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    The Ghost of the Mary Celeste
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    The Ghost of the Mary Celeste
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    The Ghost of the Mary Celeste
    Audiobook11 hours

    The Ghost of the Mary Celeste

    Written by Valerie Martin

    Narrated by Susie Berneis

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    In 1872, the American merchant vessel Mary Celeste was discovered adrift off the coast of Spain. Her cargo was intact, but the crew was gone. They were never found. While on a voyage to Africa, an unproven young writer named Arthur Conan Doyle hears of the Mary Celeste and decides to write an outlandish story about what took place. This story causes quite a sensation back in the United States, particularly between sought-after Philadelphia spiritualist medium Violet Petra and a journalist named Phoebe Grant, who is seeking to expose Petra as a fraud. These three elements - a ship found sailing without a crew, a famous writer on the verge of enormous success, and the rise of an unorthodox and heretical religious fervor - converge in unexpected ways.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDreamscape Media Audio
    Release dateJan 28, 2014
    ISBN9781629231921
    Unavailable
    The Ghost of the Mary Celeste
    Author

    Valerie Martin

    Valerie Martin is the author of eleven novels, including I Give It To You, Italian Fever and Property, which won the Women's Prize for Fiction. She has also written three collections of short fiction and a biography of Saint Francis of Assisi, Salvation. She has been awarded grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship, as well as the Kafka Prize for Mary Reilly.

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    Reviews for The Ghost of the Mary Celeste

