Maritime history Books

1015 products


  • The Wager

    Simon & Schuster Ltd The Wager

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisFrom the international bestselling author of KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON and THE LOST CITY OF Z, a mesmerising story of shipwreck, mutiny and murder, culminating in a court martial that reveals a shocking truth.

    15 in stock

    £10.44

  • Europe Between the Oceans

    Yale University Press Europe Between the Oceans

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisEurope is, in world terms, a relatively minor peninsula attached to the Eurasian land mass, yet it became one of the most innovative regions on the planet. This title sees Europe not in terms of states and shifting land boundaries, but as a geographical niche particularly favoured in facing many seas.Trade Review"When history is written in this way, conventional priorities are overthrown. . . . An admirable distillation of an enormous amount of evidence—full of what is beautiful, interesting and true."—James Fenton, The Sunday Times (London)"Colorfully weaves history, geography archaeology and anthropology into a mesmerizing tapestry chronicling the development of Europe. . . . Richly told, Cunliffe's tale yields a wealth of insights into the earliest days of European civilization."—Publishers Weekly(starred review)"Vibrant. . . . Europe Between the Oceans is eminently readable [and] synthesizes major themes in archaeology and history. . . . One of the most accessible discussions available."—Cheryl Ward, International Journal of Maritime History"Nothing less than a masterwork, a gloriously sweeping survey of the early history of Europe drawn by a scholar and archaeologist at the very peak of his powers. . . . Magnificent. . . . Beautifully illustrated and simply written. . . . There are hundreds of examples of great erudition and innovative thinking in this wonderful book, but its chief pleasure is the sheer sweep of the thing, its confidence—born of a lifetime of study—its brio and its crystal-clear thinking."—Alistair Moffat, The Scotsman"Barry Cunliffe’s latest book represents the synthesis of half a century studying the archaeology of Europe … He has established a pre-eminent reputation for mastery of a huge corpus of Europe-wide data, and an ability to construct panoramic overviews of past epochs. His latest book is his most ambitious so far. . ."—Current Archaeology, No. 229"The scope of Professor Cunliffe’s new book is staggering . . . the text is liberally sprinkled with beautifully reproduced photographs and colour-coded maps – a wonderfully clear accompaniment . . . essential introductory reading . . . a wonderful overview. . . . Few scholars could seriously have attempted to write a work covering such a vast expanse of time and space, let alone have succeeded so admirably in condensing the great mass of information into a book that is such a manageable and rewarding read."—James Beresford, Minerva"To somebody like myself, who enjoys big history (and prehistory), this supplies it with a vengeance. . . . The author is one of our greatest living archaeologists, writing at the height of his powers and with decades of accumulated knowledge brought into play. The result is a cascade of maps, illustrations and (above all) vivid, informed, assured prose."—History Today"[An] impressive study. . . . It is a scholarly tale told in enjoyable prose and capably illustrated with excellent maps and relevant artefacts in colour."—Good Book GuideWinner of the 2008 PROSE Award for Excellence in the World History & Biography/Autobiography category, sponsored by the Association of American PublishersTop Seller in European History as compiled by YBP Library Services (2009)"Cunliffe has written an extraordinary book, which is the culmination of a lifetime’s research and thinking about early European history. This is archaeology that truly is history, a definitive account of early Europe from its beginnings to medieval times that draws effortlessly on a myriad of sources. Archaeologists, general readers, and historians alike will delight in this historical tapestry."—Brian Fagan, Emeritus Professor of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara, and author of The Long Summer"Cunliffe provides an enthralling history of Europe from end of the last ice age to the brink of global exploration, an extraordinary story told with unsurpassed knowledge and insight."—Steven Mithen, author of After the Ice: A Global Human History 20,000-5000 BC"A fluent and authoritative overview from one of our best known and most respected archaeological writers highlighting the formative influence of contacts, coasts and rivers on the development of European societies from earliest times."—Chris Scarre, University of Durham, editor of The Human Past"An astonishment: a transformation of prehistoric and early Europe from a minor outpost of the five continents into a restless and influential maritime member of an expanding world. Provocative but persuasive."—Aubrey Burl, author of A Guide to the Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany"This is a truly remarkable book. . . . It is immensely readable and totally authoritative. . . . No one could read this book, one of its distinguished author's finest achievements, without pleasure and profit. Simply put, it is excellent: original, exciting and a delight to read."—Roger Collins, author of Visigoth Spain, 409-711 and Early Medieval Europe, 300-1000

    15 in stock

    £25.00

  • Japanese Combined Fleet 194142

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Japanese Combined Fleet 194142

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisLaunching Osprey''s new Fleet series, this is a spectacularly illustrated, concise and comprehensive account of the Imperial Japanese Navy''s striking force at the height of its power.The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) entered the Pacific War as one of the most formidable navies in the world, and its combat power was concentrated into one force, the Combined Fleet. In the months that followed Pearl Harbor it enjoyed an unrivaled string of victories, shattering American, British, Australian, and Dutch naval forces. This period of expansion and constant victories ended at the Battle of Midway, after which the Combined Fleet was forced onto the defensive. In this book, Mark Stille draws on his decades of IJN research to explain what made the Combined Fleet the fighting force that it was. Packed with superb original artwork, explanatory 3D diagrams and maps, it examines the fleet''s doctrine, innovative tactics and powerful warships. It also details the qualities and importance of ITable of ContentsTHE FLEET’S PURPOSE Background to War Pre-War Plans Early War Strategy FLEET FIGHTING POWER The Ships Technical Factors HOW THE FLEET OPERATED Organization Command and Control Doctrine Intelligence and Deception Logistics and Facilities COMBAT AND ANALYSIS The Fleet in Combat Analysis FURTHER READING INDEX

    2 in stock

    £14.39

  • Recreating Titanic and Her Sisters

    The History Press Ltd Recreating Titanic and Her Sisters

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisBringing the world of Titanic and her sisters back to life as never before through the captivating original artwork of talented artists

    1 in stock

    £32.00

  • Olympic Titanic Britannic

    The History Press Ltd Olympic Titanic Britannic

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisAt the beginning of the twentieth century, competition between the North Atlantic shipping lines was fierce. While Britain responded to the commercial threat posed by the growing German merchant marine, there was also rivalry between the great Cunard Line and its chief competitor, the White Star Line.

    1 in stock

    £21.25

  • Seamanship in the Age of Sail

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Seamanship in the Age of Sail

    5 in stock

    Book SynopsisNumerous successful reprints of contemporary works on rigging and seamanship indicate the breadth of interest in the lost art of handling square-rigged ships. Modelmakers, marine painters and enthusiasts need to know not only how the ships were rigged but how much sail was set in each condition of wind and sea, how the various manoeuvres were carried out, and the intricacies of operations like reefing sails or ''catting'' an anchor. Contemporary treatises such as Brady''s Kedge Anchor in the USA or Darcy Lever''s Sheet Anchor in Britain tell only half the story, for they were training manuals intended to be used at sea in conjunction with practical experiences and often only cover officially-condoned practices. This book, on the other hand, is a modern, objective appraisal of the evidence, concerned with the actualities as much as the theory. The author has studied virtually every manual published about seamanship over a period of nearly four centuries. This gives the book a completelyTrade ReviewOne of the most definitive accounts of the remarkable development of seamanship techniques between 1600 and 1860. * Nautilus Telegraph *

    5 in stock

    £40.00

  • Inside the Britannic

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Inside the Britannic

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisDocumenting one of the most comprehensive surveys of a shipwreck ever conducted, Simon Mills' new book takes you inside the SS Britannic for a unique dive into the past.The Olympic Class ships were intended to be the greatest liners to ever sail the oceans, but the Britannic sank only four years after her sister ship the Titanic. While the wreck of the Titanic is 2 miles below the surface and rapidly deteriorating, the Britannic is much more accessible (only 400ft down) and remains largely intact. One of the largest passenger ships ever to have sunk, her wreck presents a unique opportunity to explore the interior of the Olympic Class liners, and examine areas which on the Titanic simply no longer exist.Simon Mills bought the wreck of the Britannic in 1996 and has spent more time exploring it than anyone else. Inside the Britannic is the sum of decades of work covering every inch of the shipwreck as he sea

