Fell's Getting Rich & Staying Rich

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In July 1862, Confederate Captain Raphael Semmes took command of a secret new warship. At the helm of the Alabama, he became the most hated and feared man along the Union coast, as well as a Confederate legend. Now, with unparalleled authority, depth, and a vivid sense of the excitement and danger of the time, Stephen Fox describes Captain Semmes's remarkable wartime exploits. While burning one Union ship after another--newspaper headlines screaming for his head--he eluded capture time and again, ravaging Union commerce. But when the tide turned in favor of the Union, foreign ports were less willing to take in the Alabama, forcing Semmes to wander the oceans on a deteriorating ship, his ability to outwit the Union captains diminishing rapidly. Finally, in June 1864, a Union gunship sunk the Alabama--though not her captain--in a battle that was reported around the world.

Customer Reviews:

riveting, fascinating, would be a great film............2007-10-12

first off...it bugs me to no end that official and customer reviews refer to both Semmes and the CSS Alabama as "privateers." The Alabama was a ship built and comissioned in England by the Confederate States of America, and Semmes, her captain, was a Confederate Naval Officer. What she did, and did quite well, was commercial raiding, which was to destroy the enemy's commerce whenever possible. The Union ships did the same when they found Confederate blockade runners, and one can say they were performing the nautical version of what Sherman and others were doing on land.

That said, this is one outstanding book. I'm not partial to historical biographies, and even less to military ones, but I tore through this one in two days. Military, political, and sexual intrigue--a real flair for characterization---Fox has all of the ingredients for an old-fashioned potboiler--and this is all a true account of an overlooked Civil War navy commander of whom little was thought until late in his career.

Semmes and the Alabama are both fascinating characters--but the supporting roles of the crew--and those that love them--and those that plot aginst them--and the exotic ports of call the lovely Lady Alabama finds herself in and her many harrowing escapes until her final battle--all make for a book you can't put down.

Most historical tomes by Brown history professors aren't devoured like the latest beach novel. For me, this one was, but it was a far more satisfying experience.

cool grey raider.......2007-10-08

"Wolf of the Deep" is about the most successful commerce raider (read 'privateer') in the history of war at sea. The fact that Raphael Semmes was a captain in the Confederate Navy just adds more to the emotional appeal.

It turns out the Confederacy might have won after all, if it had done more commerce raiding. Semmes' raids alone were enough to cause hundreds of shipowners to sell their cargoes at a loss, or even the ships themselves, to avoid losing them as United States vessels. Semmes caused consternation out of all proportion to being one captain with one ship.

Stephen Fox tells the story with gusto, including lots of pictures, quotes from newspapers of the time, and different perspectives including pro-confederacy and anti-confederacy Brits as well as Americans. The Civil War is where Americans learned to fight with modern technology and transportation logistics - sadly, using each other; but learn they did.

For romance, for military adventure, for political buffoonery, for history: Wolf of the Deep appeals on all levels while telling a right good story. Amazingly, Captain Semmes retired and died in bed after all this brouhaha. You can see a statue dedicated in his honor in Mobile, Alabama.

Fox's WOLF OF THE DEEP is superb in every way........2007-09-05

I just can't stress enough how interesting, well-written and -researched, and entertaining this book is. WOLF OF THE DEEP nicely balances a character-driven narrative, plunging deeply into Semmes's personality, whims, family life, and work, with illuminating historical backdrop. There is much to learn, even for Civil War buffs, I think, about the importance of the naval side of this war and its implications; as well about Anglo-American relations and Semmes's crucial impact upon them. I'd had no idea, for instance, that the Brits. were largely behind the Rebel South, looking upon it as an underdog agst. the big bully of the North -- until Lincoln was bold enough to hinge the War around slavery, as Fox points out. Meanwhile, the book reads like an adventure novel, filled with backstabbers, pirates, love interests, scheming politicians, and the like. If you're looking for an entertaining, insightful, probing history of the Civil War and one of its most important yet forgotten players, do yourself a favor and get Stephen Fox's WOLF OF THE DEEP.