    4/5

    6 ratings15 reviews

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    • 4/5
      "The Ghost of the Mary Celeste" was in the beginning just a touch frustrating. The story unfolds in a series of, at first, seemingly unconnected tales. It may just be my reading, but it took me some time to see how each story wove into the next - even with the Mary Celeste ghosting through each. But as the story progressed I became more and more fascinated as everything fell into place. So patience is rewarded. Definitely this one is worthy of a second read. And I am now on the hunt for Valerie Martin's other books!
    • 4/5
      The Ghost of the Mary Celeste by Valerie Martin is a 2014 Random House/ Nan A. Talese publication. The release date is scheduled for January 2014. I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.The Mary Celeste is the stuff of legends. While the ship and the mystery surrounding it is real enough, this is a work of fiction.The ship was discovered abandoned in the Atlantic Ocean. All who were aboard the ship had disappeared and were never heard from again. The captain was Benjamin Briggs and with him on this particular journey were his wife and young daughter.After the ship was found it became legendary. The cause of the disappearance of all on board has been attributed to many things from under water earthquakes to piracy to the supernatural.Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle became intrigued and wrote a story about it before he became famous for his Sherlock Holmes detective novels. He changed the name of the ship to the Marie Celeste for his story.This novel takes us back to that fateful journey aboard the Mary Celeste. We learn the circumstances of Sir Arthur Doyle's interest and subsequent article based on the story. The famed author's interest in spiritualism put him in contact with a medium who was directly related to those on board the Mary Celeste. Violet Petra is the medium and a young journalist named Phoebe Grant attempts to expose her as a fraud. However, Phoebe doesn't have much luck in that department. Instead she become intrigued by Violet and her family background. It was interesting to me how the author entertwined the elements of this story together. We get a glimpse of the life of Captain Briggs and his family and what the conditions were like on the ship. We are later privy to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's article or short story that the family was not all that pleased with, and then had him come into direct contact with Violet. The two of them formed an alliance as did Phoebe and Violet, although Violet was not a very happy woman. Despite being very popular and sought out, Violet never married and remained in virtual isolation most of her life. The two friendships she formed later in her life may have been the closest relationships she ever hard. But, just like the Mary Celeste, Violet's life became yet another mystery that was never solved.This is a historical fiction novel with a basis in fact, but if you look beyond that, you will see a kind of love story that takes place between the characters still living and those who have passed on. It may sound all so tragic, but perhaps those who were victims found peace after all. I enjoyed this book. It was really unique. There were some moments when things didn't flow evenly. I had to adjust to what I felt was a sudden shift from one part of the story to the next. Other than that I highly recommend the book to lovers of historical fiction and mystery with just a hint of the paranormal. Overall this one gets an A.
    • 4/5
      I have always been fascinated with sea stories and few are more intriguing than the mystery of the Mary Celeste, a ship that was found adrift in the Atlantic with no crew and no evidence of foul play. Speculation as to what happened has run the gamut from mutiny and pirates to alien abductions in the Bermuda Triangle. The research I have done on the subject suggests that there is a more mundane, yet just as tragic, explanation as to what happened to the little ship’s crew. If you are looking for a book that proposes a clear argument as to what that fate was, this likely isn’t the book for you. I say this not because I believe that the author’s conclusions are incorrect. Actually, I believe that clues carefully scattered throughout the text suggest that Ms. Martin knows exactly what happened on board the Mary Celeste. She even manages to shore up the few weak spots in my theory.Martin’s novel based on the Mary Celeste is a well-written work that sticks fairly closely to what is actually known about the Mary Celeste. This means that there is no ‘discovered’ ship’s log or survivor’s journal that describes the ships fate. Instead, she uses a semi-epistolary format to tell the story of those people affected by the events that transpired. These people include friends and family members of the crew, an American journalist, a spiritualist and noted British author Dr. Arthur Conan Doyle. While each segment is well-written, the segue from one to another is not always seamless. It often takes a while to figure out how the chapter one is reading ties in with the previous chapter or with the tale of the Mary Celeste. A little patience will be rewarded though, so don’t lose heart.What I liked most about the book is that the author has faith in the intelligence of the reader. She presents us with a puzzle and allows us to put the pieces together ourselves. If we fail to do so we will likely find the book less than satisfying but the truth is, she has given us all the answers. It’s up to us to put them in the correct order.*Quotations are cited from an advanced reading copy and may not be the same as appears in the final published edition. The review copy of this book was obtained from the publisher via the Amazon Vine Program.
    • 3/5
      Something of a disappointment. I have long been intrigued by the mystery of the Mary Celeste, but this novel is just too all-over-the-place to make for very interesting reading. Martin's idea of tying in Arthur Conan Doyle and spiritualism wasn't bad, but it's not carried off very well.Skippable, alas.
    • 3/5
      This historical novel revolves around shipwrecks under mysterious conditions, followed by contact with the ghosts or spirits of the victims. I found the timeline quite confusing and the introduction of Arthur Conan Doyle as a character disjointed. I would have preferred more focus on two of the characters--Doyle and a fictitious journalist Phoebe Grant--rather than the back and forth between time periods, locations, and peripheral characters.
    • 4/5
      First this isn't really about the Mary Celeste. The enigmatic ship features in the background and is oft mentioned but never as the theme or to any sustained volume. I was frustrated at the first 20% or so of the book; I was a little miffed at the ending - was there really one? But I was completely taken and entranced by the superb writing, use of language, and sumptuous sentences. Read it for that!
    • 2/5
      I hate to be unkind, but I was honestly between 1 and 2 stars on this one. _The Ghost of the Mary Celeste_ was difficult to get through. Brief, historic aspects were interesting (I found Lake Pleasant to be fascinating) but the majority was frankly dull, and the characters read as forced and overwhelmingly flat.Sadly, I cannot think of who I would recommend this book to.
    • 5/5
      A mystery unsolved to this day

      A mystic who confounds the cynics

      A writer looking for the story that will make his name

      A ghost ship appears in the mist. To the struggling author Arthur Conan Doyle, it is an inspiration. To Violet Petra, the gifted American psychic, it is a cruel reminder. To the death-obsessed Victorian public, it is a fascinating distraction. And to one family, tied to the sea for generations, it is a tragedy.

      In salons and on rough seas, at séances and in the imagination of a genius, these stories converge in unexpected ways as the mystery of the ghost ship deepens. But will the sea yield its secrets, and to whom? Intricate, atmospheric, and endlessly intriguing, The Ghost of the Mary Celeste is a spellbinding exploration of love, loss and the fictions that pass as truth.