    15 in stock

    £23.80

  • The Aircraft Carrier Hiryu

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Aircraft Carrier Hiryu

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisA uniquely detailed study of a Japanese aircraft carrier that took part in the attack on Pearl Harbor, before being sunk at Midway.Hiryu was an aircraft carrier built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during the 1930s. Her aircraft supported the Japanese invasion of French Indochina in mid-1940 and during the first month of the Pacific War, she took part in the attack on Pearl Harbor and the Battle of Wake Island. She supported the conquest of the Dutch East Indies in January 1942 and her aircraft bombed Darwin, Australia, and continued to assist in the Dutch East Indies campaign. In April, Hiryu''s aircraft helped sink two British heavy cruisers and several merchant ships during the Indian Ocean raid. After a brief refit, Hiryu and three other fleet carriers of the First Air Fleet participated in the Battle of Midway in June 1942. After bombarding American forces on the atoll, the carriers were attacked by aircraft from Midway and the Trade ReviewI have seen similar books with 3D artwork before, but nothing has come close the sheer detail and quantity to be found in this one. Simply stunning book. -- Robin Buckland * Military Model Scene *Stefan Draminski has done an incredible job of creating a coherent set of ship’s plans, drawing on original documents from the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, as well as providing a potted history of Japanese carrier development and the career of Hiryu herself. -- Joe Coles * HushKit Magazine *An excellent and detailed guide -- Duncan Evans * The Armourer Magazine *Draminski has ably put together a book that is highly detailed but accessible -- James Bosbotinis * The Naval Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction Technical Description History Primary Views The Drawings: A General arrangements B Hull structure C Superstructure D Rig E Armament F Fittings G Aircraft H Boats

    15 in stock

    £36.00

  • Sir John Franklins Erebus and Terror Expedition

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Sir John Franklins Erebus and Terror Expedition

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe true story of Sir John Franklin's fateful expedition in HMS Erebus and HMS Terror of the North-West Passage in 1845, and the eventual discovery of the ships'' wrecks in 2014 and 2016.In 1845, British explorer Sir John Franklin set out on a voyage to find the North-West Passage--the sea route linking the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific. The expedition was expected to complete its mission within three years and return home in triumph but the two ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, and the 129 men aboard them disappeared in the Arctic. The last Europeans to see them alive were the crews of two whaling ships in Baffin Bay in July 1845, just before they entered the labyrinth of the Arctic Archipelago.The loss of this British hero and his crew, and the many rescue expeditions and searches that followed, captured the public imagination, but the mystery surrounding the expedition's fate only deepened as more clues were found. How did FranklTrade ReviewA must-read for any history buff. You're sure to be gripped by the tale of endurance, heroism and tragedy. * Lifeboat *This is an undemanding book that brings the story to life through paintings and photographs, as well as an accessible text. * Sailing Today *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 The North-West Passage 2 Sir John Franklin 3 HMS Erebus and HMS Terror 4 The Members of Sir John Franklin’s Erebus and Terror Expedition 5 Expedition Life 6 Searching for Franklin 7 McClintock Discovers the Fate of the Franklin Expedition 8 Disaster Revisited 9 Finding Erebus and Terror 10 Answers and Questions

    15 in stock

    £18.00

  • Extractive Capitalism

    Profile Books Ltd Extractive Capitalism

    5 in stock

    Book Synopsis'Essential reading' Françoise Vergès, author of A Decolonial Feminism'Profound and compelling ... A book that I couldn't put down' Adam Hanieh, author of Crude CapitalismWhether it's pumping oil, mining resources or shipping commodities across oceans, the global economy runs on extraction. Promises of frictionless trade and lucrative speculation are the hallmarks of our era, but the backbone of globalisation is still low-cost labour and rapacious corporate control. Extractive capitalism is what made - and is still making - our unequal world. Professor Laleh Khalili reflects on the hidden stories behind late capitalism, from seafarers abandoned on debt-ridden container ships to the nefarious reach of consultancy firms and the cronyism that drives record-breaking profits. Piercing, wry and constantly revealing, Extractive Capitalism brings vividly to light the dark truths behind the world's most voracious industries.

    5 in stock

    £10.79

  • German High Seas Fleet 191418

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC German High Seas Fleet 191418

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisA superbly illustrated new account of how Germany''s High Seas Fleet was built, operated and fought, as it challenged the world''s most powerful navy in World War I.Seven years before the outbreak of World War I, the Imperial German Navy rebranded its Home Fleet as the Hochseeflotte, or High Seas Fleet. It was a force designed to take on the Royal Navy, then the world's most powerful, and for the next four years the North Sea would be their battleground.Drawing on extensive research, Angus Konstam offers the reader a concise, fully illustrated account of how the entire High Seas Fleet was designed and built, how it operated, and how it fought. The fleet was a modern, balanced force of dreadnought battleships, battlecruisers, cruisers and torpedo boats, using Zeppelins and U-boats for reconnaissance. The ultimate test between them came in May 1916, when they clashed at Jutland.Packed with spectacular original artwork, maps, 3D diagrams and archive photos, it Table of ContentsTHE FLEET'S PURPOSE The Kaiser's 'Luxury Fleet' The Risk Theory Force Balancing FLEET FIGHTING POWER The Ships Technology Light Forces HOW THE FLEET OPERATED Organization Command and Control Communications and Intelligence Bases and Logistics COMBAT AND ANALYSIS The Fleet in Combat Analysis FURTHER READING

