The Shining Sea

"George Daughan has written a riveting seafaring story. With grace and style, he tells the epic and ultimately tragic tale of the South Seas voyage of the Essex, a US Navy frigate, during the War of 1812. The history of the Essex's seventeen months at sea is captivating in itself, but Daughan succeeds in unraveling the mysteries of sailing ships, naval battles, the lonely life of a ship's captain, and the fast-changing and often perilous fortunes of mariners. This is wonderful history so well told that it will leave readers with the feeling of running fast on a smooth blue sea."

"The Shining Sea is more than simply the story of one captain and one ship. Daughan describes island life in the South Pacific, shipboard diseases, battles for independence in South America, and includes digressions on mutiny and ship repair. In the end, this book is as much history and travelogue as the story of one thrilling voyage."

"[A]n entertaining and informative biography of David Porter.... Daughan's account of an ambitious sailor's rise to power and the price of his hubris is at once a cautionary tale and a fascinating look into the life of a young nation--especially the relationship with England and France."

"[A] fascinating story.... Daughan tells Porter's story in a way that takes the reader from admiration to, if not disdain, disappointment in the foibles of a man obsessed with reputation."

"Daughan richly describes the Essex's voyage, including the dangers and privations from the weather, enemy action, crew indiscipline, and the vagaries of handling a wooden ship under sail.... Readers, especially those well versed in naval history and terminology, will revel in this lively and thoroughly researched work covering a cruise on its bicentennial."

"[David Porter's] exploits are legendary, almost unbelievable, and The Shining Sea recounts them with vivid detail and high drama.... This book is the way to learn history. Focusing on David Porter, it also explains the political and cultural environment influencing his actions, and events that led up to and followed the War. The story is meticulously researched, but written with the pace and vivacity of an action thriller, heart-pounding and immersive. Excellent writing, excellent reading; an excellent book."

"George Daughan has spun a riveting yarn about David Porter and the extraordinary voyage of the USS Essex. With verve and historical nuance, the book captures some of the global ambitions of Americans early in our history and tells a Pacific story that would soon echo in the works of Herman Melville."

"George C. Daughan has in The Shining Sea written another splendid book about the efforts of early American seamen to defend their nation on the world's oceans. This volume takes up the successes and failures of one of them, David Porter, in the War of 1812. The principal part of the book tells the story of Captain Porter's voyage around Cape Horn and across the Pacific in an attempt to destroy British naval forces. The great naval captains--Farragut, Decatur, Preble, among others--appear at appropriate points in the story. But it is David Porter and the Essex who assume the central place in the tale: the climax comes in Valparaiso with the destruction of the Essex and all of Porter's hopes. Daughan tells the history of the Essex's disaster as he does all of the sensational happenings on the voyage: with honesty, great skill, and verve."