Alert- Naval History Buffs.......2007-09-02

Although spread out through the book, reminds you that the root cause of American Civil War was not slavery, but different economical models between North and South, and actions of congress mistrust different opinions, and gives a description of who/where and when during the war the shift to it beign a war about Slavery. As previous reviewer points out- book does a god job and interweaver a biography of the Captain intothe book, but primary focus is the ship. Book does have a nice few pages about difference between a Commerce Raider and a Privateer. Interesting point other reviewer omits is that most of the ship crew was not "Confederate", but British, and book does include good coverage on the British origin of the ship. Highly recommended for Naval History buffs of any nationality, as it covers voyage, consider fact this ship and era of hybrid propulsion both sail and steam.

Alert, All American History Buffs.......2007-08-07

The American Civil War is a subject that has tomes devoted to the events, people, and places that were involved. One subject that is often overlooked is the role that the Navies played in the war. This book fills an important gap by discussing one of the most feared and celebrated Confederate Naval Officers, Raphael Semmes and the ship he commanded, the CSS Alabama.

Wolf of the Deep tells the tale of the confederate captain, his ship, his crew, and their adventures during the Civil War. Starting with a short discussion of Semmes' early life and start of his naval career, it quickly focuses on his arrival on the CSS Alabama and the day to day operations of the ship. It covers the range of emotions brought by the excitement of raids and captures to the monotony and aggravation of the times when nothing happens. Traveling around the world, visiting a wide array of land and people, the Alabama made a large mark during the Civil War.

The story of the ship and her captain is nicely woven together with descriptions of world wide events of the time, putting the significance of the Alabama's actions into context.

Going beyond just the ship, the author spends a significant amount of time discussing Semmes' personal life, covering his family and the effect the war had on their lives. This helps the reader understand the long range impact of the war and gives Semmes a personal side that can get lost in the day-to-day grind of naval life during war.

The book is also peppered with photos and illustrations that add a fabulous touch to the story, giving a physical glimpse into the stature of the individuals involved.

Tackling a subject that is unique and detailed, the author weaves an interesting and well-told tale.

Armchair Interviews says: American history buffs, take note. Wolf of the Deep is a book for you.

Confederate Raider: Raphael Semmes of the Alabama

Average customer rating:

Very Good.
EASY READ
Commerce Raider Extraordinar Civil War to WW II

Confederate Raider: Raphael Semmes of the Alabama
John M. Taylor
Manufacturer: Brassey's Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0028810864

Customer Reviews:

Very Good........2003-09-25

This is an easy and enjoyable read, chronicling the life of Raphael Semmes, the South's preeminent commerce raider.

Rising from the obscurity of Washington, D.C.'s bureaucracy, Raphael Semmes's goes to sea the age 54 and never returns home until his ship, the CSS Alabama is sunk by the USS Kearsarge off Cherbourg, France toward the end of the Civil War. Along the way he assembles a list of victories that would make any successful naval commander blush.

But is that good enough for Semmes? After his defeat, he returns from France to the Confederacy. Avoiding the Union blockade by entering Matamoros, Mexico, he makes his way overland to Richmond where he not only is in charge of the Confederate Navy presence during the fall of Richmond, but he also subsequently is responsible for protecting the Confederacy's Treasury during the Presidential escape from Richmond.

Raphael Semmes is a true Confederate hero who again out foxes his Union counterparts in the final days of the war.

EASY READ.......2002-02-19

The Rebel Raider is an interesting read which details the life of Rear Admiral Raphael Semmes of the Confederate Navy, and his captaincy aboard the CSS Alabama. The book gives a description of the building of the ship, and it's commissioning. It details a number of raides in which the Alabam partook, and the many victories it achieved during its commission. All in all the Alabam destroyed 61 ships - 60 merchant and one Union ship during its tenure. The book goes on to explain how the Alabama's life came to an abrupt end, and takes the reader through the rest of Admiral Semmes life. "Rebel Raider" is a very interesting book, and is extremely easy to follow.

