Ships and boats: general interest Books

Book SynopsisNew York Harbor: where the grandest, fastest and most celebrated luxury liners gather and have gathered since the nineteenth century.

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Book SynopsisSouthampton is one of the most important maritime centres in the UK the Gateway to the World', as it is often described. The docks is the cornerstone of the city, both past and present. Here Andrew Britton explores this rich history. From four-funnelled liners and flying boats to power stations and refineries, this volume depicts all that happened in the docks, the living heartbeat of the city. Rare old photographs, previously unpublished behind-the-scenes shots of the dock at work, of captain's logbooks and tickets even some ships' menus all evoke the authentic flavour of dock life. Southampton Docks is a real treat for anyone interested in the city and its maritime heritage.

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Book SynopsisCelebrating more than eighty-five years of the prestigious yacht company, Hinckley Yachts traverses decades, oceans, and seas, capturing the joy, excitement, and serenity of the ultimate boating experience. A highly respected name in the yachting world, Hinckley sets the standard for high quality, performance, and lasting beauty. This book showcases the rich history, classic design, and legendary work of the handcrafted Hinckley yachts from 1928 to today. With historic and contemporary photographs and drawings from Hinckley's extensive archive-featuring the incredible craftsmanship and technical innovations of both its sailing yachts and jet boats-this is the first book to celebrate Hinckley's rich history. Chronicling the company's early years, which includes boats used for World War II, to its integral role in the fiberglass revolution and the evolution of today's modern yacht, it offers an in-depth look at some of the most legendary and renowned boats in the world. HinckleTrade Review“The history of Hinckley Yachts chronicled in a lush new monograph. Voulgaris has unearthed many photographs and documents about the firm’s early years and used them to piece together an illuminating narrative about the evolution of an important American brand. For nautical newcomers, the volume offers a primer on the world of fine boatbuilding; for aficionados, it provides fascinating details about Hinckley’s many technological advances, races won, and extraordinary track record making new models that become instant sensations.” –Architectural Digest “For a generation of mariners, Hinckley has been a source of national pride…In this book, sailing aficionado Nick Voulgaris III takes readers on a nostalgic journey through 86 years of boatbuilding.” –Travel + Leisure “Hinckley Yachts are synonymous with superior craftsmanship and beautiful design…The book follows the company’s success from its early days, through its patriotic duties during wartime; to its role in advancing science and engineering; and finally its place today as one of the world’s premier yacht manufacturers. A must for every boat-lover’s coffee table!” – Lakeland Boating “Come sail away…Hinckley Yachts, a seafaring history of the classic sailing and motor vessels…” –Wall Street Journal"This book celebrates the 86-year-old company through a detailed recounting of Hinckley's interesting past." -Worth Magazine “…a lavish new coffee table book celebrating the brand…” –Just Luxe “Since 1928, boat-maker Hinckley has been crafting yachts for the international sailing set, and providing ultra-lux floating mansions to the world’s most discerning buyers. In honor of that 85-plus-year tradition…take a tour through some of the most arresting nautical imagery.” –Vanity Fair"Hinckley Yachts: An American Icon features designs, photographs and more from the archives and modern times showcasing the builder’s evolution since it opened its doors in 1928." -Yachting

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Book SynopsisAn introduction to maritime prints, drawings and watercolours. The text includes a sweeping historical survey of marine artists and printmakers from earliest times to the present day.Table of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgements 1. Introduction 2. Drawings and Watercolours 3. Prints and Processes 4. Ship Types 5. The Dutch School 6. Thames Views, Naval Actions and Voyages of Discovery 7. Fishing Boats, Shipwrecks and Coastal Scenery 8. France and America 9. Steam Ships, Yachts and Two World Wars Checklist of Artists and Their Dates Bibliography Index Abbreviations and Terms Used in Prints

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Book SynopsisThis text has been developed to provide a firm foundation for men and women working toward earning US Coast Guard licenses to operate auxiliary-powered sailing yachts and vessels. Initially created as a course curriculum for classes in sail vessel operations at the Maine Maritime Academy, this revised and updated second edition contains new material on bridge resource management, risk assessment, safety aloft, and more. Designed to accompany the sailor as a study guide and point of reference, it calls attention to the myriad constant and critical elements of professional yacht and vessel management in both theory and practice. Subjects covered include seamanship aboard sailing vessels, relevant hydrodynamic and aerodynamic theory, basic and advanced sailing maneuvers, planning and managing for crew and vessel safety, meteorology for sailors, heavy-weather sailing, emergencies at sea, and vessel administration as related to Coast Guard rules and regulations.

