{"product_id":"the-wreckers-the-florida-keys-paperback","title":"The Wreckers: The Florida Keys - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eJohn Viele\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this third book in a series on the history of the Florida Keys, John Viele tells the true story of the Florida Keys wreckers, the daring seamen who sailed out in fair weather or foul to save lives and property from ships cast up on the unforgiving Florida Reef in the passage south of the Florida Keys, one of the most dangerous in the world, having claimed thousands of ships and lives. In the 1850s, the heyday of the wreckers, ships were piling up on the reef at the rate of nearly one a week. Salvaging these wrecks was a highly competitive and hazardous gamble of the lives, limbs, and vessels of the wreckers against an often elusive gain. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom the archives of the federal court at Key West, or \"wrecking court,\" and from contemporary letters, diaries, and newspaper articles, the author has captured the drama of the lives and times of the Florida Keys wreckers with accuracy and clarity. Richly illustrated with drawings from nineteenth-century magazines and newspapers, artists' concepts of wrecking scenes, and reproductions of old paintings and photographs, this book will fascinate sailors and landlubbers alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSee all of the books in this series\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eJohn Viele\u003c\/b\u003e is a retired naval officer and a former submarine commander now living on Cudjoe Key. A lifelong interest in history and a deep love for the Florida Keys led him to research and write Keys history stories for local newspapers and magazines. He is the author of the first two volumes in the Florida Keys series, \u003ci\u003eA History of the Pioneers \u003c\/i\u003eand\u003ci\u003e True Stories of the Perilous Straits\u003c\/i\u003e, also published by Pineapple Press.\u003c\/p\u003e\n        \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 226\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.57 x 9 x 5.97 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrated:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e May 01, 2011\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51771544994080,"sku":"9781561644964","price":14.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/9764\/5344\/files\/c49880f88dd09968a6b909313fd61bf0.webp?v=1780388170","url":"https:\/\/ebocreations.com\/products\/the-wreckers-the-florida-keys-paperback","provider":"The E-Book Oasis LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}