    3 in stock

    £14.39

  • The European World 15001800

    Taylor & Francis Ltd The European World 15001800

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe European World 1500â1800 provides a concise and authoritative textbook for the centuries between the Renaissance and the French Revolution. It presents early modern Europe not as a mere transition phase, but a dynamic period worth studying in its own right.Written by an experienced team of specialists, and derived from a successful undergraduate course, it offers a student-friendly introduction to all major themes and processes of early modern history. This fully updated fourth edition is structured in six parts â Starting Points, Society and Economy, Religion, The Wider World, Culture, Politics â and includes two new chapters on the Environment and Food and Drink Cultures.Specially designed to assist learning, The European World 1500â1800 features: expert surveys of key topics written by an international group of historians suggestions for seminar discussion and further reading extracts from primary sources and generous illustrations, including maps a glossary of key terms and concepts a full index of persons, places and subjects and a companion website, offering colour images, direct access to primary materials, and interactive features which highlight key events and locations discussed in the volume. The European World 1500â1800 is essential reading for all students embarking on the discovery of the early modern period.For support with the early modern historiographical debates see the partnering volume Interpreting Early Modern Europe edited by C. Scott Dixon and Beat KÃmin.- https://www.routledge.com/Interpreting-Early-Modern-Europe/Dixon-Kumin/p/book/9781138799011. Trade Review'This is one of the only textbooks to portray the early modern period as a distinctive era in its own right and to fully explore its richness and diversity. The European World provides an authoritative survey of the period's characteristic developments, an overview of the latest scholarly perspectives and an original selection of easily accessible source fragments.'Bart Lambert, University of York, UK‘An informative, synthetic account of the major themes in early modern European history. The authors introduce readers to an array of "histories" (social, economic, religious, etc.) which they may not have encountered before and encourage further specialised reading . . . the illustrative examples are useful and pertinent.’Stephen Bowd, University of Edinburgh ‘This impressive textbook provides a firm basis for any further student research. Easy to read, it delivers in-depth considerations of the most important developments of the European early modern period.’Renate Dürr, University of Tübingen‘Didactically, it is all brilliantly executed, especially compared to some German textbooks and it is easy to read, without being simplistic.’Wolfgang Reinhard, Zeitschrift für Historische Forschung‘One of the best introductions to this period I have seen.'Retha Warnicke, Arizona State University'A student-friendly text, well written by excellent scholars who make the reader want to turn the page. The European World, 1500-1800, contains analytical chapters on a variety of both traditional and recent historical topics while excelling in comparative descriptions of life throughout Europe, between different centuries, and between Europe and the wider world.'Richard M. Golden, University of North TexasThis is a well-organized, thoughtful and thought-provoking survey of a seminal period in the history of Europe. It draws upon current scholarship to provide a useful overview the major themes of early modern European history. Its thematic approach is especially helpful in getting students to think about the past in new and fruitful ways.Christine Kooi, Louisiana State University. Table of ContentsPart I: Starting PointsI.1 IntroductionBeat Kümin I.2 Europe in 1500Humfrey ButtersPart II: Society and EconomyII.1 EnvironmentsJohn MorganII.2Gender and FamilyBernard CappII.3 Rural SocietySteve Hindle II.4 Urban SocietyPenny RobertsII.5 Marginals and DeviantsPenny RobertsII.6 Sickness and HealthClaudia SteinII.7 The Early Modern EconomySteve Hindle Part III: ReligionIII.1 Church and People at the Close of the Middle AgesBeat Kümin and Peter MarshallIII.1A The Long Reformation – an introductionBeat KüminIII.2 The Long Reformation – LutheranHenry J. CohnIII.3 The Long Reformation – ReformedPenny RobertsIII.4 The Long Reformation – CatholicAnne Gerritsen, Kevin Gould and Peter MarshallIII.5 Religious Culture in Early Modern EuropePeter MarshallIII.6 Jews and MuslimsHenry J. Cohn†Part IV: The Wider World IV.1 Beyond Europe c. 1500Anne Gerritsen and Anthony McFarlaneIV.2 European Relations with the Ottoman WorldJames BaldwinIV.3 Expanding HorizonsAnne Gerritsen and Anthony McFarlaneIV.4 Europe OverseasAnthony McFarlaneIV.5 The Global Exchange of GoodsAnne Gerritsen and Giorgio RielloIV.6 Europe and the World c. 1800Anne Gerritsen and Anthony McFarlanePart V: CultureV.1 RenaissanceHumfrey ButtersV.2 Arts and SocietyLuca MolàV.3 From Pen to PrintMark Knights and Angela McShane V.4 Food and Drink CulturesRebecca Earle and Beat KüminV.5 Popular Culture(s)Bernard CappV.6 Witchcraft and MagicPenny RobertsV.7 The Scientific RevolutionClaudia SteinV.8 EnlightenmentColin JonesPart VI: PoliticsA) SurveysVI.1 The Theory and Practice of Politics and GovernmentHumfrey ButtersVI.2 Dynastic Politics, Religious Conflict and Reason of State c.1500-1650Humfrey Butters and Henry J. CohnVI.3 European Politics from the Peace of Westphalia to the French Revolution c.1650-1800Colin Jones and Mark KnightsB) ThemesVI. 4 Courts and CentresStéphane van Damme and Janet Dickinson VI.5 Centre and PeripherySteve Hindle and Beat Kümin VI.6 The Impact of WarJonathan DaviesVI.7 Riot and RebellionBernard CappVI.8 RevolutionBernard Capp and Colin Jones

    2 in stock

    £32.29

  • DDay Fleet 1944 American Sector

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC DDay Fleet 1944 American Sector

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisA fully illustrated study of how the US-led half of the Normandy invasion fleet was composed, commanded, and how it fought, from D-Day until the fall of Cherbourg.The D-Day landings and their aftermath were among the most complex and important naval operations in history. With the target beaches divided into two areas of responsibility one US-commanded, one British this armada launched a month-long operation to first support the landings, then to protect, supply, and support the troops ashore, as they fought to expand their toehold in occupied Europe.In this book, illustrated throughout with 3D diagrams, photos, maps and dramatic artwork, naval historian Brian Lane Herder explains how the US Navy-led Western Task Force was built, and outlines its operations off Normandy during June 1944. It covers this multinational fleet's organization, assembly, and training, as well as the intelligence and logistics picture, and explores its actions that were so crucial t

    1 in stock

    £14.39

  • The Evolution of the Passenger Ship

    The History Press Ltd The Evolution of the Passenger Ship

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisTake a voyage through the rich history of passenger ships. From mass migration through to luxury holidays, passenger shipping has played a central role in the collective human story. They have been at the forefront of innovative technology, leading to vessels capable of greater speed and safety, new luxuries, and increased scale and size.From the earliest days of using ships to transport people, through the development of the giant passenger transportation industry, to the huge cruise ships we see today, this book provides a fascinating glimpse into some of the most important evolutions that had a significant impact on passenger shipping.Accompanied by captivating photographs, The Evolution of the Passenger Ship explores the way ships were shaped over time and how they in turn helped to shape the world around them.

    1 in stock

    £21.25

  • The Wager

    Simon & Schuster Ltd The Wager

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisTHE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES NO. 1 BESTSELLER  *LONGLISTED FOR THE 2023 BALLIE GIFFORD PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION* *SELECTED AS ONE OF  BARACK OBAMA'S FAVOURITE BOOKS OF 2023*'The beauty of The Wager unfurls like a great sail... one of the finest nonfiction books I’ve ever read' Guardian ‘The greatest sea story ever told’ Spectator‘A cracking yarn… Grann’s taste for desperate predicaments finds its fullest expression here’ ObserverFrom the international bestselling author of KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON and THE LOST CITY OF Z, a mesmerising story of shipwreck, mutiny and murder, culminating in a court martial that reveals a shocking truth.   On 28th January 1742, a ramshackle vessel of patched-together wood and cloth washed up on the coastTrade Review'The beauty of The Wager unfurls like a great sail... one of the finest nonfiction books I’ve ever read. I can only offer the highest praise a writer can give: endless envy, as deep and salty as the sea' -- Matthew Teague * Guardian *'Grann combines a forensic eye with a storyteller's enthusiasm... [he] skilfully moves between several genres – giving us a tense court-martial drama to finish an unrelenting survival thriller' * Sunday Telegraph *‘Vivid, immediate and tantalising… Grann has a knack not just for telling a great story, but for bringing it to life through its characters… There are a great many books on British naval history; very few are this good’ * Sunday Times *'This astonishing tale of maritime warfare, mutiny and survival in the 18th-century Atlantic proves that a nonfiction book can be as thrilling as any summer blockbuster' * People *‘Combining impeccable research with exceptional storytelling powers, [Grann] spirits the reader aboard a creaking wooden ship trapped at the eye of a howling storm… No book that you are likely to read this year or next will prove more dramatic and enthralling than Grann’s magnificent story of both life at sea and out on the desolate, mist-laden island whose solitary peak the Wager’s unfortunate crew aptly named Mount Misery’ -- Miranda Seymour * Financial Times *'The story of The Wager is, like many of its antecedents - from Homer's Odyssey to Mutiny on the Bounty - a testement to the depths of human depravity and the heights of human endurance, and you can't ask for better than that from a story... The Wager will keep you in its grip to its head-stratching, improbable end' * The Los Angeles Times *‘A tour de force of narrative nonfiction, Mr. Grann’s account shows how storytelling, whether to judges or readers, can shape individual and national fortunes—as well as our collective memory... The Wager is likely to cast a powerful spell on modern readers as well’ * Wall Street Journal *'Those who love yarns involving cannon fire, sea-chests, plum duff and mainmasts will find The Wager riveting, as will those less intrigued by the age of sail. In the hands of David Grann, the story transcends its naval setting... [Grann] is a master of exciting tales in far-flung places. He has produced a volume so dramatic and engrossing that it may surpass his previous books' * The Economist *'... one of the premier nonfiction storytellers of our time... Grann's masterful new book The Wager is at once an adventure on the high seas, a horror story and a courtroom drama - a little bit Rashomon meets Lord of the Flies' * Rolling Stone *'Grann recreates the voyage in all its enthralling horror' * New York Times Bestseller list, 'Editor's Choice' *'It's the kind of inspiring chronicle that would make for a rousing maritime adventure. But this is a David Grann book, and so he gives us something more... Their struggle for survival consumed them; reading about their struggle for survival intruged me - as Grann, the consummate narrative architect, must have known it would' * The New York Times *'The Wager is unadorned, almost pure, horror-filled plot ... a tightly written, relentless, blow-by-blow account that is hard to put down' * The Washington Post *'Bestseller Grann (Killers of the Flower Moon) delivers a concise and riveting account of the HMS Wager… Grann packs the narrative with fascinating details about life at sea—from scurvy-induced delirium to the mechanics of loading and firing a cannon—and makes excellent use of primary sources, including a firsthand account by 16-year-old midshipman John Byron, grandfather of the poet Lord Byron. Armchair adventurers will be enthralled' * Publishers Weekly *'A genre-defying literary naval-history thriller, part Master and Commander, part Lord of the Flies' * Vanity Fair *'David Grann is one of the very select club of writers: those who books of history are so diverting that they almost seem implausible. Their narrative constrictions are so effective, the dialogue so apposite, that jaded readers might think everything has been made up or twisted to give the books life, in novelistic fashion' * Spectator *‘While the story of HMS Wager is well known, David Grann brings a distinctive and specialized approach to his treatment of it. He has carefully built his book on a firm knowledge of the published historical literature on the period and an extensive examination of the manuscript sources in a wide range of archives in England, Scotland, Australia and the United States. […] He has structured this book not as an analytical historian but as a mystery writer’ * Times Literary Supplement *

    Out of stock

    £18.00

  • The Pirates Code

    Reaktion Books The Pirates Code

    7 in stock

    Book SynopsisA rollicking account of pirates' codes, the strict rules essential for survival at sea.