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Book SynopsisHistorian Jonathan W. White tells the riveting story of Appleton Oaksmith, a swashbuckling sea captain whose life intersected with some of the most important moments, movements, and individuals of the mid-19th century, from the California Gold Rush, filibustering schemes in Nicaragua, Cuban liberation, and the Civil War and Reconstruction. Most importantly, the book depicts the extraordinary lengths the Lincoln Administration went to destroy the illegal trans-Atlantic slave trade. Using Oaksmith’s case as a lens, White takes readers into the murky underworld of New York City, where federal marshals plied the docks in lower Manhattan in search of evidence of slave trading. Once they suspected Oaksmith, federal authorities had him arrested and convicted, but in 1862 he escaped from jail and became a Confederate blockade-runner in Havana. The Lincoln Administration tried to have him kidnapped in violation of international law, but the attempt was foiled. Always claiming innocence, Oaksmith spent the next decade in exile until he received a presidential pardon from U.S. Grant, at which point he moved to North Carolina and became an anti-Klan politician. Through a remarkable, fast-paced story, this book will give readers a new perspective on slavery and shifting political alliances during the turbulent Civil War Era.

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Book SynopsisJourneying along London's waterways on a canal boat called Pike, Helen Babbs puts down roots for two weeks at a time before moving on. From Walthamstow Marsh in the east to Uxbridge in the west, she explores the landscape in all its guises: marshland, wasteland, city centre and suburb.From deep winter to late autumn, Babbs explores the people, politics, history and wildlife of the canals and rivers, to reveal an intimate and unusual portrait of London - and of life.Trade ReviewAdrift is an engaging introduction to living on a narrow boat, held together with atmospheric descriptions of reconnecting with life's simple pleasures ... It is at its best when capturing the transition from a life on land to a life on board, as well as mapping the evolving relationship between urban building developments and the canal's ecology. -- Times Literary SupplementBabbs is an excellent nature writer, evoking the lives and emotions tied to the water. Charming -- Steven Cooper * Waterstones Events Manager, The Bookseller *A compelling exploration of river living * Homes and Gardens *One of the best waterways books for decades * Waterways World *A treat ... Babbs's effortless prose is tight and lyrical, moseying along at a calm, steady pace, but there are moments both barbed and cutting ... A serious and fascinating book * Hackney Citizen *Chapter after chapter of utterly captivating prose * Caught by the River *Waterways writing at its finest: the breathtaking, boat-eulogising Adrift. -- @TheBookBarge

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Book SynopsisThe main focus of this book is the impact of maritime fraud on contracts for sale and carriage, documentary credits and marine insurance. It covers all varieties of maritime fraud, from the most serious downwards, describing the methods employed and the risks to traders and carriers. At the serious end of the spectrum, pirates capture an entire ship, often murdering the entire crew, in order to sell the cargo (to which of course they have no title), later to use the “innocent” ship to pose as innocent traders. Less serious (but perhaps of greater interest to lawyers) are misdescriptions of cargo in, or backdating of, bills of lading, and other deceptions, usually practised on purchasers and banks.Table of ContentsChapter 1. Piracy Today Chapter 2. Introduction to Maritime Fraud: Issues Particular to Maritime Fraud Chapter 3. Maritime Fraud and the Sale Contract Chapter 4. Maritime Fraud and the Banks Chapter 5. Maritime Fraud and Carriers Chapter 6. Maritime Fraud and Marine Insurance Chapter 7. Maritime Fraud and Technology

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Book SynopsisWithin hours of the sinking of RMS Lusitania by a German submarine off the Cork coast in May 1915, a narrative was created which over time became the accepted truth of the incident. Many people today still believe the sinking of the Lusitania was a savage attack on an innocent vessel that brought America into the war. In this book, author and historian Michael Martin raises a series of disturbing questions that challenge this longheld perspective. Examining a raft of old and new evidence suggesting a more sinister function of RMS Lusitania, this book explores the widespread use of civilian vessels within the war effort; it shines a light on the operational response of the Royal Navy in the immediate aftermath of the incident; and it looks at the nature of the response of the United States at this crucial juncture. And, above all, this book questions the narrative that has grown up around one of the most pivotal junctures in the war to end all wars.