Commerce Raider Extraordinar Civil War to WW II.......2000-08-30

In contrast to many Civil War army generals, little has been written about Admiral Raphael Semmes. John M. Taylor corrects this with his excellent biography of Raphael Semmes. The book opens narrating Semmes running the blockade from New Orleans with the C.S.S. Sumter, followed by three chapters on his pre-Civil War life. His first command, the C.S.S. Sumter is covered next. Overshadowed by the Alabama, history often overlooks the Sumter. However, the Sumter was important! John Kell, Semmes' First Lieutenant, is quoted after the war "I have always felt that the little Sumter never had full justice done her. . . .No ship of her size, her frailness, and her armament ever played such havoc on a powerful foe". It was on the Sumter that Semmes developed the commerce raiding strategies/ tactics he used so successfully on the Alabama.

Leaving the Sumter at Gibraltar, Semmes and his officers traveled to Britain. Taylor's account of the Confederate agent in Britain, James Bulloch contracting for, equipping and arming the Alabama is fascinating and reads like a Cold War espionage novel including a mole in the Prime Minister's office. Semmes commissioned and took command of the Alabama in the Azores then set sail and captured the whaling ship, Ocmulgee, on 5 Sept. 1862. By the end of October 1862 the Alabama had ravaged the New England whaling fleet plus dealt a blow to the grain trade between New York and Britain.

The author notes that at this time, Semmes conceived a bold plan to take the Alabama into New York harbor and fire the ships there. It is interesting to speculate on possible responses to a raid on New York harbor as 9 months later the city experienced draft riots which had ethnic, racial overtones in a northern city with some southern sympathies. The plan was canceled after the hurricane of October 16,1862.

The book narrates in chronological order the capture of each ship by the Alabama and narrates her activities including a cruise to Asian waters. However, after 22 months at sea, the Alabama badly needed shipyard maintenance and refitting. Semmes put into the French port of Cherbourg . While France hesitated to allow the critical shipyard work, the U.S.S. Kearsarge arrived and took station in international water off Cherbourg. Semmes formally challenged the Kearsarge to battle and in an engagement on Sunday morning June 19, 1864 the Alabama was sunk. Semmes escaped to Britain aboard an English yacht. The book has an excellent discussion of the possible reasons for Semmes' decision to fight noting that by 1864 Confederate commerce raiding was no longer profitable. A chance for a positive international reaction to defeating a Federal warship was one consideration for making it worth putting the Alabama at risk in fighting the Kearsarge because the Alabama's days were numbered without an overhaul.

After losing his ship Semmes returned to Richmond, was promoted to rear admiral and given command of the James River Squadron. With the fall of Richmond and the James River Squadron scuttled, Semmes became a brigadier general commanding an army brigade. This interesting period in Semmes life is well covered by the text. The final chapters narrate his post war life including imprisonment, release and futile attempts to gain the right to hold the public office of probate judge to which he had been elected. Semmes was always the unreconstructed rebel and Taylor describes Semmes' memoirs as "the last shot in a war already lost".

The author notes "Part of Semmes' value to the Confederacy lay in his versatility. He was cruiser captain, diplomat, and propagandist in one." He writes that Semmes was thoroughly versed in maritime law which he used to direct his activities and further his cause. For example, the text states "Semmes might have burned Brown's ship out of contrariness, but his legal training would not permit it." On another occasion, the text notes "Once again, Semmes's seamanship and knowledge of international law stood him in good stead". The author noted Semmes would always take pride in his treatment of those whom he captured and quotes Semmes saying "We were making war upon the enemy's commerce . . . . not upon his unarmed seamen." What a contrast to W.W.II where 30,000 unarmed merchant seamen lost their lives in the Battle of the Atlantic.

Admiral Semmes importance goes beyond the Civil War and his place in naval history is ensured. Taylor wrote that Raphael Semmes was well remembered by naval strategists in Europe and quoting from volume 38 of the Southern Historical Society, he narrates how Kaiser Wilhem II upon meeting a diplomat from the state of Alabama said "I reverence the name of Semmes. In my opinion, he was the greatest admiral of the nineteenth century. At every conference with my admirals I counsel them to read and study Semmes's Memoirs of Service Afloat." In WW I the Germans emulated his disguising his ships and supporting a cruiser with a tender. In the early days of WW II Admiral Semmes's tactics/strategy were used by the German warship Graf Spee in the South Atlantic. In like manner, early in the WW II other German warships such as the Hipper and the Sharnhorst conducted surface attacks on British merchant shipping . Also, during WW II, German U-boats used his tactics and strategy and copied Semmes's tender usage using submarines as tenders to supply and provision U-boats at sea.