    7 in stock

    £10.44

  • Titanic Day by Day

    Pen & Sword Books Ltd Titanic Day by Day

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisPreviously unpublished illustrations by Nady Gubanova, bringing the history of Titanic to life.

    1 in stock

    £21.25

  • Titanic the Ship Magnificent  Slipcase

    The History Press Ltd Titanic the Ship Magnificent Slipcase

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe largest, most luxurious ship in the world, wrecked on her maiden voyage after colliding with an iceberg mid-Atlantic, has become the stuff of legends. While everyone knows the new White Star liner was glamorous, full of millionaires when she sank, few appreciate just how luxurious she was. Even in Third Class, the accommodation was better than on First Class on many older ships. For the first time, Bruce Beveridge, Steve Hall, Scott Andrews and Daniel Klistorner look at the construction and exterior of the ship itself, and at her interior design and fittings. From cobalt blue Spode china and Elkington plate silverware in the à la carte restaurant to the design of the boilers and fixtures and fittings on board the world's most luxurious vessel, they tell the story of a liner built at the peak of the race between the British, French and Germans to build bigger and better ships.

    15 in stock

    £112.50

  • Sea Peoples of the Bronze Age Mediterranean

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Sea Peoples of the Bronze Age Mediterranean

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisSea Peoples of the Bronze Age and Mediterranean features the latest historical and archaeological research into the mysterious and powerful confederations of raiders who troubled the Eastern Mediterranean in the last half of the Bronze Age. Research into the origins of the so-called Shardana, Shekelesh, Danuna, Lukka, Peleset and other peoples is a detective ''work in progress''. However, it is known that they both provided the Egyptian pharaohs with mercenaries, and were listed among Egypt''s enemies and invaders. They contributed to the collapse of several civilizations through their dreaded piracy and raids, and their waves of attacks were followed by major migrations that changed the face of this region, from modern Libya and Cyprus to the Aegean, mainland Greece, Lebanon and Anatolian Turkey. Drawing on carved inscriptions and papyrus documents - mainly from Egypt - dating from the 15th-11th centuries BC, as well as carved reliefs of Medinet Habu, this title reconstructs the formiTable of ContentsIntroduction: who were the Sea Peoples? /Chronology /The historical sources: the Byblos obelisk; the Armana letters; Rameses II and the Battle of Kadesh inscriptions; the Libyan despatch to Merneptah; the Medinet Habu reliefs of Rameses III; the Onomastican of Amenemope /The different groups: Shardana/ Sherden, Danuna, Karkisha & Lukka, Peleset, Shekelesh/ Tjekker, Sea Wheshesh /Clothing & military equipment: headdress, helmets; corselets; shields; spears & javelins; swords & daggers; chariots /Military organization: chariots and infantry; siege warfare; naval warfare /Campaigns: as pirates and Egyptian mercenaries, 14th century BC; the Kadesh campaign, 1285 BC; first Egyptian campaign, 1207 BC; fall of the Hittite Empire, c.1200 BC; the War of the 8th Year, 1184 BC; Libya, 1180 BC; Western Mediterranean, c.1100 BC /Sites, museums & bibliography /Index

    2 in stock

    £13.49

  • A History of Sailing in 100 Objects

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC A History of Sailing in 100 Objects

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisDid you ever wonder which civilisation first took to water in small craft? Who worked out how to measure distance or plot a course at sea? Or why the humble lemon rose to such prominence in the diets of sailors?Taking one hundred objects that have been pivotal in the development of sailing and sailing boats, the book provides a fascinating insight into the history of sailing. From the earliest small boats, through magnificent Viking warships, to the technology that powers some of the most sophisticated modern yachts, the book also covers key developments such as keeps and navigational aids such as the astrolabe, sextant and compass. Other more apparently esoteric objects from all around the world are also included, including the importance of citrus fruit in the prevention of scurvy, scrimshaw made from whalebone and the meaning of sailor's tattoos. Beautifully illustrated with lively and insightful text, it's a perfect gift for the real or armchair sailor, the book gives an alternaTrade ReviewA whimsical, inventive, comprehensive and scientific volume of sailing knowledge. * Boating Times Long Island *A delightful anthology of vignettes about all sorts of things of interest and importance to leisure, commercial and naval mariners. It has much wider appeal than just sailing and yachting. * Ausmarine magazine *A potpourri of all things nautical with informative text supporting each picture. * This England *This photographic tour through the ages is a captivating look at mankind's history at sea. * Yachting Times *So much more than the sum of its parts... the true joy of this book is to dip in and out of it again and again. * Topwath Talk *Book of the month. Beautifully illustrated and insightfully written, it offers a thoughtful tour of how we sail today and why. * Boat International *

    2 in stock

    £18.70

  • Sword Beach

    Transworld Publishers Ltd Sword Beach

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisStephen Fisher is an archaeologist and historian specialising in twentieth-century warfare and maritime history. He has been researching landing craft and the D-Day fleets for a number of years while working on a huge range of other projects.Previous work has included advising on the restoration of LCT 7074, the world's last surviving D-Day landing craft tank, and compiling a comprehensive assessment of the Second World War archaeology of the New Forest National Park. At present he undertakes archaeological surveys if the New Forest and sails with National Geographic/Lindbald Expeditions as a historian.

    2 in stock

    £21.25

  • Narvik 1940

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Narvik 1940

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisIn early 1940, a battle raged to control the ice-free, iron-ore port in northern Norway with changing fortunes until the very end. This highly detailed book covers both the naval battles and the individual Norwegian, British, Polish, French and German units that fought the land campaign over northern Norway. Highly detailed maps guide you step by step through the events. Few other books on Narvik give you as much detail on the forces of the fighting five. From Gebirgsjägers to Guardsmen, Fallschirmjägers to Foreign Legionnaires, it offers you an impressive level of tactical detail, even down to company command, whilst also helping you understand the strategic confusion surrounding the whole Allied expedition to the north too. Among the naval clashes covered in this action-packed story are the destroyer battles in the fjords, the sinking of the aircraft carrier HMS Glorious and the roles the famous battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau played in the fighting. No less dramaticTrade ReviewThe author has done a great job of covering this topic in great detail, looking at both sides of the conflict covering tactics, commanders, troops on the ground and equipment. He also takes a detailed look at some of battles which includes some of the naval skirmishes. Anyone thinking of recreating parts of this conflict on the tabletop, then this is an ideal companion to pick up. You’ll definitely find plenty of background information that will provide a plethora of ideas to re-create. -- Jason Hubbard * Irregular Magazine *Table of ContentsORIGINS OF THE CAMPAIGN CHRONOLOGY OPPOSING COMMANDERS Allied German OPPOSING FORCES Allied German Orders of battle OPPOSING PLANS Allied German THE BATTLE OF NARVIK The German landing and the naval battles, 10–13 April 1940 German deployments and tactics The Allied landings at Narvik Gratangen, 24–25 April 1940 Beisfjord Gressdalen and Roasme, 1–13 May 1940 The Bjerkvik landing, 13 May 1940 Stautner on the Litlebalak position, 22 May 1940 Kuberg The Orneset landing and Beisfjord, 28 May 1940 Defending the ore railway Point 620 and Haugfjell Bodø Stien, 17–18 May 1940 Pothus, 25–26 May 1940 The Allied evacuation AFTERMATH Conclusion BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX

