Why Eric Dolin Preserves the Shocking Reality of Left for Dead

In this episode of Why Authors Write, Mary J Cronin sits down with best-selling maritime historian Eric Jay Dolin to explore the larger-than-life shipwreck and survival story that inspired “Left for Dead: Shipwreck, Treachery and Survival at the Edge of the World.” Set against the backdrop of the Falkland Islands during the War of 1812, Dolin's book follows Captain Charles Barnard of the American sealing vessel Nanina, who is betrayed and marooned — twice — by the survivors he knows best.We learn how rapidly civilization gives way to survival at all costs when a ship captain saves fifty stranded British castaways — only to have his vessel seized as a war prize and his crew taken prisoner.  In drawing back the curtain on a shocking historical episode, Dolin’s book raises questions about human nature, and how far hardened, shipwrecked men will go to stay alive.  He skillfully rachets up the tension in this story of betrayal, improbable survivals, and one very good dog hanging on at the edge of the world. Dolin opens up about what drew him to this long-forgotten story as he reflects on the allure of bringing an incredible series of disasters to life.  He talks about the challenges of chronicling a cast of flawed, morally compromised people caught up in a historical moment.  What does it mean when the story’s questionable heroes and darkest villains make their way home from unimaginable disasters, resume their normal lives, and are quickly forgotten?  From the thin line between obscurity and historical legacy, to retaining one's moral compass in the struggle for survival, Dolin explains his commitment to presenting just the facts when recounting despicable behavior and misguided heroics, so that his readers can judge history through their own lens.Chapters00:00 Dolin’s affinity for forgotten histories and maritime disasters09:12   Staying true to the facts of unsavory characters and unforgivable acts15:55   Attractions of bringing forgotten episodes to life24:08 Making a living as a nonfiction writer – rewards and challenges