      Fabulous storytelling that blends fact and fiction to produce a compelling and entertaining tale.

      The narrative is made up of letters, diaries and log of the Mary Celeste itself. You might not get answers to the enigma of the Mary Celeste but you will experience a haunting novel of death and impending doom dazzlingly written.
    • 3/5
      Historical FactThe Mary Celeste was a merchant ship and on 5 December 1872 it was discovered abandoned in calm waters in the Indian Ocean and sailing towards the Strait of Gibraltar.There was no sign of the crew despite plenty of food and water on board and no signs of foul play; although one of the lifeboats was missing. The crew's personal belongings and valuables were undisturbed and their disappearance is one of the greatest maritime mysteries in the world.BackgroundWhen I first learned about the publication of The Ghost of the Mary Celeste by Valerie Martin, I was over the moon ecstatic! The mystery of the Mary Celeste has fascinated me for years and I couldn't wait to find out how the author would tackle the mystery. Would she provide an answer to the mystery? Would she suggest pirates, mutiny, drunkenness or some other calamity? I couldn't wait to find out and my expectations were sky high.My reviewThis isn't a novel about the Mary Celeste so much as a novel about characters related to the crew members of the ship. Those expecting a novel documenting the ship at sea with the climax of the crew's disappearance and perhaps subsequent enquiry are in for a major disappointment. We hear from Sarah, the Captain's wife aboard the Mary Celeste at the time of the ship's demise. We also hear from Arthur Conan Doyle, who penned a make believe account of the Mary Celeste a few years after the mystery, heightening the popularity of the maritime mystery and increasing his own notoriety.The novel includes a great deal about spiritualism of the era, spearheaded by renowned medium and clairvoyant Violet Petra who is being investigated by reporter Phoebe. Violet's lifestyle and lonely existence was fascinating however I was frustrated by the weak link to the Mary Celeste.I also read The Ghost of the Mary Celeste during the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines MH370 which further heightened my senses for the mysterious and unexplained. Despite this historical novel being very well researched it failed to meet even my modest expectations. I've since concluded that I was yearning for a different book; one that hones in on the mystery, the ship's curse and takes the reader through their version of what happened.As such, it pains me to admit, The Ghost of the Mary Celeste was an average read for me.
    • 2/5
      I love the story of the Mary Celeste. I first read about it in a Reader's Digest anthology of mysteries and unexplained events that was on my parents shelf in the 70's. I read the article probably forty times. It was so captivating. A ship found with the crew missing and the only clue being blood on the floor. To further add intrigue, the crew included the captain's wife and their young daughter, Sophia. Her fate is a mystery lost to history much like that of young Virginia Dare in the lost Roanoke Colony. It was with great anticipation that I picked up a book based on one of my most favorite true life historical mysteries. Alas it was not to be. It was a mishmash of disjointed tales barely related to the Mary Celeste. I felt like giving up on page 100 but that ghostly ship on the cover kept me slogging one. It took me three days to make it through the last 100 pages. At page 270! it looks like we are finally going to get some answers or at least a fictional account of the crews last days on the ship through a "found" captains log from the Mary Celeste. There is a brief account of the fate of the ships's captain and then nothing! The book abruptly ends. I got more satisfaction from reading the Wikipedia article about the ship. An extremely frustrating book with no payout for having stuck with it for the reader at the end.
    • 5/5
      The backstory: I previously adored Valerie Martin's Orange Prize-winning novel Property.The basics: The Mary Celeste was found abandoned in 1872. The ship was in tact, there were no signs of a struggle, but the crew was gone. Arthur Conan Doyle writes a soon-to-be-famou short story about what happened. Meanwhile, medium Violet Petra, who can communicate with the dead, exemplifies the growing fascination with ghosts and unexplained.My thoughts: I was not familiar with the mystery of the Mary Celeste before reading this book, but I was instantly intrigued by it. Martin does not structure this novel in a straight-forward way, which mimics the mystery of the ship itself. Characters come and go throughout the novel, and the reader is left to piece together how these parts fit together. This passage about a third of the way into the novel illustrates Martin's craftiness:"Though most of its critics recognized Jephson's "Statement" as fiction and placed it in the long flights of honorable tradition of elaborate flights of imagination inspired by real events, there were, there always are, readers who believed the article to be a true account."Although ostensibly speaking about Doyle's story, published as though it were a true account, I believe Martin is signalling the reader of her true intentions here. Martin weaves a complicated and intellectual tale for her readers in this novel. Discerning readers will put many of the pieces together themselves as the novel progresses, and eventually all of the small stories come together beautifully within a larger narrative. As Martin warns, however, readers seeking a simple explanation to an old mystery may be only fooling themselves.Favorite passage: "Together they scoffed at the pedestrian sensibilities of the average reader. They viewed the ordinary world from a distance."The verdict: The Ghost of the Mary Celeste is a worthy companion to the mystery of the real Mary Celeste. Martin's far-reaching imagination rebuilds the world so richly and beautifully, I found myself as intrigued with the fictional mysteries in this novel as I was with the real ones.
    • 4/5
      Lately I've been really lusting after reads about ships lost at sea, or adventures on the high sea complete with pirates, adventuring tales, and scary ghosts. So, as you can imagine, The Ghost of Mary Celeste falls right into line with what I've been wanting so desperately and it came into my hands at a time that was perfect for the reading of it.Read the rest of this review at The Lost Entwife on Jan. 26, 2014.
    • 4/5
      Where I got the book: e-ARC from Edelweiss.Darting around the timeline of the story of the Mary Celeste, the ship found floating empty on the Atlantic in 1872, this novel imagines the lives of the captain and his wife, his wife's sister who's blessed or burdened with psychic powers and becomes a famous medium, and the journalist--and later famous novelist--Arthur Conan Doyle who writes a sensationalist, inaccurate story about the Mary Celeste that propels him into the public consciousness.So there's quite a lot going on. And for a long while it was hard to see how the different threads fitted together; Martin keeps the reader guessing and thinking about a mystery that's never been satisfactorily solved. But in the end I found the story knitted satisfactorily, the pieces united by the image of the sea as a place of death and mystery. Not, on the whole, a good reading choice if you're on a cruise.I can't say I was ever completely absorbed in the characters, who all seem a little unsympathetic. For that reason I can't give this one five stars. But it certainly deserves four, and maybe a tad more.
    • 2/5
      This is one of those novels that I plowed through in a few days because I was so hungry for the story, but how much will I remember of it? Well, considering that I can’t clearly remember parts of it mere moments after finishing the book does not bode well. The writing was amazing – Martin is very talented with her word-smithing – but the story left me wanting.