    1 in stock

    £14.39

  • Smoke And Ashes: Opium's Hidden Histories

    John Murray Press Smoke And Ashes: Opium's Hidden Histories

    15 in stock

    Book Synopsis'The writing is sublime, the research thorough, the eye for story superb' Sunday TelegraphWhen Amitav Ghosh began the research for his monumental cycle of novels the Ibis Trilogy, he was startled to find how the lives of the 19th century sailors and soldiers he wrote of were dictated not only by the currents of the Indian Ocean, but also by the precious commodity carried in enormous quantities on those currents: opium. Most surprising at all, however, was the discovery that his own identity and family history was swept up in the story.Smoke and Ashes is at once a travelogue, memoir and a history, drawing on decades of archival research. In it, Ghosh traces the transformative effect the opium trade had on Britain, India, and China, as well as the world at large. The trade was engineered by the British Empire, which exported Indian opium to sell to China and redress their great trade imbalance, and its revenues were essential to the Empire's financial survival. Yet tracing the profits further, Ghosh finds opium at the origins of some of the world's biggest corporations, of America's most powerful families and prestigious institutions (from the Astors and Coolidges to the Ivy League), and of contemporary globalism itself.Moving deftly between horticultural histories, the mythologies of capitalism, and the social and cultural repercussions of colonialism, in Smoke and Ashes Amitav Ghosh reveals the role that one small plant had in making our world, now teetering on the edge of catastrophe.Trade ReviewGhosh has reinvented himself as a superlative commodity historian. In his new role, he has surpassed many seasoned historians in his ability to synthesise a wealth of research with remarkable intellectual clarity and suggestive simplicity . . . There's a quietly subversive element to Smoke and Ashes for which Ghosh deserves to be commended * The Times *The book gave me a deeper chill than any of the TV series about the opioid crisis I had viewed before reading it . . . The writing is sublime, the research thorough, the eye for story superb, and there are splashes of personal back story that underscore the sincerity of the author's arguments * Sunday Telegraph *A riveting new history of opium, a lucrative and destructive flower . . . Amitav Ghosh's sweeping, forcefully written Smoke and Ashes covers centuries in the life of the plant * Washington Post *A sweeping, and personal, account of the immense effect the opium trade has had on world history and how it continues to impact our lives today. * Financial Times *

    15 in stock

    £18.70

  • Understanding Maritime Security

    Oxford University Press Inc Understanding Maritime Security

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    1 in stock

    £19.99

  • The Royal Netherlands Navy of World War II

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Royal Netherlands Navy of World War II

    5 in stock

    Book SynopsisIn the late 19th and early 20th century, a combination of coastal defence for the homeland and fleet defence for the East Indies became the established naval strategy for the Royal Dutch Navy and set the template for the world wars. Battleships were too expensive to build and maintain, so after World War I, there was significant investment in submarine development and construction. A handful of modern light cruisers and a new class of destroyers were also constructed during the interwar years to serve as a small Fleet-in-Being in the East Indies, as well as to support the actions of the navy's submarines. The light cruiser HNLMS De Ruyter and the Java-class light cruisers were the most powerful units of the new fleet whilst the backbone of the destroyer fleet was the Admiralen-class and the Tromp-class of destroyer leaders. Beginning in December 1941, the Dutch Navy played a very active role in the defence of the East Indies against the Japanese during World War II. The Battle oTable of ContentsIntroduction Major Surface Vessels of the Koninklijke Marine Submarines of the Koninklijke Marine Risk Theory and its Impact on the Operations of Koninklijke Marine Warships, 1941-42 Conclusion Bibliography Index

    5 in stock

    £11.39

  • The Battlecruiser Hood

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Battlecruiser Hood

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe destruction of the HMS Hood by the Bismarck in 1941 was one of the most shocking episodes in the history of the Royal Navy. Built during World War I, the Hood was the largest, fastest and one of the most handsome capital ships in the world. For the first time, this volume in the renowned Anatomy of a Ship series is available in paperback, and features a detailed description of every aspect of the beloved battlecruiser. In addition to analysing the genesis of its design and contemporary significance, this exceptional study provides the finest documentation of the Hood, with a complete set of superb line drawings, supported by technical details and a record of the ship''s service history.Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION Design Construction Service history The loss of Hood General arrangements and hull structure Machinery Armament Control systems Ground tackle Aircraft Modifications The PHOTOGRAPHS The DRAWINGS General arrangements Hull construction Machinery Accommodation Superstructure Rig Armament Fire-control Fittings Ground tackle Ship’s boats Aircraft arrangements

    15 in stock

    £16.99

  • Mapping Naval Warfare

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Mapping Naval Warfare

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisNaval operations and warfare were (and remain) a key element for mapping. This beautiful book looks at a series of key conflicts from the sixteenth century to the present day and explains how they were represented through mapping and how the maps produced helped naval commanders to plan their strategy. There are plentiful maps and a good story to tell, both about naval history and about mapping at sea. Conflicts covered include the the American Revolution, Spanish Armada, the Napoleonic Wars, the First and Second World Wars, and the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

    1 in stock

    £25.50

  • 100 Years of Cruise Ships in Colour

    The History Press Ltd 100 Years of Cruise Ships in Colour

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisCharting 100 years of cruising the ocean waves, in rich colour photographs

    1 in stock

    £21.25

  • The Olympic Class Ships

    The History Press Ltd The Olympic Class Ships

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisA history of the Olympic class ships

    1 in stock

    £29.75

  • Titanic A Survivors Story

    The History Press Ltd Titanic A Survivors Story

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisHere is a survivor''s vivid account of the greatest maritime disaster in history. The information contained in Gracie''s account is available from no other source. He provides details of those final moments, including names of passengers pulled from the ocean and of those men who, in a panic, jumped into lifeboats as they were being lowered, causing injury and further danger to life. Walter Lord, author of ''A Night to Remember'', comments that Gracie''s book - written shortly before he died from the exposure he suffered on the night - is invaluable for chasing down who went in what boat, and calls Gracie an indefatigable detective.

    1 in stock

    £9.49

  • Warship 2025

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Warship 2025

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe 2025 edition of Warship, the celebrated annual publication featuring original research on the history, development, and service of the world''s warships.For over 45 years, Warship has been the leading annual resource on the design, development, and deployment of the world''s combat ships. Featuring a broad range of articles from a select panel of distinguished international contributors, Warship combines original research, new book reviews, warship notes, an image gallery, and much more, maintaining the impressive standards of scholarship and research with which the annual has become synonymous. Detailed and accurate information is the hallmark of all the articles, which are fully supported by plans, data tables, and stunning photographs. This year''s Warship includes features on France''s first destroyers, the turn-of-the-century 300-tonne type; Denmark''s H-class submarines of World War II; Italy''s proposed battlecruiser desi

