**
One of The Most Fascinating Books WIRED Read in 2020**
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.