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Book SynopsisTo celebrate 60 years of sailing Scottish waters, the author single-handedly sailed Halcyon, a 32' wooden yawl, from Fairlie on the Clyde, round the Mull of Kintyre by way of numerous inner islands to Barra in the Outer Hebrides and to the Atlantic side of the islands, not often visited by cruising yachts. Bad weather forced a diversion to explore the sea lochs of the west coast of Harris and Lewis, the islands of Taransay (of the BBC's Castaway series) and Scarp, famed for its ingenious 'Rocket Post' experiment. While visiting these numerous islands, he met local people and experienced the sometimes violent extremes of weather such as when he was storm-bound in Stornoway for several days. There are stories galore about the island people, snippets of interesting history, legends and folklore, tales of the sea and island life, the Hebridean fishermen and lighthouses - thus uncovering another dimension of island life. Bob recounts his travels and tales, some previously unpublished, in a relaxed and highly-readable style. As well as being a unique travel book, it is an insight into the rapidly-changing ways of island life and a useful sailing guide to the Western Isles and anchorages in the Hebrides. It would be of immeasurable help to sailors keen to venture into some of the lesser-known sailing areas of Western Scotland. This vivid and entertaining story of adventurous sailing among Scotland's beautiful but challenging Western Isles will be enjoyed by keen sailors and armchair travellers alike - a truly memorable journey of over 1000 miles!Trade Review'...this book presents its readers with a fine opportunity - to journey with him. ...he reveals encounters, supplies appropiate connections, provides historical insights through anecdotes, but, above all, he is a combination of a skipper and steward who, through his words, embodies the essence of good company.' Scottish Island Explorer '...it is an adventure... ...and ready for sharing. ...a valuable sailing guide for those planning to embark on such an expedition. ... For the less adventurous among us, find a couple of quiet hours, board a comfy armchair, sit back and enjoy the journey.' Whitehaven News 'The Hebridean Islands are not for the faint hearted, but the rewards for the plucky cruiser are great. Bob Orrell delved into 60 years of cruising the area to rediscover the thrill and beauty of this treacherous coastline, this time sailing single-handed.' Sailing Today 'Along the way, the author rejoiced and grimaced through Scotland's changeable weather; met fascinating people and visited places with fabulous stories, enjoyed adventures and described Scotland's amazing western coastline through a sailor's eyes. Bob is a lovely writer and brings to life the atmosphere and sights of his intrepid expedition around one of the most stunning coastal areas of Scotland.' FionaOutdoors '...a wonderful book. Well written, engaging, and unusually compelling for a work of non-fiction, this is a book that reveals the Hebrides in what for many readers will be an entirely new light.' Undiscovered Scotland

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Book SynopsisPerched on an isolated rock in the Scottish Hebrides, this is a fascinating and comprehensive account of Skerryvore, 'the most graceful lighthouse in the world,' and the great Victorian engineer who designed and built it. At a height of 48m (156 feet), it is the tallest lighthouse in Scotland. The story of the Skerryvore lighthouse and its creator, Alan Stevenson, is remarkable by any standards. Here was a man of exceptional intelligence and wide-ranging ability who overcame Herculean challenges over a six-year period to place a lighthouse on an isolated rock in the wild North Atlantic, 12 miles off the Hebridean island of Tiree. He was a brilliant and complex character, much loved by his family and those who knew him, but beset with self-doubt. His is a moving and truly amazing story just waiting to be told. Reading Alan Stevenson's 1848 Account of the Skerryvore Lighthouse, the author immersed himself in Skerryvore through the mind of its creator, using his background as a professional engineer to assess the state of knowledge at the time, and to learn all he could about its background, technical design, and the many trials and tribulations surrounding the lighthouse's construction. This highly readable book, illustrated in full colour with beautiful old maps, engravings and photographs, also contains introductory material about Eddystone and Bell Rock Lighthouses that greatly influenced Alan Stevenson in his design and construction of Skerryvore. Snippets of personal reminiscences and fascinating historical perspectives on the West Highlands give readers a wider view, encouraging them to visit Tiree.Trade Review'Lynn writes with a light hand, weaving descriptive prose with science, setting the construction of Skerryvore in natural and social-historical context. ...a gem of a book that is more than just an account of the building of a massive stone tower on a treacherous ledge. ...Lynn blends art and science, distilling the storyof Skerryvore into a highly readable, engrossing chronicle'. The Lightkeeper -------------------- 'The personality of Victorian engineer Alan Stevenson is also explored, as we are shown the skill and determination which was needed to bring this immensely challenging project to fruition'. Scottish Memories -------------------- '...this publication is important. ... I congratulate Paul Lynn on his articulate and skilful narration... ...I found it a great read and have no hesitation in recommending it to the lighthouse aficionado as well as the casual reader! You will not be disappointed'. www.bellrock.org.uk -------------------- 'The story of the lighthouse, and of the man who built it, Alan Stevenson, is a fascinating one, and Paul A. Lynn tells that story in an informative and highly accessible way. ...a large number of excellent (and often also contemporary) maps and drawings and more recent photographs really helps bring the subject matter to life. ...a thoroughly worthwhile addition... ...takes a rounded view of two very underappreciated subjects'. Undiscovered Scotland -------------------- '...a thorough account of the building of the lighthouse as well as a discussion of Stevenson's personal background and the personality behind this remarkable Victorian engineer. ...the first in-depth discussion and explanation of the scientific principles involved in lighthouse design...Lynn's descriptions of all the decisions made behind every detail of the building Skerryvore...thoroughly fascinating. I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in lighthouses, maritime history and historical accounts of engineering achievements'. World Lighthouse Society Newsletter -------------------- 'His life and time, skills as an engineer and designer, personal strengths and weaknesses are assessed and presented... All is revealed in this fascinating book'. Scottish Island ExplorerTable of ContentsPart I: Precedents; To the Hebrides; The Stevensons; Sea peril; English lesson: Eddystone; Scottish lesson: Bell Rock. Part II: Skerryvore; To the Isle of Tiree; Great preparations; 'On the construction of lighthouse towers'; 1838: A faltering start; 1839: Solid progress; 1840: Stones to Skerryvore; 1841: Onward and upward; 1842: Topping out; 1843: Endgame; Engineer, scholar, artist. Epilogue. Appendix: weights and measure. Index

