Wolf of the Deep - (Vintage Civil War Library) by Stephen Fox (Paperback)

About the Book

Entertaining and highly informative, this book is at once an account of the overlooked naval side of the Civil War, an intimate portrait of life at sea, and an overdue appreciation of Raphael Semmes, a great naval commander.

Book Synopsis

The electrifying story of Raphael Semmes and the CSS Alabama, the Confederate raider that destroyed Union ocean shipping and took more prizes than any other raider in naval history.

In July, 1862, Semmes received orders to take command of a secret new British-built steam warship, the Alabama. At its helm, he would become the most hated and feared man in ports up and down the Union coast--and a Confederate legend. Now, with unparalleled authority and depth, and with a vivid sense of the excitement and danger of the time, Stephen Fox tells the story of Captain Semmes's remarkable wartime exploits. From vicious naval battles off the coast of France, to plundering the cargo of Union ships in the Caribbean, this is a thrilling tale of an often overlooked chapter of the Civil War.

Review Quotes

"Meticulously researched and entertaining. . . . A true tale of pirates, spies and naval warfare that reads like a thriller." --The Atlanta Journal-Constitution"Excellent. . . . An amazing account of adventures on the high seas, full of spies, treachery, and rousing battles."--The Charleston Post & Courier "Rollicking. . . . A virtuoso display of historical sleuthing [with] more than enough high seas excitement and intimate revelations to keep the reader turning the pages well into the night."--The Mobile Press-Register "Amazing. . .sheds light on a seldom observed aspect of [the Civil] War."--The Tennessean

About the Author

Stephen Fox, an independent historian who did his PhD at Brown University, is the author of six previous books, including Transatlantic, a history of the steamship. He lives near Boston, Massachusetts.