Semmes accounted for 71 of some two-hundred-odd Northern merchant ships destroyed plus bonded and released 12 other captured Northern ships. As commander of the Alabama he sailed some 75,000 miles without touching a Confederate port. He was the only commander on either side to fight two battles at sea and the only Confederate captain to sink an enemy warship. His record as a sea raider would not be approached until the era of the submarine. As John Taylor wrote "Semmes was not the first commerce raider of the nineteenth century; he was simply the best."

Average customer rating:
The Confederate Raider Alabama
Raphael & Stern, Philip Van Doren (edited by) Semmes
Manufacturer: Fawcett
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000WQBEG6

Average customer rating:

Selections only

The Confederate raider, Alabama;: Selections from Memoirs of service afloat during the War Between the States
Raphael Semmes
Manufacturer: P. Smith
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0006DWLT4

Customer Reviews:

Selections only.......2007-01-29

This is a paperback that contains only part of Raphael Semmes memoirs. I would suggest getting the full book.

Average customer rating:

The Confederate Raider Alabama
Raphael Semmes
Manufacturer: Indiana University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000P0Q5RM

The Confederate Raider Alabama Selections from Memoirs of Service Afloat During the War Between the States

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The Confederate Raider Alabama Selections from Memoirs of Service Afloat During the War Between the States
Raphael Semmes
Manufacturer: Peter Smith
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NZZSQS

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CONFEDERATE RAIDER: RAPHAEL SEMMES OF THE ALABAMA.
John M. Taylor
Manufacturer: Brassey's Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O90DTU

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Many Faces: An Anthology of Oregon Autobiography (The Oregon Literature Series ; V. 2)
Stephen Dow Beckham
Manufacturer: Oregon State University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0870713728

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MANY FACES: AN ANTHOLOGY OF OREGON AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Manufacturer: Oregon State University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HX3EYE

Book Description

In the 1990s arts policy research was a fledgling enterprise. Many issues were uninvestigated, alternative research methods were underutilized, and researchers struggled amidst limited support systems. Arts policymakers treated research either with relative indifference or as a source of pre-determined political ammunition to reinforce claims for increased public support. But the culture wars of the early 1990s awoke policymakers and foundation officials to the need for a broader base of inquiry that anticipates trends and scenarios which shape systems of creation, dissemination, and support in the arts. Pankratz, Morris, and their contributors reflect this forward-looking spirit. They document how policy forums, foundation support, and research centers have built an arts policy community in the United States. They also show how renewed stress on the public purposes of the arts, a broadened definition of the arts sector, and technological, demographic, cultural, and social trends have presented the research community with new roles for informing policymakers. The book's provocative chapters, prepared by distinguished leaders in arts research and policy, bring fresh perspectives on how policy-sensitive knowledge can prepare artists, administrators, and policymakers to wisely meet the inevitable challenges of the arts in a new millenium. Important reading for arts administration educators and those involved with arts administration/public arts policy, arts reseachers and scholars in cultural policy, grantmakers in the arts, directors of public arts agencies at all levels, and directors of arts service organizations.

Book Description

Land Settlement Policies and Population Redistribution in Developing Countries provides a comparative analysis, initiated by the International Labour Office, of land settlement policies and programs in developing countries under various socioeconomic conditions. It reports the findings of nine case studies conducted in countries which have established resettlement schemes. The major focus of the studies is the identification of the factors that have contributed to the success or failure of resettlement schemes from the point of view of the populations concerned--in relation to the original objectives of the policymakers--and with respect to development objectives other than population distribution.

