The Sea's Bitter Harvest: Thirteen Deadly Days on the North Atlantic

by Douglas A. Campbell and Douglas A. Campbell

Book Overview

In the course of thirteen days in January 1999, four commercial clam boats sank in horrifying succession while working the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, taking the lives of ten men. Husbands, fathers, loners, and drug users, each man was lured to the nation's most dangerous trade by the lucrative wages offered to those who dared to reap the harvest of the ocean. In this compelling maritime tale of risk and danger, acclaimed journalist Douglas Campbell...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786711841
• ISBN13: 9780786711840
• Release Date: March 2003
• Publisher: Basic Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

PRETTY GOOD BOOK

I AGREE WITH ONE OF THE OTHER REVIEWERS THAT THIS WAS A PRETTY GOOD BOOK BUT NOT AS GOOD AS SOME FROM SPIKE WALKER AND THE PERFECT STORM BUT NONE THE LESS A GOOD READ ESPECIALLY TO LEARN ABOUT THE CLAMMING INDUSTR I DO BIELEVE THAT THE THE SHIP WRECK STORIS ARE JUST AS GUT WRENCHING

A worthwhile read, but not as gripping as others

Campbell's latest addition to the "disaster at sea" genre, while a good read, isn't quite as gripping as works by his contemporaries such as Spike Walker ("Working on the Edge", "Nights of Ice," and "Coming Back Alive") or Sebastian Junger. Nevertheless, he does a masterful job of recreating the stories of four separate clam boat disasters in the early part of 1999. He also does an excellent job of describing the work of clam boats, as well as the problems encountered by those working in the profession. Campbell sheds a great deal of light on the problem with unseaworthy boats that are so common in the northeast fishing industry. In sum, this is a good addition to the library of anyone who loves stories of disaster at sea, but don't expect the intensity found in more popular works.

the best read in a long time

a real good read , well written tells it just as it is.great to own a book like this . to scared to lend it may not get it back.(i am a ex commercial trawler man ...)will look out keenly for your next book douglas ...thanks for this one...

More tales of fishing disasters and rescue

"The Sea's Bitter Harvest" chronicles the sinking of four commercial clam fishing boats in the North Atlantic during an amazingly short two week period in January 1999. Ten fishermen lost their lives in that brief period, easily the worst month for Atlantic fisherman in the modern age. The book is clearly intended to appeal to those who enjoyed Sebastian Junger's "The Perfect Storm" (and even mentions Junger's book several times). That said, author Douglas A. Campbell lacks Junger's storytelling touch, though he is a obviously a very good reporter.Like "Storm", this book details the lives of the oridinary men (no women here) who risk their lives in what is perhaps the most dangerous profession in America. Clam fishing is portrayed as exhausting and unglamorous profession that appeals to the the blue collar types who do it for the large paychecks and the relatively unrestrained lifestyle. Campbell also unflinchingly details the problems in the industry, from the considerable level or drug use to the obstinate nature of fisherman when it comes to the safety regulations designed to prevent disasters. He also goes into considerable detail about the personal lives of the men who died and survived on each of the four boats. The fact that there were really four seperate incidents does prevent his book from having the same concise narrative as "Storm."Overall, this book is yet another fine entry in the recent glut about the perils of commercial fishing that have appeared in the wake of "The Perfect Storm." It should appeal to anyone with an interest in the subject matter.