New York Times best-selling author of Shadow Divers and Rocket Men)

In the Waves draws the reader deep into a layered mystery, rich with explosive experimentation, Civil War history, and the engaging personal narrative of a young scientist. As persuasive as she is passionate, Rachel Lance expertly unravels the tragedy of the Hunley, complete with its scientific and historical context. Yet Lance’s book reveals more than torpedo blasts and shock waves: it is an inspiring look at what is possible when devotion and science are joined.” (Nathalia Holt, New York Times best-selling author of Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us from Missiles to the Moon to Mars)

“Lance deftly blends historical narrative and the unraveling of this scientific puzzle in a thoroughly accessible and entertaining style.... This engaging investigative work will intrigue readers of Civil War and naval histories and sleuths of scientific puzzles.” (Library Journal, starred review)

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