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Book SynopsisSouthern Lights recounts the story of how New Zealand lighthouses were established through the transfer of technology from Scotland to New Zealand over a period of almost 90 years. This resulted in most of New Zealand's lighthouses being fully or partially built using Scottish materials and expertise. The major Scottish contribution was the professional services provided by the firm founded by Robert Stevenson. The firm of David and Thomas Stevenson took on the first commissions and its successor companies over a period of 80 years were Consulting Lighthouse Engineers to the New Zealand Government. They arranged tenders, advised on technology, supervised manufacture and dispatch of lighthouse components and stores, and much more, proving invaluable to the New Zealand Agent-General in London. It was on this basis that in the period 1859 to 1941, 38 major lighthouses were built; 30 of which were constructed between 19865 and 1897. Thirty-three were built using Scottish-designed and built lanterns and apparatus and Scottish-designed lenses, although these were of French or English manufacture. Of the other five, two were eventually replaced by Scottish lighthouses, two were upgraded with Scottish technology and the fifth remains the sole example of English lighthouse design, although in its time was supplied with Scottish equipment. Scotland also supplied trained professionals who manned the lights, designed and administered them.Trade Review`This book gives an excellent account of the political background... ...it also paints a vivid picture of the logistical problems of shipping delicate and expensive equipment across the globe as well as demonstrating the efficiency of the Stevenson firm. The complete history of each lighthouse, including those built after 1913, is described in exhaustive detail down to the twentieth century. ... The book is crammed with facts and with transcriptions of letters and specifications... This book has copious references, and the numerous transcriptions of archival material are useful for a lighthouse historian. ...it has some excellent illustrations’. Engineering History and Heritage -------------------- `...well-written enlightening account that will appeal to all lighthouse enthusiasts and anyone interested in the maritime history of New Zealand’. Sea Breezes -------------------- `Southern Lights has been meticulously researched. ...contains some wonderful images of the lighthouses - some no longer standing - and a number of archival plans and charts. An interesting title...' LAMP -------------------- '...highly recommended to anyone with an interest in lighthouses, whether in New Zealand or Scotland, or more widely... ...a book which is going to have enduring value as a work of reference long into the future. ... The depth of research that underpins it is reflected in the long lists of references that conclude each chapter. Despite this the book remains approachable and readable, and fascinating. ...superbly illustrated... ...the best book anyone is ever going to be able to write about its subject and is a real pleasure to read'. Undiscovered Scotland

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Book SynopsisOld Sailors loved nothing better than vying with one another at sea or in harbour to recognise a ship or boat on the horizon. It was sometimes an important life-saving talent to have in battle. Modern boat enthusiasts, including yachtsmen and fishermen, still like to indulge in this ancient skill. There have been many thousands of water vessels developed within the last three and a half thousand years, from the simple wooden log or dug-out to the huge sophisticated ships of Brunel and other nineteenth century designers. This is the realisation of author's intention to give readers a simple, quick reference book, illustrating 110 of these old ships and boats up to the turn of the twentieth century. They fall into the general categories of Ancient Craft, Sailing Ships, Small Sailing Boats and Craft and Steam Ships. The result is a handy book for those many enthusiasts who love the sea and would like to know more about these old and interesting vessels.Table of ContentsAncient Craft. Sailing Ships. Sailing Clippers. Fleutes. Frigates. Elizabethan Galleons. Capital Warships. Pilot Boats. Whaling Boats. Schooners. Sailing Barges. Junks. Luggers. Lifeboats. Sloops. Cutters. Smacks. Trawlers. Steam Ships. Steam Paddle Boats. Channel Steamers. Transatlantic Steamers. Ships' Boats. Traditional Rigs & Hull Types. Ships' Ordnance. Glossary of Terms.

