In the Waves

<b> <br><b>One of "The Most Fascinating Books WIRED Read in 2020"<br><br>"One part science book, one part historical narrative, one part memoir . . . harrowing and inspiring.”<b>—<i>The </i></b><i>Wall Street Journal </i></b><br><br>How a determined scientist cracked the case of the first successful—and disastrous—submarine attack</b><br> <b> </b><br> On the night of February 17, 1864, the tiny Confederate submarine <i>HL Hunley</i> made its way toward the USS<i> Housatonic</i> just outside Charleston harbor. Within a matter of hours, the Union ship’s stern was blown open in a spray of wood planks. The explosion sank the ship, killing many of its crew. And the submarine, the first ever to be successful in combat, disappeared without a trace.<br>  <br> For 131 years the eight-man crew of the <i>HL Hunley</i> lay in their watery graves, undiscovered. When finally raised, the narrow metal vessel revealed a puzzling sight. There was no indication the blast had breached the hull, and all eight men were still seated at their stations—frozen in time after more than a century. Why did it sink? Why did the men die? Archaeologists and conservationists have been studying the boat and the remains for years, and now one woman has the answers.<br>  <br> <i>In the Waves</i> is much more than just a military perspective or a technical account. It’s also the story of Rachel Lance’s single-minded obsession spanning three years, the story of the extreme highs and lows in her quest to find all the puzzle pieces of the <i>Hunley</i>. Balancing a gripping historical tale and original research with a personal story of professional and private obstacles, <i>In the Waves</i> is an enthralling look at a unique part of the Civil War and the lengths one scientist will go to uncover its secrets.