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Dragon Sea: A True Tale of Treasure, Archeology, and Greed Off the Coast of Vietnam Audiobook
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(3.20) - 73 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
When Oxford archeologist Mensun Bound-dubbed the "Indiana Jones of the Deep" by the Discovery Channel-teamed up with a financier to salvage a sunken trove of fifteenth-century porcelain, it seemed a dream enterprise. The Stakes were high: The Hoi An wreck lay hundreds of feet down in a typhoon-prone stretch of water off the coast of Vietnam known as the Dragon Sea. Raising its contents required saturation diving, a crew of 160, and a fleet of boats. The costs were unprecedented. But the potential rewards were equally high: Bound would revolutionize thinking about Vietnamese ceramics, and his partner would make a fortune auctioning off the pieces. Hired as the project's manager, Frank Pope watched the tumultuous drama of the Hoi An unfold. In Dragon Sea he delivers an engrossing tale of danger, adventure, and ambition-a fascinating object lesson in what happens when scholarship and money join forces to recover lost treasure.
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"Deep sea archeology of the coast of Vietnam. This was a very intriguing read. I was pulled in from all sides the history of the ceramics being excavated, the details in the scientific process to do so, the struggle of a combined archeological and financial expedition. "
— Kellylynn (4 out of 5 stars)
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Johnny Heller's narration of this true tale of sunken treasure is a fine fit for Frank Pope's story.... Heller makes nonfiction as thrilling as any action-adventure.
— AudioFile -
“Heller’s voice reflects the excitement, energy, and irresistible allure to understand the past that draw the ‘Indiana Jones of the Deep’ into the field of underwater archaeology. Pope’s story presents the historical background of the rivalry between China and Vietnam, piracy on the South China Seas, and the project to salvage the Hoi An, a fifteenth-century wreck loaded to the gunwales with priceless blue-and-white porcelain. Heller makes nonfiction as thrilling as any action-adventure, presenting Pope and Bound as men with scruples, sincerely concerned about greedy treasure- seekers who destroy ‘the time capsules’ so valuable to archaeologists and historians.”
— AudioFile
Dragon Sea Listener Reviews
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" follows the story of one of the largest porcelain hauls from the seabed in history. that part gets really boring, however it also contains a good history of deep sea diving. discusses the techmology, the blood, the gore, and the bends. "
— Tim, 12/5/2013 -
" Deep sea ceramics recovery off Vietnam coast "
— John, 9/5/2013 -
" As an archaeology buff, and a antiquities collector, I was mostly interested in this book for the tales of ancient salvage, but I really got into the dangers of deep sea diving, and I found the book to be well presented with engrossing writing. "
— Paul, 6/12/2013 -
" Great book about the clash between archaeology and treasure-hunting in the depths of the South China Sea. Reminiscent of another great book that I read, "Shadow Divers" by Robert Kurson. "
— Jeff, 9/21/2012 -
" This book is amazing! I love archaeology and I always thought underwater archaeology was fascinating and terrifying. This book does it so well. It feels like an amazing documentary. "
— Amanda, 6/13/2012 -
" I have always enjoyed tales like this. I read a lot of stuff about Mel Fisher, in the day. Didn't know that much about ceramics from Vietnam, this tells you enough, that you can feel the importance of the find. "
— Jonathan, 8/19/2011 -
" Deep sea archeology of the coast of Vietnam. This was a very intriguing read. I was pulled in from all sides the history of the ceramics being excavated, the details in the scientific process to do so, the struggle of a combined archeological and financial expedition. "
— Kellylynn, 4/15/2011 -
" read 05.13.07 "
— colleen, 11/1/2010 -
" Great book about the clash between archaeology and treasure-hunting in the depths of the South China Sea. Reminiscent of another great book that I read, "Shadow Divers" by Robert Kurson. "
— Jeff, 12/24/2009 -
" Deep sea ceramics recovery off Vietnam coast "
— John, 5/26/2009 -
" As an archaeology buff, and a antiquities collector, I was mostly interested in this book for the tales of ancient salvage, but I really got into the dangers of deep sea diving, and I found the book to be well presented with engrossing writing. "
— Paul, 11/20/2007 -
" follows the story of one of the largest porcelain hauls from the seabed in history. that part gets really boring, however it also contains a good history of deep sea diving. discusses the techmology, the blood, the gore, and the bends. "
— Tim, 8/2/2007
About Frank Pope
Frank Pope has worked on underwater expeditions under the auspices of Oxford MARE (Maritime Archeological Research and Excavation), including the salvage of Lord Nelson’s flagship Agamemnon. He divides his time between London and Nairobi.
About Johnny Heller
Johnny Heller, winner of numerous Earphones and Audie Awards, was named a “Golden Voice” by AudioFile magazine in 2019. He has been a Publishers Weekly Listen-Up Award winner from 2008 through 2013 and he has been named a top voice of 2008 and 2009 and selected as one of the Top 50 Narrators of the Twentieth Century by AudioFile magazine.