    15 in stock

    £45.00

  • Saltwater Slavery

    Harvard University Press Saltwater Slavery

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisThis bold, innovative book promises to radically alter our understanding of the Atlantic slave trade, and the depths of its horrors. Smallwood offers a penetrating look at the process of enslavement from its African origins through the Middle Passage and into the American slave market.Trade ReviewStephanie Smallwood's Saltwater Slavery sets a new standard. It is at once a harrowing evocation of the Middle Passage, a brilliant account of the ways that Africans and Europeans made sense of the bloody process in which they were joined, and a subtle critique of the categories of historical inquiry. Here we see realized the enormous promise of a genuinely Atlantic approach to the history of American slavery. -- Walter Johnson, author of Soul by SoulW.E.B. Du Bois called the African slave trade the 'most magnificent drama in the last thousand years of human history.' Stephanie Smallwood captures this drama in imaginative and innovative ways, offering a powerful account of the maritime origins of African-America amid the profound violence of the world market. -- Marcus Rediker, co-author of The Many-Headed Hydra: Sailors, Slaves, Commoners and the Hidden History of the Revolutionary AtlanticNo study of the Atlantic slave trade has attempted to penetrate the darkness of those ships' holds, to explore what might have gone on in the minds of the hundreds of nameless people trapped below decks—until now. Smallwood gets there through a tour de force of theoretical sophistication, sensitive informed imagination, and dramatic writing. Hers is the most original and provocative book on the Middle Passage in almost half a century. -- Joseph C. Miller, author of Way of Death: Merchant Capitalism and the Angolan Slave Trade 1730–1830Stephanie Smallwood's Saltwater Slavery is the new starting point for studies of the Middle Passage and required reading for students of the black Atlantic. -- Ira Berlin, University of Maryland, author of Many Thousands GoneSmallwood aims to move away from the numbers game that has ensnared so many other historians studying the Middle Passage. Instead of ledgers and account books, she uses letters, journals, and narratives from around the trade route to get closer to the slave experience itself. As the narrative follows the progress of the newly enslaved across the Middle Passage, Smallwood's use of quotes brings to life the everyday horror experienced by 'Saltwater Slaves,' as Africans first arriving in the Americas were described at the time. -- Kathryn V. Stewart * Library Journal *In this stark depiction of slaves and their 'utter alienation from the most basic norms of everyday life,' Smallwood simultaneously delivers a lucid popular history and expands scholarly understanding of slavery with a thorough, clear-eyed look at the dreaded Middle Passage and how it shaped the slave experience… Smallwood is particularly adept at portraying, in detail, the unbearable conditions of the slave ships… Extensive research, much of it from primary sources, forms Smallwood's basis, but she has a storyteller's knack for well-pitched anecdotes and pointed examples. * Publishers Weekly *This deeply researched, tightly focused, and skillfully evocative look at the Atlantic slave trade, 1675–1725, details the experience of crossing the ocean—an ordeal fatal to many of the slaves who were forced to undertake it. * The Atlantic *Stephanie E. Smallwood's excellent book Saltwater Slavery has attracted less attention than it deserves. Making careful use of the primary sources at [the National Archives at] Kew, Smallwood follows 300,000 captives taken from what is now Ghana, between 1675 and 1725, to 'widening circles of the diaspora in the Americas.' …An ambitious, innovative and highly successful feature of her book is to take what is known about the beliefs of the isolated societies from which slaves were taken—communities who in some cases had never seen white people, the ocean or a ship—to offer a carefully controlled imaginative reconstruction of how the embarked slaves may have conceptualized the 'saltwater' experience and attempted to reconcile what they saw with their existing world view. -- William St. Clair * Times Literary Supplement *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. The Gold Coast and the Atlantic Market for People 2. Turning African Captives into Atlantic Commodities 3. The Political Economy of the Slave Ship 4. The Anomalous Intimacies of the Slave Cargo 5. The Living Dead aboard the Slave Ship at Sea 6. Turning Atlantic Commodities into American Slaves 7. Life and Death in Diaspora Conclusion: Saltwater Slavery in Memory and History Notes Index

    15 in stock

    £21.56

  • The New Age of Naval Power in the Indo-Pacific:

    Georgetown University Press The New Age of Naval Power in the Indo-Pacific:

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisA new framework contextualizes crucial international security issues at sea in the Indo-Pacific Competition at sea is once again a central issue of international security. Nowhere is the urgency to address state-on-state competition at sea more strongly felt than in the Indo-Pacific region, where freedom of navigation is challenged by regional states’ continuous investments in naval power, and the renewed political will to use it to undermine its principles. The New Age of Naval Power in the Indo-Pacific provides an original framework in which five “factors of influence” explain how and why naval power matters in this pivotal part of the world. An international group of contributors make the case that these five factors draw upon a longstanding influence of naval power on regional dynamics and impact the extent to which different states in the region use naval power: the capacity to exert control over sea-lanes, the capacity to deploy a nuclear deterrent at sea, the capacity to implement the law of the sea in an advantageous way, the ability to control marine resources, and the capacity for technological innovation. The New Age of Naval Power in the Indo-Pacific offers a fresh approach for academics and policy makers seeking to navigate the complexity of maritime security and regional affairs.Trade ReviewAn impressively timely contribution to our military strategy debates with respect to dealing with Chinese naval aggression in the Indo-Pacific, a new framework contextualizes crucial international security issues at sea. * Midwest Book Review *The New Age of Naval Power in the Indo-Pacific is a most incisive and valuable study, defining maritime power as a control feature of regional security. The book's contributors provide a comprehensive macro-overview with interlinked sub-regional analyses. * Australian Naval Institute *Table of ContentsList of IllustrationsForeword: Vice Adm. Anne Rondeau, (USN, Ret.)AcknowledgmentsList of Acronyms1. Naval Power and a Framework for Regional Security in the Indo-PacificAlessio Patalano, James A. Russell, and Catherine L. Grant Part I: The Factors of Influence in Indo-Pacific Security2. Geopolitics and Strategic Geography in Sino-US CompetitionChristopher Twomey3. Law, Order, and Maritime (In)StabilityPeter Dutton4. Maritime Resources and Regional CompetitionClive Schofield5. Nuclear Order at SeaNicola Leveringhaus6. Technology, Escalation, and War in the Indo-PacificJames A. Russell Part II: Naval Power in the Indo-Pacific as History7. Asian States and Early Imperial Competition in the Indian OceanRyan Gingeras8. The “Problem of Asia” and Imperial Competition before WWIRichard Dunley9. The Far East Between the World WarsDaniel Moran 10. Superpower Rivalry and the Strategic Balance in the Cold WarKevin Rowlands Part III: Naval Power and Contemporary Security in the Indo-Pacific 11. Northeast AsiaIan Bowers12. East and South China SeasAlessio Patalano and Julie Marionneau13. The Taiwan StraitSheryn Lee14. South PacificJames Goldrick15. Indian OceanJames Wirtz and Abhijit SinghConclusions: Strategy, Order, and Regional Security in the Indo-PacificAlessio Patalano, James A. Russell, and Catherine L. GrantIndexList of Contributors

    2 in stock

    £35.15

  • Midway

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Midway

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisA detailed re-examination of Midway, one of the most significant battles in the Pacific Theater of World War II.In April 1942, the Combined Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy was at the zenith of its power. It had struck a severe blow against the US Navy at Pearl Harbor in December 1941, before spearheading the Japanese advance through Southeast Asia and rampaging across the South Pacific. Only a few months later, in June 1942, the US Navy managed to inflict a decisive defeat on this mighty force off Midway Atoll and the strategic initiative in the Pacific Theater passed to the US Navy.Midway is the most famous naval battle of the Pacific War, and one of the most mythologized. The traditional view of the battle, popularized in its immediate aftermath and surviving through to the present day, is of a heavily outnumbered American force snatching victory in the face of overwhelming odds. This view is simplistic and, in many respects, wrong.Pacific War ex

    Out of stock

    £22.50

  • Dressed to Kill: British Naval Uniform,

    National Maritime Museum Dressed to Kill: British Naval Uniform,

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisDressed to Kill is a unique and detailed analysis of naval uniform and its historical, social and economic contexts in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This fully updated and expanded second edition examines the significance of male fashion and uniform in the forging of a national, hierarchical and gendered identity. By drawing upon extensive archival research, Amy Miller provides a greater explanation of the political and social changes that impacted not only what the Royal Navy wore, but why. Parliamentary records, newspapers and museum archives give a greater contextualisation of the relationship that naval uniform represented - that of a confluence of politics and economics, fashion and popular culture. Beautifully illustrated throughout, this second edition of Dressed to Kill includes an extensive catalogue of uniforms from the rich collection of the National Maritime Museum and a selection of patterns that examine the construction of the garments.