      The mystery of the Mary Celeste is ripe for an amazing novel. Heck, just the story of that ill-fated voyage is a book in and of itself. The ship was found abandoned and derelict in the waters off the Azores in November 1872. Her small crew and contingent of passengers (numbering somewhere around 13 in total if I recall correctly) were nowhere to be found, although the crew of what became the salvage ship found personal belongings, navigation equipment, and necessary survival supplies like food and water left behind. The ship’s only lifeboat was missing, leading the investigative team to believe the crew and passengers had abandoned the ship, possibly with the intention of returning at some point (since they appeared to have taken no supplies with them). However, no trace of the crew or passengers or that missing lifeboat were ever found. So whatever happened to the people aboard the Mary Celeste, which did include the ship’s captain, Benjamin Briggs, his wife, and their young daughter, remains one of maritime history’s greatest mysteries.

      In the novel, the story begins several years before the Mary Celeste’s departure on her ill-fated journey, introducing us to Sarah “Sallie” Cobb, her sister, Hannah, and their cousin, young Benjamin Briggs. After an opening chapter that details the death of Benjamin’s older sister and her husband in a shipwreck at sea – an opening, I should mention, that doesn’t seem to connect to the rest of the story outside of the relationship between Benjamin and the woman who died – the novel shifts to the perspective of Sallie, and recounts her courtship with Benjamin and her sister’s insistence that she communicates with the dead.

