Rago Arts and Auction Center in Lambertville is presenting a talk by author and historian Joseph A. Williams on his latest book, The Sunken Gold: A Story of World War I, Espionage, and the Greatest Treasure Salvage in History. The event will be held on Tuesday, November 28 at 333 North Main. The auction house opens at noon. A wine and cheese reception begins at 5 p.m. The presentation will begin at 6 p.m.

In 1917, HMS Laurentic, laden with 44 tons of Allied gold bound for the United States, is sunk off the coast of Ireland by Germany. The ensuing struggle to recover the treasure by Royal Navy divers and their subsequent spywork of breaking into sunken U-boats for secret documents helped win the war. Today, there is still gold in the wreck waiting to be discovered. 

Joseph A. Williams is a maritime historian, archivist, and librarian whose previous works include Seventeen Fathoms Deep: The Saga of the Submarine S-4 Disaster and Four Years Before the Mast: A History of New York’s Maritime College. He is the deputy director of Greenwich Library in Connecticut.

If possible, R.S.V.P. to raac@ragoarts.com or (609) 397-9374 ext. 119. If you are unable to R.S.V.P. in advance, all are welcome.