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Book SynopsisThis autobiography records the author''s remarkably varied maritime career. In 1939 he obtained his Scottish Higher Leaving Certificate and, unable to obtain an apprenticeship, later passed his 2nd Mate''s Certificate, and sailed as a navigating officer. This gave him the freedom to serve on a very large variety of vessels, beginning aboard MacBraynes'' paddle steamer PS Gondolier as a First Class Pantry Boy until war was declared. In the following ten years, including the entire Second World War, he served aboard a UK coasting vessel converted for service as a Convoy Rescue Ship, a Portuguese coaster flying the Panamanian flag, two liners, a millionaire''s steam yacht, four tankers (one of which was Norwegian and one adapted to fuel the Royal Navy escort at sea) and nine cargo ships (again one was Norwegian and one a weather-reporting ship). While probably not unique, this assortment would certainly be hard to equal, far less surpass. "Making Waves" thus provides a wide-ranging account of what life in the Merchant Navy was really like and the conditions in the countries visited, and contains many anecdotes and a deal of humour.

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Book SynopsisLost Sounds visits a number of lighthouses at different times over the last 130 years to reveal the philanthropic, scientific and romantic story of the fog signal - how it came about, how the machinery worked and, for the mariner and the keeper, what it sounded like! The development of fog signals complemented the expansion of lighthouse construction worldwide from the last quarter of the 19th century and represented the attempt to provide a vital navigation aid to mariners when the beam of light from the lighthouses lens was obscured by fog. Lost Sounds reveals the practical development of sound signals from the early percussion instruments to the later succession of compressed-air sirens and diaphones through to the last remaining electric emitters. However, it is much more than that - it is a record of another part of maritime history.Trade Review'... Alan has successfully produced an authoritative and seminal work of unparalleled depth. ... This book must rate alongside Douglas Hague and Rosemary Christie ... as a core work of reference and required reading by everyone remotely interested in coastal aids to navigation. It cannot be recommended too highly'. LAMP 'A labour of love, recommended reading in general for all romantics who, like me, regret that on fog-bound days Pendeen foghorn, or any other for that matter, will never be heard mooing or booming again, and in particular for lighthouse engineering buffs, Alan Renton's unique Lost Sounds ...' Western Morning News 'It is thoroughly researched, profusely illustrated with photographs and drawings, and well-written. ... there is considerable local appeal in the form of the cluster of fog warnings guarding the treacherous waters around Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly'. The West Briton 'Lost Sounds is a book for lighthouse and lightvessel enthusiasts or those curious about how such seamarks have been built and operated over the past couple of centuries. ... also contains much historical information about the construction and operation of many of our lighthouses and lightvessels.' The Nautical Magazine

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Book SynopsisFrom the Celtic sea-farers to the Cutty Sark and the Royal Yacht Britannia - Osborne and Armstrong champion great ships. Combining the ships' histories with their involvement and significance in Scottish life and imagination, this is a unique study of Scotland's oft forgotten maritime legacy. Not just a book for ship enthusiasts, this lavishly illustrated, highly accessible and readable account of Scotland's great ships will capture your imagination and leave you dreaming of life on the high seas.

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Book Synopsis A history of the waterways of Britain and how grain was moved by barge to the mills along the banks of the Thames. Di Murrell worked on her barge for many years, bringing up her two sons on the water with her husband. A history of watermen, lightermen and dockers, and recipe book for bread, from parched grain and flatbreads to Ezekiel bread, and bread we eat today, this is a book for the boating enthusiast, and the home baker. Winner of the Sophie Coe Prize for food history, Di Murrell writes for French travel magazines, and Petits Propos Culinaires.

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Book SynopsisScottish actor Bill Paterson narrates the funny, sad and enlightening Hurricane Hutch's Top 10 Ships of the Clyde. It's as much a social history as it is a book about ships and shipping. Bill Paterson's uniquely recognisable scottish voice brings a gentleness and authority to the storytelling. Captain Robin Hutchison's unique personal perspective on a fast fading era. Robin became one of the youngest captains to serve on the Firth of Clyde. This book is a wry look at life on the Clyde - an insiders perspective on the river, its people and its ships.

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Book SynopsisA complete, international reference book of yacht designers from the early 1800s to the present day.

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Book SynopsisShipbuilders of the Venetian Arsenal offers new evidence on the ways in which large, state-run manufacturing operations furthered the industrialization process, as well as on the extent of workers' influence on the social dynamics of the early modern European city.Trade ReviewA little gem, superbly crafted and well-written... Davis has certainly achieved his aim in describing and explaining the Venetian Arsenal and its workers with a competency that makes it well worth the price. Northern Mariner This is social history at its best and an important, original contribution to the history of Venice. Not only does it shed much new light on a large segment of the Venetian working class, but it also adds to our understanding of the Venetian system of government's legendary stability and shrewd management of potentially disruptive forces. Journal of Economic History Davis skillfully describes the arsenalotti and their world, using a wealth of manuscript and secondary materials. Sixteenth Century JournalTable of ContentsList of Illustrations and TablesAcknowledgmentsIntroduction: Workers in the Factory of Marvels1. Formation and Nature of the Arsenal Workforce2. The Arsenal Worker Managers3. The Community of the Arsenalotti4. Arsenalotti as Agents of Disorder in Venice5. The Civic Role of the Arsenalotti in Venetian SocietyAppendix 1: Suppliche in VeniceAppendix 2: Organization of the Arsenal Workforce in the Mid-1600sNotesBibliographyIndex

