Edmund Fitzgerald: The Legendary Great Lakes Shipwreck [Paperback]

In "Edmund Fitzgerald: The Legendary Great Lakes Shipwreck" author Elle Andra-Warner weaves the well-known parts of the maritime casualty with a lot of interesting human-interest and general information that I had never read before. For someone looking for a more exhaustive account of the accident and investigation I refer you to "The Wreck of the 'Edmund Fitzgerald'" by Frederick Stonehouse. For someone who wants a good overview of the sinking in a well-written book putting the sinking in context with deftness and nuance, this is an excellent book. I must admit that I was skeptical when I saw the list of endorsing positive reviews upon opening the cover from sources like Peter Fergus-Moore, author of "The Demon Dragonfly" and Tonu Naelapea, Editor of "Estonian Life." I'm sure those are fine publications, but the endorsers didn't seem especially relevant to a book on a Great Lakes shipwreck. I shouldn't have worried. I enjoyed it from the very first page.

The author first discusses the history of the Fitzgerald family, explaining on p. 12, that the first "E. Fitzgerald" was built by Edmond Fitzgerald in 1870, and in a somewhat eerie precedent, foundered in a storm on Lake Erie on November 14, 1883. There is a nice historical chart of Fitzgerald ships in the Great Lakes on p. 22, with more elaboration in Appendix B on p. 116. Of course the bulk of the book is devoted to the bulk carrier "Edmund Fitzgerald" built in 1958. I found it interesting that the "Big Fitz's" last voyage of her first season concluded with battling a challenging storm on Lake Huron on November 18, 1958; this was the same storm that claimed the "Carl D. Bradley" on Lake Michigan, and the accounts here paint a grisly picture of how bad the storm was. On November 29, 1966 the "Daniel J. Morrell" sank in another horrific storm in Lake Huron (which so injured the "Morrell's" sister ship, the "Edward Y. Townsend" that it sank on the way to the scrapper.) No one could have possibly known that nine years later it would be the "Fitzgerald's" turn.

Andra-Warner doesn't neglect the final voyage, of course, and starts with an account of the "Fitz" leaving Superior, Wisconsin on November 9, 1975; please note the excellent photo of the "Fitzgerald" leaving the Duluth-Superior Harbor on p. 47. I appreciate the background that the author provided for the men. I found the friendship of Captain Ernest McSorley and First Mate Jack McCarthy especially interesting; and enjoyed the small details that Andra-Warner wove into the tale, things like how both McSorley and McCarthy had both been Captains of the "Ben E. Tate" (which McCarthy ran aground, ending his time as a ship's master.) I was also flabbergasted that Ransom Cundy, a veteran sailor and watchman on the "Fitzgerald," couldn't swim. I had assumed this would be a requirement for the job. Details like these held my interest throughout the book, and immensely added to understanding the character of the "Fitzgerald" and the men who sailed on her. The author reviews the different sinking scenarios, the expeditions to the ship, and provides an NOAA weather analysis of the Great Lakes for the "Fitzgerald" storm on p. 106. I thought her closing thoughts on pp. 106-107 were extremely well written, and I appreciated her choice of a quote from an experienced Laker Captain, Erik Wood, to conclude the main part of the book: "Remember that you are never in control - Mother Nature is - and if she wants your ship, she will take you."

This is not the most thorough review of the "Fitzgerald" accident available, but it is one of the best written, and certainly is respectful and informative about the "Fitzgerald" and the background that puts the tragedy in a greater context. I enjoyed this book immensely, and recommend it to anyone interested in the "Fitzgerald" or Great Lakes shipping; it would make an especially excellent introduction to the "Fitzgerald" for someone who is new to the subject.

The Edmund Fitzgerald has become part of the folklore of the Great Lakes. "Edmund Fitzgerald: The Legendary Great Lakes Shipwreck" delves into the history of the ship, detailing the events that led to the wreckage, the aftermath as people tried to figure out what led to the ships demise and how recovery efforts have proved far more than difficult than expected. "Edmund Fitzgerald" is an ideal read for those curious about the ship and its legend.

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