Customer Reviews:

An Excellent Biography of Bach for the Non-Specialist Reader.......2004-04-04

Every six months or so I find myself in a 'Bach period'; that is to say, I become immersed in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and don't seem to want any other kind of music for a while. I'm in the midst of one of these periods as I write this review. I came across this 1995 book at my local library and have been utterly delighted by it. Otto Bettmann, the author, is a non-musician who is best known for having founded the Bettmann Archive - you've seen its cutline hundreds of times alongside pictures in books and magazines - a comprehensive collection of historic pictures. He was born in Leipzig and in his childhood lived in a house across the street from the Thomaskirche where Bach spent twenty-seven years as Cantor. He even sang in the Thomaskirche boys' choir as a youth.

The lavishly illustrated 235-page book is organized like an encyclopedia with one- or two-page articles arranged alphabetically by subject. They cover the range of Bach's life and activities from 'Abendmusik' (the regular musical soirée held by Buxtehude in Lübeck where Bach visited and stayed four months) to 'Zeitgeist' (an article about the spirit of the times in which Bach lived and worked). Other representative articles include such topics as 'Anhalt-Cöthen,' 'Cantor or Capellmeister?,' 'Fugal Wizardry,' 'Goldberg Variations,' 'Kaffee Kantate,' 'Money Matters,' 'Organist Supreme,' 'Quaffing,' 'Summation Works,' 'Wanderlust,' among many others. One may read the book straight through or dip into it here and there; each method has its rewards. Bettmann's prose style is relaxed, entertaining, often wry, and yet factually solid and coherent. He repeatedly makes the point that Bach was a much livelier person than the usual picture we have of him as the stern Cantor of Leipzig.

Also included are a pleasant foreword by Martin Bookspan who, among other things, sings the praises of Otto Bettmann (who, by the way, wrote this book when he was in his 90s!; he died in 1998 at 95), a glossary of musical terms, a chronology of Bach's life, an index and an extensive bibliography.

This book is perfect for the general reader who doesn't have the background or the patience to read the more scholarly books on Bach by such illustrious biographers as Philipp Spitta, Albert Schweitzer, Karl Geiringer, or Christoph Wolff.

Scott Morrison

For Love of Bach.......2003-09-09

From age six the great photo archivist Otto Bettmann lived in an apartment about five hundred feet from Leipzig's St Thomaskirche, and as a boy sang in its choir. Hence sprang a life-long love affair with the music and personal history of J. S. Bach. A product of his later years, Bettmann's Johann Sebastian Bach As His World Knew Him is a loving and informative portrait of Bach the man, and an insightful look at Bach's music and times.

Presented in the format of an encyclopedia, the book invites one to browse from topic to topic. Read cover to cover, one receives a well-rounded portrait, more in the style of an oral history than of a linear narrative.

Bettman was one of the word's greatest photo archivists, much to the benefit of this book. It is filled with photos and illustrations, some familiar, some quite rare, all expertly captioned.

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Notes, published by Music Library Association, Inc. on December 1, 1996. The length of the article is 764 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Johann Sebastian Bach as His World Knew Him.
Author: Ann Marie Rigler
Publication: Notes (Refereed)
Date: December 1, 1996
Publisher: Music Library Association, Inc.
Volume: v53 Issue: n2 Page: p456(2)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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A Blackfeet Reviews A Viet Cong at Wounded Knee

Viet Cong at Wounded Knee: The Trail of a Blackfeet Activist (American Indian Lives)
Woody Kipp
Manufacturer: University of Nebraska Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0803227604

Book Description

It was at Wounded Knee, huddled under a night sky lit by military flares and the searchlights of armored carriers seeking him out, that Vietnam vet Woody Kipp realized that he, as an American Indian, had become the enemy, the Viet Cong, to a country that he had defended with his life. With candor, bitter humor, and biting insight, this book tells the story of the long and tortuous trail that led Kipp from the Blackfeet Reservation of his birth to a terrible moment of reckoning on the plains of South Dakota. Kipp’s is a story of Native values and practices uneasily crossed with cowboy culture, teenage angst, and quintessentially American temptations and excesses.