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisThe waterfront was the key to New York City's growth and prosperity. For hundreds of years, the shorefront of Manhattan Island served as the country's center of trade, shipping, and commerce. With its maritime links across the oceans, along the Atlantic coast, and inland to the Midwest and New England, Manhattan became a global city and home to the world's busiest port. It was a world of docks, ships, tugboats, and ferries, filled with cargo and freight, a place where millions of immigrants entered the Promised Land. In Waterfront Manhattan, Kurt C. Schlichting tells the story of the Manhattan waterfront as a struggle between public and private control of New York's priceless asset. Nature provided New York with a sheltered harbor but presented the city with a challenge: to find the necessary capital to build and expand the maritime infrastructure. From colonial times until after the Civil War, the city ceded control of the waterfront to private interests, excluding the public entireTrade ReviewWell researched, engagingly told, and rich in historical, sociological, and economic detail, Waterfront Manhattan represents a new way to look at the ascendancy and growth of America's most important city.—Ray Bert, Civil EngineeringIn Waterfront Manhattan, Schlichting has woven an impressive narrative which is sure to shed light on this underappreciated aspect of New York City history.—Erin Becker, Long Island Maritime Museum, Global Maritime HistoryThis is an important book. There is much to ponder on the future of New York City's harbor, encompassing all five of the city's boroughs and also New Jersey's shoreline.—Evelyn Gonzalez, William Paterson University, Journal of American HistoryTable of ContentsPreface1. Growth, Decline, and Rebirth2. Water-Lots and the Extension of the Manhattan Shoreline3. The Ascendency of the Port of New York4. New York's Waterway Empires5. The Social Construction of the Waterfront6. The Port Prospers, the Railroads Arrive, and Congestion Ensues7. The Public and Control of the Waterfront8. Crime, Corruption, and the Death of the Manhattan Waterfront9. Rebirth of the WaterfrontNotesIndex

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Book SynopsisShipwreck stories from along Minnesota’s north shore of Lake Superior and Isle Royale Against the backdrop of the extraordinary history of Great Lakes shipping, Too Much Sea for Their Decks chronicles shipwrecked schooners, wooden freighters, early steel-hulled steamers, whalebacks, and bulk carriers—some well-known, some unknown or forgotten—all lost in the frigid waters of Lake Superior.Included are compelling accounts of vessels destined for infamy, such as that of the Stranger, a slender wooden schooner swallowed by the lake in 1875, the sailors’ bodies never recovered nor the wreckage ever found; an account of the whaleback Wilson, rammed by a large commercial freighter in broad daylight and in calm seas, sinking before many on board could escape; and the mysterious loss of the Kamloops, a package freighter that went down in a storm and whose sailors were found on the Isle Royale the following spring, having escaped the wreck only to die of exposure on the island. Then there is the ill-fated Steinbrenner, plagued by bad luck from the time of her construction, when she was nearly destroyed by fire, to her eventual (and tragic) sinking in 1953. These tales and more represent loss of life and property—and are haunting stories of brave and heroic crews.Arranged chronologically and presented in three sections covering Minnesota's North Shore, Isle Royale, and the three biggest storms in Minnesota’s Great Lakes history (the 1905 Mataafa storm, the 1913 hurricane on the lakes, and the 1940 Armistice Day storm), each shipwreck documented within these pages provides a piece to the history of shipping on Lake Superior.

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Book SynopsisOn a frigid, stormy day in February of 1686, a small French sailing ship lost control and ran aground in Matagorda Bay. Pounded in the Texas bay by gale-force winds and storm surges, La Belle slipped beneath the water and sank to the bottom, where she would remain for centuries. More than 300 years later, Texas Historical Commission archeologists discovered La Belle's resting place. Using cutting-edge technology and scientific innovation, investigators excavated the shipwreck and salvaged from its watery grave more than a million artifacts, including bronze guns, muskets, trade beads, axes, rings, bells, dishes, medicines - everything a New World colony needed for survival. Authors James E. Bruseth and Toni S. Turner use vivid photographs and engaging descriptions to share the excitement of discovery as they piece together both the ship and its tragic story. For those interested in history, archeology, or the quest for clues to the past, ""From a Watery Grave"" tells a riveting tale of nautical adventure in the seventeenth century and reveals modern scientific archeology at its best.

