James D. Hornfischer - Ship of Ghosts: The Story of the USS Houston, FDRs Legendary Lost Cruiser, and the Epic Saga of Her Survivors   NOOK Book

Acclaim for James D. Hornfischer and

SHIP OF GHOSTS

A U.S. Naval InstituteProceedingsNotable Book of 2006

Powerful Another you are there tale that has earned Hornfischer a reputation as one of naval historys heavy hitters.

U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings

This captivating saga chronicles a grim tale that was then a mystery and largely untold in historical accounts of WWII naval warfare in the Pacific With vivid and visceral descriptions of the chaos and valor onboard the doomed Houston the author penetrates the thoughts and fears of adrenaline-pumped sailors in the heat of combat Hornfischer masterfully shapes the narrative into an unforgettable epic of human endurance.

USA Today

Its hard to imagine any ship in the history of the U.S. Navy that combined such a celebrated beginning with such a wrenching ending as the USS Houston. And its hard to imagine anyone telling the story of the Houston and its crew more meticulously or engagingly than James D. Hornfischer Hornfischers description of the battle is riveting and rich in its graphic detail So great is the drama of the Houston and its survivors that this story seems to tell itself, although its really the product of meticulous research and Hornfischers knowledge of his subject. Were left in awe that anyone survived their ordeal, and humbled to meet the men who did.

Rocky Mountain News

As he did in Last Stand, Hornfischer renders [the] desperate battle in a riveting and dramatic fashion Moving and powerful Tightly written and structured, detailed and immaculately researched, Ship of Ghosts is a title that most World War II history buffs will not want to miss.

Flint Journal

Hornfischer exhaustively details the full story: the visceral terror of a naval battle, savage treatment by Japanese captors, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Entertainment Weekly (An EW PickGrade: A)

Hornfischer (who wrote the equally powerful The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors) follows these survivors without ever missing a beat, proving himself to be one of our greatest WWII historians.

Book-of-the-Month Club News

The author of The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors gives us another excellent volume of World War II naval history Drawing on the survivors accounts and extensive published resources, Hornfischer has painted a compelling picture of one of the most gallant ships and one of the grimmest campaigns in American naval history. He has a positive genius for depicting the surface-warfare sailor in a tight spot. May he write long and give them more memorials.

Booklist (starred review)

Chronicles a nearly forgotten chapter of U.S. naval history with a gripping intensity that should satisfy salty dogs and landlubbers Hornfischer has emerged as a major World War II maritime historian by weaving together the human and strategic threads of a fascinating tale. What kind of yarn is Ship of Ghosts? Put Stephen Ambrose aboard the cruiser Next bring along Patrick OBrien for nautical detail and high-seas drama. Then factor in Joseph Conrad for tales of men under stress in exotic climes.

Metro West Daily News

For Hornfischer the tale of the Houston and the Death Railway is all the more poignant because it is relatively unsung, at least compared to such well-documented horrors as the Bataan Death March The scenes he paints are riveting.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A gripping narrative Harrowing and frank, this story of a gritty band of menstarved, isolated and working under excruciating conditionsreflects the triumph of will over adversity [a] long-overdue saga of the famous ship.

Kirkus Reviews

Engrossing a superb evocation of naval combat a gripping, well-told memorial to Greatest Generation martyrdom.

Publishers Weekly

Ship of Ghosts would be an unforgettable book if only for its brilliantly wrought account of the massive, chaotic sea battle that destroyed the USS Houston. But that is only the beginning of a story that grows more harrowing with every chapter, and that finally leaves the reader amazed at what human beings are capable of achieving and enduring.

Stephen Harrigan, author of Challenger Park and The Gates of the Alamo

On sea and on land, these intrepid sailors endured enough for a thousand lifetimes. In this riveting account, Hornfischer carefully reconstructs a story none of us should be allowed to forget.

Hampton Sides, author of Blood and Thunder and Ghost Soldiers

Hornfischer has produced another meticulously researched naval history page-turner in Ship of Ghosts. He manages to fuse powerful human stories into the great flow of historical events with a singular storytelling talent.

John F. Lehman, former Secretary of the Navy, author of On Seas of Glory

Hornfischer has done it again. His narrative is fine-tuned and always compelling but where he truly excels is in his evocative, often lyrical descriptions of combat at sea. Those who enjoyed his previous bestseller will love Ship of Ghostsmilitary history at its finest.

Alex Kershaw, author of The Few

Masterly [the] descriptions of the huge and terrifying naval engagements are as overwhelming a stretch of historical writing as I have ever come across Beautifully written and heart-gripping.

Adam Nicolson, author of Gods Secretaries

Recounts perhaps the most devastating untold saga of World War II in piercing detail.

Donovan Webster, author of The Burma Road

Hornfischer has hit another home run.

Paul Stillwell, former director, History Division, U.S. Naval Institute; author of Battleship Arizona

Excellent Hornfischer details amazing stories of survival and horrifying stories of death. He tells of the trials that brought punishment to the perpetrators and of the difficulties survivors had in adapting to freedom.

San Antonio Express-News

Finally a new book about the Houston, her crew, and their lost years has reached stores. James D. Hornfischers Ship of Ghosts accomplishes what its predecessors never quite did.

America in WWII

Hornfischer rivets the readers attention The crew relate, through Hornfischers superb narrative style, their individual accounts in a seamless tale of bravery and uncommon personal fortitude Jim Hornfischer has crafted a terrific read and every U.S. Navy sailor and every WWII history buff will want to read Ship of Ghosts.

Tin Can Sailor

James D. Hornfischer is a first-rate World War II naval historian [His] book is ultimately an evocative testament to the human spirit.

Austin Monthly

The author brings to life another little-known chapter of World War II in the Pacific I highly recommend Ship of Ghosts. While it is historical, its fast and exciting pace reminds me of The Sand Pebbles, one of my favorite novels.

Col. Gordon W. Keiser, USMC (ret.), U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings

Certain to appeal to many types of readersscholars, navy buffs, armchair sailors and military historians among them.

Associated Press

ALSO BY JAMES D. HORNFISCHER

The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors:
The Extraordinary World War II Story of
the U.S. Navys Finest Hour