From a respected folklorist, an entertaining mix of stories and facts about treasure hunting. Here are tales about pirate...

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GOLD AND SILVER, SILVER AND GOLD: Tales of Hidden Treasure

From a respected folklorist, an entertaining mix of stories and facts about treasure hunting. Here are tales about pirate ships and treasure maps, successful and unsuccessful searches, all in informal, inviting language. In context, legend (the ""Lost Dutchman"" mine; El Dorado) can easily be differentiated from fact (the search for the galleon Atocha; the treasure hunt inspired by a recent book, Masquerade), although reference to the generous notes helps the process. The melancholy tale of Captain Kidd is especially moving, and may come as a surprise. Aspiring searchers are provided with all three Beale ciphers. Christiana's drawings are appropriately somber, with traces of unexpected humor. As always, Schwartz's work is well researched; in addition to the notes, he includes a list of sources plus an extensive bibliography. A handsome, useful compendium of treasure lore.

Pub Date: Dec. 7, 1988

ISBN: 0374425825

Page Count: 128

Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 1988

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