      An interesting plot line to be sure, but again: the sister’s communications with the dead seems to go nowhere. I could discern no reason to include a character that communes with the dead anyway. Especially since the “Hannah” character disappears in the second half of the book – which fast forwards to about 10 years after the Mary Celeste disaster – and reappears in the character of Violet Petra, a respected medium who travels around the world communing with dead people. She doesn’t communicate with anyone from the Mary Celeste disaster, or anyone even remotely connected to the Mary Celeste disaster, so what’s the point here? The only connection she has to the Mary Celeste is that her sister was on it, and she disappeared. And that connection is never made explicitly clear by the way, nor does it connect to the story.

      And this disjointed approach continues. A main character in the book is the Sherlock Holmes author, Arthur Conan Doyle, who apparently makes his literary breakthrough when he writes a fictional short story: a statement of the Mary Celeste disaster from a recently identified survivor. Okayyy … and what’s the point of this?

      If there was one, I couldn’t find it.

      And the entire novel continues that way. The final chapters are the most interesting in that they return to the final days aboard the ship on that ill-fated voyage, but as you would expect, the novel ends without providing any solution. Or resolution. You are left with essentially three separate stories that had no end, and no real connection to each other either.

      And there are so many things that Martin could have done with this story that would have made it all the more interesting. She could have written a fictional narrative of the Briggs family. They are legendary in the annals of shipwreck history because something like 6 out of the 7 boys died in disasters at sea. She could have written about Sallie and Benjamin, and told their story up to the disaster... throwing in a few ghostly premonitions or what have you to build the suspense. Or if she wanted to go the ghost route, she could have focused on Hannah / Violet Petra, and connected her to the Mary Celeste disaster in a more tangible way. It was the inclusion of all these nuggets, all of which went nowhere, that did this book in for me.

      But like I said, the writing is fantastic. I love reading period books told from the perspectives of the characters, and the author writes with the style of the period. So proper. So formal. It makes me feel all the more erudite in my own speaking. And the story nuggets themselves were fascinating – I kept reading because I wanted to find out what happened. I wanted to know how these 3 seemingly unrelated stories were connected. And Martin could have done that without answering the ultimate question: what really happened to the crew and passengers of the Mary Celeste? It’s the fact these story nuggets died untimely and pointless deaths that makes their deaths so difficult.

      So much potential. So little fruit.
    • 4/5
      The circumstances of the disappearance of the crew of the Mary Celeste are one of the greatest maritime mysteries of all time and, in an age where even the universe is beginning to give up its secrets, successive generations have puzzled over the ship’s apparent enigma, refusing to accept that certain mysteries will defy explanation. It is little wonder, then, that I jumped at the opportunity to read and review an account of the doomed ship, even if it is fictitious.This is a book that defies easy synopsis and categorisation: it is in turns a third-person account, journals and book extracts told in the first person, and a transcription of historical documents relating to the salvage of the Mary Celeste, focusing on a number of characters tied to the ship in some way. At times, these connections are infuriatingly tangential, and in my opinion the strands involving Arthur Conan Doyle and the journalist Phoebe Grant are the least successful and convincing in this collection. What lifts this book above an average read is the powerful and deeply affecting prose. Valerie Martin managed to turn the sea into another character in the story, one that is always changeable, mysterious and dangerous, beautiful and immense in equal measure. This is best expressed by Sarah, the captain’s wife of the Mary Celeste: “What madness. What vanity of men, to sail about in fragile wooden boxes tricked out with sails, putting their lives, their fortunes, their families at the mercy of this ravenous, murderous, heartless beast of a sea. … The sea is my enemy, and it has defeated me.” These words ring especially true at the moment, when the sinking of a South Korean ferry is making tragic news.Do read this for an evocation of the Victorian age and for its beautiful prose, just don’t expect to get any real answers as to what happened aboard the Mary Celeste.(This review was originally written as part of Amazon's Vine programme.)