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Book SynopsisRichard Gebhart traces little-known voyages of Great Lakes ships that sailed the Atlantic beginning in the 1850s. They bore cargoes to and from the lakes and as far as Constantinople. Gebhart recovers the voices of long-ago ship captains, along with their cargo manifests and itineraries. Drawing on deep research in old newspapers and maritime archives, he traces the construction of new ships and shipyards, and the comings and goings and travails of the lakes’ workhorses. Included is a mournful visit to a boneyard where many ships’ lives ended. Among many other lost tales, Gebhart brings to light the rise of oil tankers, marking the great twentieth-century energy transition in shipping. A must-read for Great Lakes shipping fans.

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Book SynopsisThe Gulf of Mexico: A Maritime History presents the first such narrative of the earth's tenth largest body of water. In this beautifully written and illustrated volume, John S. Sledge explores the people, ships, and cities that have made the Gulf's human history and culture so rich. Many famous figures who sailed the Gulf's viridian waters are highlighted, including Ponce de León, Robert Cavelier de La Salle, Francis Drake, Jean Laffite, Tyrone Power, Richard Henry Dana, Libbie Custer, Elizabeth Agassiz, Ernest Hemingway, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, as well as Charles Dwight Sigsbee, at the helm of the doomed Maine. But Sledge also introduces a fascinating and diverse array of people connected to maritime life in the Gulf, including Mesoamerican pyramid builders, Spanish conquistadores, French pirates, Creole women, Cajun fishermen, African American stevedores, British jack-tars, and Greek sponge divers.Gulf events of global historical importance are detailed, such as the only defeat of armed and armored steamships by wooden sailing vessels, the first accurate deep-sea survey and bathymetric map of any ocean basin, the development of shipping containers by a former truck driver frustrated with antiquated loading practices, and the worst environmental disaster in American annals.Occasionally shifting focus ashore, Sledge explains how people representing a gumbo of ethnicities built some of the world's most exotic cities--Havana, way station for conquistadores and treasure-filled galleons; New Orleans, the Big Easy, famous for its beautiful French Quarter, Mardi Gras, and relaxed morals; and oft-besieged Veracruz, Mexico's oldest city, founded in 1519 by Hernán Cortés. Throughout history the residents of these cities and their neighbors along the littoral have struggled with challenges both natural and human-induced--devastating hurricanes, frightening epidemics, catastrophic oil spills, and conflicts ranging from dockside brawls to pirate raids, foreign invasion, civil war, and revolution. In the modern era the Gulf has become critical to energy Production, fisheries, tourism, and international trade, even as it is threatened by pollution and climate change. The Gulf of Mexico: A Maritime History is a work of verve and sweep that illuminates both the risks of life on the water and the riches that come from its bounty.

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Book SynopsisDampier's observations and descriptions are as valid today as they were in the 17th century and this book is to be commended to anyone who is interested in the great early voyages of exploration. THE REVIEW William Dampier [1651-1715] is the most remarkable seaman that England produced in the century and a half between Drake and Captain Cook. They each circumnavigated the world once; Dampier did so three times. He commanded the firstgovernment-funded voyage of discovery with a specific mission to report on matters of government and science. A good seaman, but a bad commander, he spent most of his life as a privateer, buccaneer, or pirate, and his career culminated in the capture of the great treasure galleon sent each year from the New World to Spain. But he was also a great writer, author of the first major English travel book, A New Voyage Round the World, and of scientifictreatises and descriptions of natural history. His expedition to Australia was in many ways disastrous, with his ships being lost; but the book that came out of it, A Voyage to New Holland, is rich in evocative accounts ofthe peoples and places he had found or visited. He was not afraid to record things he could not explain, for `better qualified persons who shall come after me', and his books were reference works used extensively not only by subsequent voyagers but by modern scientists who continue to cite his observations. This edited account of his voyages gives an admirable picture of this fascinating and unorthodox figure in his own words. GERALD NORRIS writes on maritime and musical subjects. His books include West Country Pirates and Buccaneers, Stanford, the Cambridge Jubilee and Tchaikovsky and A Musical Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland.Trade Review[A] very well edited review of Dampier's excellent journals.... [His] reputation has been rehabilitated and enhanced more recently. This fine book has contributed substantially. AUSMARINE William Dampier's writings about his travels and observations are invaluable for those interested in early modern exploration. This new edition demonstrates that Dampier is still very readable after two centuries. * NORTHERN MARINER *Dampier's observations and descriptions are as valid today as they were in the 17th century and this book is to be commended to anyone who is interested in the great early voyages of exploration. THE REVIEW, the journal of the * NHCRA *Dampier represents the wonders of a free and driven spirit. If you wish your soul to escape its present bounds, read this and it will. * THE NAVAL REVIEW *A nicely printed compilation [and] a good sample of Dampier's prose. * GUARDIAN *A model of observational reporting. * REVIEWS IN AUSTRALIAN STUDIES *