    15 in stock

    £24.00

  • The Ship of Dreams

    HarperCollins Publishers The Ship of Dreams

    3 in stock

    Book Synopsis When the Titanic sank, so did the Edwardian age that created it. In this brilliantly original history, Gareth Russell recasts a tragedy we think we know to explore an era of seismic change. Trade Review‘A fascinating look at life during a doomed era … Like spending time with an amusing conversationalist aboard what the Edwardians called ‘a ship of dreams’ … Russell’s social observations are sharp and witty … the wider history he presents is packed with interesting details.’ Times, Book of the Week ‘Gripping …. the attention to detail is astonishing.’ Sunday Times ‘Engrossing … This masterly reconstruction renders the Titanic story vital again’ Mail on Sunday ‘Russell sets out to look at the night through the experiences of six first-class passengers … Russell reminds us no one thought the Titanic could sink … The belief in the infallibility of bigness is the most striking feature of Russell’s darksome failing world’ Daily Telegraph ‘It is a wonderful, multi-angled view of history and grips the reader as compellingly as a pacey historical or epic movie … Russell has written a wonderful book, full of personalities, history but most of all suspense.’ Independent ‘Gareth Russell invites us into the first-class staterooms aboard the RMS Titanic and brings to life the Edwardian era and its elite—the exclusive circle of Europeans and Americans who wielded unimaginable wealth and influence on both sides of the Atlantic. Deeply researched and lushly detailed, the book shines new light on both the bygone Golden Age and the iconic tragedy that marked the beginning of its end.’ Lynn Vincent, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Indianapolis ‘This absorbing account proves that there are many levels to the endless fascination of the Titanic story … Gareth Russell skilfully constructs an eloquent and gripping narrative that is essentially a microcosm of the moribund Edwardian class system that would go down with the Titanic and finally be obliterated by war in 1914.’ Helen Rappaport, author of Four Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Romanov Grand Duchesses

    3 in stock

    £11.69

  • America in the Arctic

    Columbia University Press America in the Arctic

    15 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    15 in stock

    £25.50

  • Breaking Titanic

    The History Press Ltd Breaking Titanic

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisThis is the first comprehensive study into the problem of the break-up of RMS Titanic's hull, something only recognised as having happened from 1985 when the wreck was positively identified, more than 73 years since the loss of the vessel. Expert author Eugene Nesmayanov presents a generalised analysis of the currently available data, using both historical data (eyewitness accounts of passengers and crew members from lifeboats as well as from the surface of the water) and underwater archaeology data (photos and video filming of parts of the ship's hull along with mapped debris fields), as well as data obtained using computer simulations. The book includes a critical analysis of the most significant theories and models of the break-up, those put forward by experts and amateurs from 1985 to the present day, and known about from the movies, documentaries, papers and publications, and finishing with the author's own conclusions.

    2 in stock

    £26.25

  • Shanties from the Seven Seas

    Rowman & Littlefield Shanties from the Seven Seas

    2 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    2 in stock

    £17.09

  • The Unseen Lusitania

    The History Press Ltd The Unseen Lusitania

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe story of the ill-fated Lusitania revealed through vivid and rare illustrations

    1 in stock

    £21.25

  • Titanic: Minute by Minute

    Short Books Ltd Titanic: Minute by Minute

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis2.20am on 15th April 1912, the Titanic is plunging 12,000 feet to the ocean floor. Machinery, coal, crystal goblets, pianos and jewellery all tumbled through the dark water. Hundreds of passengers and crew remained trapped below decks - hundreds more would perish on the surface. This is the definitive chronology of the Titanic's final hours, offering readers a real-time experience of one of the greatest dramas of twentieth century history.

    1 in stock

    £10.44

  • Out of the Depths

    Reaktion Books Out of the Depths

    4 in stock

    Book SynopsisA highly illustrated exploration of shipwrecks over 4,000 years.

    4 in stock

    £10.44

  • Chinas Law of the Sea

    Yale University Press Chinas Law of the Sea

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisAn in-depth examination of the law and geopolitics of China’s maritime disputes and their implications for the rules of the international law of the seaTrade Review“Kardon seeks to correct a common misconception about China’s expansive maritime claims. Rather than simply flouting laws, the PRC has sought to minimize the weight of existing laws and shape new ones through its activities. The volume is a carefully argued and brilliant contribution to scholarship on the evolution of ‘global order.’”—Margaret M. Pearson, University of Maryland, College Park“Now that China has the world’s largest navy, is it really a threat to the rules-based maritime order? Those who share this concern will find China’s Law of the Sea an essential analysis of Beijing’s practice as well as theory.”—Jerome A. Cohen, Council on Foreign Relations“China’s maritime reach and activity will continue to be components of its ambition and power. Isaac Kardon’s perspectives and keen insight into China’s view of maritime order are unmatched. China’s Law of the Sea is an essential read for everyone who depends on the maritime domain and for all who ponder China’s approach to regional and global order.”—Gary Roughead, Admiral, U.S. Navy (retired), and former U.S. Navy Chief of Naval Operations“China’s contested maritime claims are a potential flashpoint for Asian conflict. Isaac Kardon systematically explains how China, in pursuing those claims, manipulates, disregards, or violates international legal norms in ways that could have global implications.”—Thomas J. Christensen, Columbia University and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State “China’s rise as a maritime power is a defining element of its ascent. In this carefully researched and insightful book, Kardon documents China’s distinctive approach to the law of the sea that combines legal interpretations, bureaucratic mobilization, and maritime forces on the water. China’s Law of the Sea is a terrific contribution to the literature that illuminates China’s challenge to the international maritime order in East Asia and beyond.”—M. Taylor Fravel, director of the Security Studies Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

    15 in stock

    £28.50

  • Titanic

    Amber Books Ltd Titanic

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisOn 14 April 1912, less than a week into a transatlantic trip from Southampton to New York, the largest luxury cruise liner in the world struck an iceberg off the coast of Labrador, causing the hull to buckle. The massive 50,000 ton ship hailed as ‘unsinkable’ was soon slipping into the cold Atlantic Ocean, the crew and passengers scrambling to launch lifeboats before being sucked into the deep. Of the 2,224 passengers and crew aboard, more than 1,500 died, making the sinking one of the deadliest for a single ship up to that time. The sinking has captured the public imagination ever since, in part because of the scale of the tragedy, but also because the ship represented in microcosm Edwardian society, with the super-rich sharing the vessel with poor migrants seeking a new life in North America. Other factors, such as why there were only enough lifeboats to hold half the passengers, also caused controversy and led to changes in maritime safety. In later years many survivors told their stories to the press, and Titanic celebrates these accounts. A final chapter examines the shipwreck today, which has been visited underwater by explorers, scientists and film-makers, and many artifacts recovered as the old liner steadily disintegrates. Titanic offers a compact, insightful photographic history of the sinking and its aftermath in 180 authentic photographs.Trade Review"fine illustrations on almost every page… make a good – and safe – gift for an enthusiast" * Nautilus Telegraph *Table of Contents1: Background to a Tragedy Up to the late 1850s, few people crossed the Atlantic Ocean unless driven by necessity or force. From the European and British explorers of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, to the venturesome colonists of the seventeenth and eighteenth (and the infamous slave traffic that followed), human movement westward across the Atlantic grew steadily. 2: Three Giant Sisters Titanic was the largest ship afloat at the time she entered service and the second of three Olympic-class ocean liners operated by the White Star Line. This chapter describes the construction of the Titanic, its launch, and sea trials. At the peak of construction, Harland and Wolff shipyard employed approximately 14,000 men to build the enormous ship. 3: Trans-Atlantic Route Titanic departed from Southampton on 10 April 1912, then stopped at Cherbourg, France, and Queenstown (now Cobh), Ireland, before heading west towards New York. The first-class accommodation was designed to be the pinnacle of comfort and luxury, with a gymnasium, swimming pool, libraries, high-class restaurants, and opulent cabins. A high-powered radiotelegraph transmitter was available for sending passenger ‘marconigrams’ and for the ship’s operational use. 4: The Collision On 14 April, four days into the crossing and about 375 miles (600 km) south of Newfoundland, she hit an iceberg at 11:40 p.m. ship’s time. The collision caused the hull plates to buckle inwards along her starboard (right) side and laid five of her sixteen watertight compartments open to the sea; she had been designed to survive the flooding of up to four compartments. Some passengers and crew members were evacuated in lifeboats, many of which were launched only partially loaded. A disproportionate number of men were left aboard because of a ‘women and children first’ protocol for loading lifeboats. Titanic was under the command of Captain Edward Smith, who went down with the ship. Archibald Gracie IV, one of the wealthiest hoteliers in the world, also drowned. 5: Rescue The ship was equipped with 16 lifeboat davits, each of which were capable of lowering three lifeboats, for a total of 48 boats. And yet the Titanic carried only 20 lifeboats, four of which were collapsible and proved hard to launch while the ship was sinking. Together, the 20 lifeboats were capable of holding 1,178 people – which was only about half the number of passengers on board. The nearby Carpathia arrived at the distress call’s position at 4:00 AM, approximately an hour and a half after the ship went down, claiming more than 1,500 lives. For the next four and a half hours, Carpathia took on the 705 survivors of the disaster. 6: Aftermath The disaster was met with worldwide shock and outrage, both at the huge loss of life, and at the regulatory and procedural failures that had led to it. Even before the survivors arrived in New York, investigations were being planned to discover what had happened, and what could be done to prevent a recurrence. Inquiries were held in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Many survivors later told their stories to the press and in books, including the ‘Navratil Orphans’, ‘The Unsinkable Molly Brown’, Eliza ‘Millvina’ Dean, Frederick Fleet, Masabumi Hosono, Charles Lightoller, Harold Bride, and Archibald Gracie IV. The wreck of Titanic was discovered in 1985 by a Franco-American expedition sponsored by the United States Navy. The ship was split in two and is gradually disintegrating at a depth of 12,415 feet (2,069.2 fathoms; 3,784 m). Thousands of artefacts have been recovered and displayed at museums around the world.

