The Adriatic Affair: A French Shipwreck, an American Mystery, and the Deep-Sea Discovery

Join us for a captivating evening with Jennifer N. Sellitti, author of The Adriatic Affair: A Maritime Hit-and-Run off the Coast of Nantucket. This event will unveil the incredible true story of one of the most dramatic maritime disasters in 19th-century history—one that connects France and the United States in an unexpected tale of tragedy, heroism, and legal intrigue.

On November 2, 1856, the American sailing vessel Adriatic collided with the French steamship Le Lyonnais off the coast of Nantucket. While Le Lyonnais was left to sink, its captain and passengers abandoned at sea, the Adriatic sailed away without offering help. More than 100 people lost their lives, and the scandal became an international diplomatic affair between France and the United States. Yet, justice was never truly served.

Nearly 170 years later, in August 2024, Jennifer Sellitti and her team of explorers from the research vessel D/V Tenacious discovered the wreck of Le Lyonnais, bringing long-buried secrets to light. In this engaging talk, Jennifer will share the gripping history of the disaster and recount her team's thrilling expedition to locate the lost ship.

Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to delve into a forgotten chapter of French-American history and witness how modern technology and relentless determination helped bring the past to life.

Our author talk will be followed by a Q&A session, with a book signing and a glass of wine! 

The event will be held in English.