GHOSTS OF THE ABYSS
Text: Don Lynch
Paintings: Ken Marschall
*****
Published by: Hodder & Stoughton
ISBN: 0-340-73416-7
Binding: Hardback
Pages:144
Price: £20
I saw the film to which this book is a companion, and was absolutely spellbound for the all too brief running time of 55 minutes. I had planned to shop around and see if I could get the book for cheaper than the RRP, but as I left the cinema I passed a shop with it in the window and could not resist.
I am on record as saying that Don Lynch's previous contribution (Titanic: An Illustrated History) is the best book of recent years. The author's knowledge came through once more in these pages, but the history is passed over quite quickly, in around about thirty pages. In my opinion this is entirely correct, we all know the history of Titanic, and this was never going to be a work of startling revelations of that sort. The value of this book, and I cannot emphasise this point enough, is in the photographs; wonderful, wonderful photographs!
The aim of the expedition headed by Cameron, that this book chronicles, was to 'journey into the heart of the Titanic' The images contained within the pages are those of first class cabins, the wireless room, stokers mess, elevators and much more. The beauty of the craftsmanship employed on the ship really does come through, in the form of wood panelling, stained glass windows, washbasin stands and the like.
The narration describes the emotional rollercoaster that the team experienced (they were in the middle of a dive when news of the 9/11 attacks came through), Lynch again manages to convey the sentiments succinctly.
The only criticism I do have is that it appears that all of the photographs are stills taken from film footage, and so lack the crispness that we have become used to. This is, however, a minor point, it was simply impossible to include a stills camera in the ROV's. Also, do not expect any new work from Ken Marschall in the pages, unfortunately all of the illustrations are well known.
I would reccomend this publication as the must have book of the year.
