Shadow Divers
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| Paperback cover of Shadow Divers | |
| Author | Robert Kurson |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | non-fiction history adventure novel |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
| Released | 2004 |
| Media Type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 397 pp (paperback) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-375-76098-9 (paperback) |
Shadow Divers is a non-fictional recounting of the discovery of a World War 2 German U-Boat sixty miles off the coast of New Jersey in 1991.
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[edit] Plot summary
In 1991 diver John Chatterton dives upon an unknown object lying 230 feet below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean and discovers an apparant historical impossibility: a World War 2 German U-Boat off the coast of New Jersey. Amazed at this discovery Chatterton and his team of fellow divers on the trip make a pact to keep the U-Boat a secret until they can discover it's identity and claim credit for it's discovery. This is to prevent "wreck-jumping" where another person claims credit and/or removes object from the wreck. Unfortunately this pact is broken almost immediately by a couple members of the team who decide to tell close friends, and the secret is let out. Consulting both the United States Navy and the German Navy both lead to complete denials of the possibility of a WWII-era wreck in that area. Historical records claim the closet U-Boat wreck to be hundreds of miles away.
The book chronicles the seven year quest to learn the identity of the mysterious wreck, dubbed "U-Who" by the dive team, the identities of the men aboard her, and how she came to rest on the ocean floor near New Jersey. Over the length of the quest several members of the original dive team quit, either because their lives lead them elsewhere or over concerns for their safety. Several new members are brought in, including Richie Kohler, a member of the notorious "Atlantic Wreck Divers" club that had the reputation of being pirate-like and wreckless in their diving philosphy. This philosphy is completely opposite of Chatterton's, and he initially dislikes Kohler, however during the course of the quest the two men discover qualities in each other they both admire and respect. Kohler himself is driven not by monetary desires but the history behind and of the wreck, and the personal connection he feels as his family is of German descent. Both he and Chatterton become close friends.
The quest for the U-Boat's identity and the identity of the men onboard push the men and the dive team to the limits, ultimately almost ending Chatterton's marriage, ending Kohler's marriage, and even more sadly, the lives of three of the dive team, including a son and a father. Ultimately the identity of the "U-Who" is discovered, and the men, along with the dive team, rewrite a part of WWII history.
[edit] Film Adaptation
A film adaption of the book is currently in production and slated for a 2009 release.
[edit] Accolades
Shadow Divers has been awarded the following accolades
- ABA's Non-fiction 2005 Book Sense Book of the Year Award
- ALA Alex Award
- Was on the New York Times Bestseller list
[edit] Further reading
The Last Dive: A Father and Son's Fatal Descent into the Ocean's Depths Bernie Chowdhury. Harper Paperbacks, 2002., 384 pp., ISBN 0-060-93259-7.
[edit] Trivia
- John Chatterton is the host of the History Channel show Deep Sea Detectives. He is sometimes joined by his partner Richie Kohler.
- The "U-Who" and it's discovery was the subject of the Nova special Hitler's Lost Sub.
[edit] Other Formats
Shadow Divers is also available in Hardcover, Audio CD, Audio Cassette and Audio Download formats.