    1 in stock

    £16.99

  • Figureheads: On the Bow of the Ship

    National Maritime Museum Figureheads: On the Bow of the Ship

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisFigureheads developed from an ancient tradition of decorating vessels with painted eyes, carved figures and animal heads. Vikings in Northern Europe adorned the bows of their ships with dragon heads, which were thought to help ships see their way through the sea. But what other purposes did sailors believe figureheads served? What stories do these beautiful objects tell? And what do the different characters symbolise? Exploring the history and traditions associated with figureheads, this illustrated guide contains 60 examples from the National Maritime Museum, home to the world's largest collection of figureheads. With a selection of short in-focus studies, the book looks at mythology, memorial, gender, empire, politics and literature surrounding these unique carvings. The National Maritime Museum is part of Royal Museums Greenwich.

    1 in stock

    £11.69

  • Yacht Were You Thinking

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Yacht Were You Thinking

    5 in stock

    Book SynopsisNaming a boat is as personal as naming a baby (even if few male skippers would risk telling the wife that). The culmination of many years of dreaming and penny pinching, the purchase of a boat of any size is a huge event for any sailor, and with that comes serious naming pressure. Many boatowners have a secret fear that someone else got their brilliantly original name first or ruined it for ever by reducing its reputation to snigger-worthy opprobrium. Sometimes it's so difficult to name a boat that skippers are desperate enough to ask the sorts of people who think Boaty McBoatface would be a good choice The perfect gift for any skipper or would-be skipper, and featuring hundreds of common and uncommon names, this entertaining little book will answer perhaps the most important question new owners should ask themselves: what will this name say about me? And as everyone knows, once you've named a boat, you never ever change it, so it also answers the question: what is myTrade ReviewBOOK OF THE MONTH: Underpinned by history, psychology and a large dash of humour, his latest book is a witty guide to boat naming. * Coast magazine *Offers an A-Z of boat names both good and bad, common and uncommon, and answers the all-important question of what the name of your vessel says about you. * Welsh Coastal Life *An essential guide including an interesting history, a fair bit of psychology and a lot of humour. * All at Sea *

    5 in stock

    £9.49

  • Pirates

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Pirates

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisA facsimile edition of a classic source for the history of piracy, as used by Robert Louis Stevenson in the writing of Treasure Island.Captain Charles Johnson's General History of Pirates was one of the best-selling books of 1724, when it was first published. It provides a sweeping account of what has come to be called the Golden Age of Piracy.It went through four editions in two years, and without doubt owed a substantial part of its success to a dramatic writing style that vividly captures the realities of pirates' savage existence. The book contains documentary evidence of events during the lives of its subjects. In the 270 years since its original publication, Johnson's work has come to be regarded as the classic study of one of the most popular subjects in maritime history.Table of ContentsIntroduction by David Cordingly Captain Johnson’s Introduction The life of Captain Avery The life of Captain Martel The life of Captain Teach The life of Major Bonnet The life of Captain England The life of Captain Vane The life of Captain Rackham The life of Mary Read The life of Anne Bonny The life of Captain Davis The life of Captain Roberts The life of Captain Anstis The life of Captain Worley The life of Captain Lowther The life of Captain Low The life of Captain Evans The life of Captain Phillips The life of Captain Spriggs The life of Captain Gow The life of Captain Kidd An account of the piracies and murders committed by Philip Roche, etc An abstract of the civil law and statute law now in force in relation to piracy Notes Glossary Bibliography

    15 in stock

    £10.44

  • Madhouse at the End of the Earth

    Ebury Publishing Madhouse at the End of the Earth

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisJulian Sancton read History at Harvard, and is a senior features editor at Departures magazine, where he writes about culture and travel. His work has appeared in Vanity Fair, Esquire, The New Yorker, Wired, and Playboy, among other publications. He grew up in Paris and New York and has reported from every continent, including Antarctica, which he first visited while researching this book.Trade ReviewA "grade-A classic" that's feverishly compelling ... this story has everything * Sunday Times *Exquisitely researched and deeply engrossing * New York Times *Utterly enthralling -- Geoff Dyer * Guardian *An epic of survival. A mixture of chaos and great courage; part Monty Python sketch, part real-life heroics * Michael Palin *The next great contribution to polar literature. A wild tale, so well told and immersively researched * Hampton Sides, New York Times bestselling author of IN THE KINGDOM OF ICE *A brilliant, vivid piece of writing that should be read by all who care about heroism, courage, ingenuity and endurance... it is adventure to the max, and peopled by wonderful characters. As soon as you finish, you want to read it again -- Roger Alton * Daily Mail *The story of the Belgica has been told before, but never so brilliantly. Madhouse at the End of the Earth belongs at the heights of polar literature * The Times *Considering that much of Madhouse at the End of the Earth is about moribundity, Sancton does well to make each page exciting - "murder, suicide, starvation, insanity, icy death and all the acts of the devil" -- Roger Lewis * Telegraph ***** *A riveting true-life horror story ... an obscure but important history transformed by deep research and note-perfect storytelling into a classic thriller * Walter Isaacson, bestselling author of STEVE JOBS and LEONARDO DA VINCI *Artfully constructed, written with evenly-paced poise and with a kind of dread-filled assurance, it grips from first sentence to last * Lawrence Osborne, international bestselling author of THE FORGIVEN *One of the most enthralling-and harrowing-adventure stories in years... An unforgettable tale brilliantly told * Scott Anderson, bestselling author of LAWRENCE IN ARABIA *Has it all: Idealism, ingenuity, ambition, explosives, flimflammery, a colourful cast, a blank map, a three-month-long night, penguins (and medicinal penguin meat). A riveting tale, splendidly told * Stacy Schiff, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of THE WITCHES and CLEOPATRA *A mesmerizing, unputdownable read... an epic of Antarctic exploration * Nathaniel Philbrick, author of IN THE HEART OF THE SEA and VALIANT AMBITION *[A] riveting history... A rousing, suspenseful adventure tale * Kirkus Reviews *The savage beauty of the antarctic landscape grips. The writing is exacting, compelling and compassionate. * The Literary Review *The energy of the narrative never flags... Mr. Sancton has produced a thriller, and a welcome addition to the polar shelves -- Sara Wheeler * Wall Street Journal *A riveting account...well-researched and enthralling * Publishers Weekly *'A splendid, beautifully written book' -- Owen Matthews * The Spectator *This is an epic of exploration, a brilliantly vivid piece of writing told by a natural storyteller * Daily Mail *Julian Sancton's impressive research and incisive writing style ensures that this lockdown story grips like the pack ice * Yachting Monthly *

    1 in stock

    £13.49

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