Weekend Arts: Robert Kurson, author of Shadow Divers

Thursday night I went to list to a presentation at Unity Temple by Robert Kurson, the author of Shadow Divers, a recent release documenting the discovery of heretofore unknown German U-boat, sunk 60 mile off the coast of New Jersey.

Mr. Kurson began his speech saying how when he was an law school, he thought the law was about stories, but it wound up being about procedures. So, he left his firm and became a writer. That struck close to home, so I started listening. Mr. Kurson is, indeed, a fine storyteller. He is a large man, physically, and has a dominating presence, but a relatively soft voice. The two combine well for him, generating a dynamic nature for his speech. The stories he told about the wreck and the divers who probed it were engaging -- I hope that they reflect a similar spirit in the book (which I have yet to read, although my wife is devouring it).

Beyond the stories, though, Mr. Kurson got a little excited about his work.  The story had been told previously in television specials, he explained, but he feels his book is different. The specials are about the wreck; his book is about the people. Thank goodness. The people. He can be blamed, though, for a little self-importance. I would much rather read something by an author who passionately believes what he is writing than one who has a jaded view. Mr. Kurson clearly is fascinated by his topic (the boat as well as the people), and if he work reflects half of this fascination, it should be an engaging read.