As a boy, Kipp was a passionate reader and basketball player, always ready to brawl and already struggling with discrimination and alcoholism in his teens. From his tour of Vietnam as a Marine to his troubled return, from his hell-raising as a violent, womanizing, hard-drinking horse breaker to his consciousness-raising as a college student and foot soldier in the American Indian Movement, Kipp’s memoir offers a unique, firsthand view of the enduring power—and the vulnerability—of Blackfeet culture, of the difficulties inherent in cross-cultural understanding, and of the urgent necessity of overcoming these difficulties if the essential heritage of Native America is to survive.

Customer Reviews:

A Blackfeet Reviews A Viet Cong at Wounded Knee.......2005-05-22

I was born in 1975. I lived on the Blackfeet Reservation in Browning, MT from the time I was 5 years old until my third year of college. Plus my whole family is from there going back to whenever the Blackfeet came together as a tribe. And I read this book so I guess that makes me highly qualified to read this book. First I think ill mention some things that were not in the book. Woody used to write a column for the Missoulian and the Independent in Missoula, MT. Now he teaches at the Blackfeet Community College. My parents know Woody and I know of him but dont think I have ever met him. Same thing about most of the people from Browning that he talks about I know of them but I dont know them personally because their from the baby boomer generation of Blackfeet. I think this book is highly valuable to anyone wanting to learn about Native Americans because Woody very courageously tells the truth about contemporary reservation life. Woody goes where the academics and journalists are too scared to go because the truth too disturbing to the public. Their writing is usually either superficial and skin-deep or so weighed down by dry statistics
that one becomes bored to death. Woody's writing cuts to the bone in it's description of contemporary life on the Blackfeet Reservation. One part that I related to was the abuse he suffered from the racist white teachers in Cut Bank while he went to school there. This seems to be a common experience for natives in Montana. The white towns that lie on their borders seem to always be populated with people who are extremely racist against Native Americans. I think the reason for this might be because they know ther economies depend on the Indians staying poor so they will have to shop in their towns and never develop economies of their own. I know in Browning the Blackfeet have a long history of being exploited by the white people in Cut Bank. They have stolen land from the Blackfeet and the Blackfeet do a lot of shopping there because the price of food is lower there. While going to school in Browning I also experienced a lot of abuse from racist white teachers. These teachers even go so far as to segregate themselves from the Blackfeet by living in a town ten miles away called East Glacier. I always felt sorry for the community of Blackfeet Woody comes from that lives near Cut Bank and goes to school there because most of them become extremely brainwashed like the Manchurian Candidate. They are so abused by the white people that live there that they start to believe that they are white and deny that they are Blackfeet no matter how dark their skin color is. One incident in particular that I remember is a time when I visited the Blackfeet Community in a small group of houses near Cut Bank called Seville. I was a teenager then in the 1990s visiting a relatives house with my two counsins. My younger female cousin was playing outside when a Cut Bank Blackfeet kid and his two white friends came up to her and started throwing rocks at her and calling her a f...ing Indian. The weird thing is this Blackfeet kid was extremely dark and my cousin could pass for white. Kind of bizarre being called a f...ing Indian by someone who's darker than you are. This book is pretty much the story of Woody's life from the time he was born until the present day. Throughout the book I felt he was mostly describing what it means to be an Indian in todays's world than anything else. If I had one criticism it would be that he didnt talk enough about the Browning Blackfeet but maybe he'll do that in another book. The only thing I disagreed with Woody on is througout the book he cites alcolholism as the root cause of the Blackfeet's misery. I disagreed I think most of the Blackfeet's problems stem from poverty. Theyve had a 70% unemployment rate for going on four decades now and nobody is doing anything about it. Ofcourse money isnt everything but it does have the power to feed, house, and cloth the Blackfeet and help bring back their culture and religion. If I were selling this book I would say that it's greatest value is that it is a book written by a Blackfeet who goes beyond the superficial reasons the general Native American Studies give for why the Native Americans are stuck in the poverty they are in. Plus it is a eyewitness account to Native American History. And in the end it is just pretty much a good read that is short(130 pages)but fluid.

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