More than two hundred years ago, evidence of buried treasure was discovered on Nova Scotia’s Oak Island. Since then, treasure hunters have discovered extensive engineering works on the Island. A network of tunnels has been found which successfully ensured that no one could ever recover whatever was hidden in the 200-foot-deep Money Pit.
Amateur historians and treasure hunters have offered a host of theories about what the treasure was, who buried it, and who tried to ensure it was never found. This fascinating book explores all these theories, which include the Vikings, the Spanish, pirates, the French and the British. Was it Sir Francis Drake? The crown jewels of France? Captain Kidd? Historian John Bell explores each idea, with extensive illustrations of the gold, silver, jewels and other treasures which might have been hidden, and sketches the lives of the renegades, pirates and agents of the British crown who could be responsible — with many accompanying visuals.
Not all the theories about Oak Island are firmly embedded in world history. John Bell also sets out some of the prominent but less plausible ideas, too: was the treasure placed by the Knights Templar, or is it original manuscripts by Sir Francis Bacon or even William Shakespeare? Or is it remnants of an extraterrestrial community on Earth?
This book offers a fascinating and visually rich opportunity to explore many centuries of world history. John Bell allows readers to arrive at their own judgment about the most likely explanation for an authentic treasure island whose secrets may never be revealed.
JOHN BELL is the author and editor of more than twenty books on Canadian history and culture. A former editor of the poetry magazine Arc, he has contributed to a wide variety of periodicals, including Literary Review of Canada, Event, This Magazine and Maisonneuve. During his thirty-year career as a senior archivist at the National Archives, John served as the curator of several major exhibitions and websites. He lives in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.
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