Fifty Famous Liners, Volume 1

by William H. Miller Jr.

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393016110
• ISBN13: 9780393016116
• Release Date: January 1982
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 1 Pages
• Weight: 1.85 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Volume two of a three volume set.

This is the second of three books about the world's greatest passenger ships compiled by two accomplished naval historians. Some will recognise similarities between this review and my review of volumes one and three. This is because the authors have retained the same, quite excellent, format - only the names of the ships are different. Whereas others might have listed the ships across those 3 books by period (for example, the 50 earliest ships in volume one and so forth), these books benefit from having a cross section of early and later vessels in each tome. In this way we have another selection of some of the greatest passenger ships of all time. From the Savannah of 1819 to the Shalom of 1964, Braynard and Miller combine to bring another 50 ships back to life by providing a short and fascinating story for each ship. Complimented with historic photographs - many of which do not appear to have been previously published, this is a very good product. Whilst I have seen many pictures of the fire which destroyed the Morro Castle, for example, there is a particularly telling image of the charred decks and scorched lifeboats still in their davits which I had not seen previously. The four-funnelled German ship Kaiser Wilhelm Der Grosse (King William the Great) is afforded a full 6 pages in which I found a particularly fascinating small detail. The idea for her creation (along with an overall expansion of the German Navy - both military and merchant) came after an official visit to the Spithead Review of the Royal Navy in 1889. With the mightiest display of warships in the world - all lined up in neat formation, the Kaiser was so impressed he ordered an immediate expansion of Germany's naval might just as soon as he returned home. How the history of Europe might have been so very different had he never been invited! Altogether, another extremely informative book and one which will provide those with an interest in the subject with considerable enjoyment as they work through the potted histories of each ship. From a research viewpoint, these books are essential additions to the library of any ship historian because they contain sufficient information - information you can trust!, about so many great ships. As such, they provide a ready reference source for those occasions when they need to digress from the main topic of one vessel and mention some factor or anecdote in connection with another. NM

Compiled by two naval historians with a passion for ships.

This is the first of three books on this subject produced by two accomplished naval historians. Whilst both authors are quite able to provide a complete work on any one of the ships included in this book, instead they have merged their skills to introduce some of the greatest passenger ships ever to have floated away from the launching docks. From the Britannia of 1840 to the QE2, Braynard and Miller combine to bring these vessels back to life by providing the reader with a "short story" read for each ship. These are each complimented with historic photographs - many of which I have not seen before despite having studied many, many books about great ships. For example, the photograph taken on board the four-funnelled Mauretania in 1935 showing fittings being auctioned off prior to her scrapping is particularly poignant. Many ships were built with four funnels - including warships, and whilst the Titanic is easily the most famous of all, no four-funnelled vessel was ever preserved. As far as I am aware, the Queen Mary (currently residing in Longbeach, California) is the only ship with 3 funnels to have been preserved. Both the Titanic and Queen Mary, incidentally, are included in this particular list of 50 Liners. Altogether, this is a very informative book and one which will provide those with an overall interest in the subject with considerable enjoyment as they work through the potted histories of each ship. From a research viewpoint, however, this and the two sister books are considered essential additions to the library of any ship historian because they contain sufficient information - "and" information you can trust!, about so many great ships. As such, they provide a ready reference source for those occasions when they need to digress from the main topic of one vessel and mention some factor or anecdote in connection with another. NM

WOW

If you are a ship expert, or just want to find a little information, this is for you. Braynard and Miller did a spectacular job! They wrote enough info. so you know and understand each ship, but aren't so detailed that the book bores the reader. This book is a must have for anyone interested in ocean liners.

Outstanding!

This is the book to get if you're into ocean liners! It contains loads of great information about the ocean liners of the past and present, and whets the appetite for more!

One of the best rescources of passenger liners

I think the "Fifty Famous Liners" series (books 1-3) are the most concise and informational descriptions of the worlds most famous liners a terrific buy for Liner enthusiasts! Andrew Oliva (aoliva@odin.cbu.edu)