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Book SynopsisFram, Golden Hind, Santa Maria, Vasa, and H.M.S. Victory are names of famous ships that have played a part in Europe's maritime history. The stories associated with these and many other ships are told in this book of "ship coins". Each narrative provides the historical background and watercraft experience and circumstance of the soldiers, sailors, admirals and generals, explorers, naval commanders and fishermen who sometimes through bravery and sometimes through human error have merited a place in the historical record, and are associated with particular vessels that have merited the striking of a coin in record and remembrance. The three-volume set is the first ever to narrate the history through the medium of ships featured on coins. Each entry contains information on the ships, wherever available (length, beam, depth and tonnage). Each volume contains a select bibliography and an index listing the ships, persons and other major topics covered in the narratives.Trade ReviewDotans research is detailed and his narratives about ships are aimed at all students of naval warfare, shipping and numismatics. Each narrative provides the historical background and watercraft experience and circumstance of the soldiers, sailors, admirals and generals, explorers, naval commanders and fishermen that have earned a place in the historical record and that have been featured on coins in their honor. -- Coin World"Finally a new manual of numisnautics, which will be a valuable aid for many collectors. The outstanding characteristic of the book is its user friendliness. This work is an all-round success." -- NumisnautikEach coin is identified by its denomination, date of issue and metallic composition. A high quality black and white image accompanies many of the descriptions. For each coin listed there is a detailed description of the ship depicted on the coin its length, tonnage, launch date, speed, its place in history and, in some cases, its ultimate demise. -- CN Journal, the official publication of the Canadian Numismatic Association

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Book SynopsisPart of the Cambridge Manuals of Science and Literature series, and printed in 1913, The Modern Warship by Edward L. Attwood offers a pre-First World War account of the design and construction of British warships, from a naval architect's perspective.Table of ContentsFrontispiece: model of the H. M. S. Queen Mary; Preface; 1. Design; 2. Hull construction; 3. Armour; 4. Armament; 5. Equipment; 6. Stability and rolling; 7. Engines, boilers, etc.; 8. Ventilation and pumping; 9. Watertight subdivision; 10. Steering and turning; 11. Power and speed; 12. The cost of warships; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisGilded Lives, Fatal Voyage takes us behind the paneled doors of the Titanic’s elegant private suites to present compelling, memorable portraits of her most notable passengers.  The Titanic has often been called An exquisite microcosm of the Edwardian era,” but until now, her story has not been presented as such. In Gilded Lives, Fatal Voyage, historian Hugh Brewster seamlessly interweaves personal narratives of the lost liner’s most fascinating people with a haunting account of the fateful maiden crossing. Employing scrupulous research and featuring 100 rarely seen photographs, he accurately depicts the ship’s brief life and tragic denouement and presents compelling, memorable portraits of her most notable passengers: millionaires John Jacob Astor and Benjamin Guggenheim; President Taft's closest aide, Major Archibald Butt; writer Helen Churchill Candee; the artist Frank Millet; movie actress Dorothy Gibson; the celebrated couturiere Lady Duff Gordon; aristocrat Noelle, the Countess of Rothes; and a host of other travelers. Through them, we gain insight into the arts, politics, culture, and sexual mores of a world both distant and near to our own. And with them, we gather on the Titanic’s sloping deck on that cold, starlit night and observe their all-too-human reactions as the disaster unfolds. More than ever, we ask ourselves, “What would we have done?”

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Book SynopsisFrom freighters in motion and intricate machinery in the engine room, to the men who operate and maintain the vessels, these photographs represent a testament to the vanishing era of steam.

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Book SynopsisAmerica's premier photographer of wooden boats presents the best of his work from the past decade.Trade Review"If wooden boats had a Dr. Doolittle, it would be Maynard Bray. He is uniquely at home in their language. Lucky for us he has shared here much of what he has learned." -- Bill Mayher, coauthor of Joel White

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Book SynopsisNew York Times Bestseller The epic account of how one narrow ribbon of water forever changed the course of American history.Trade Review"Wedding of the Waters is an important window into a vital and too often neglected period in the American past" -- Walter Russell Mead - Foreign Affairs"Bernstein resists the temptation to say…that the Erie canal ‘changed the world,’ but it did. It is almost impossible to imagine what the country would be like had it not been built. Peter Bernstein does it full justice." -- Jonathan Yardley - Washington Post"Bernstein’s economic analysis lucidly conveys the enormous impact of the Erie Canal and explains its crucial role in bringing about the industrial emergence of the young nation." -- Chuck Leddy - San Francisco Chronicle"The story behind the canal’s construction is a narrative of political intrigue, bold vision and backbreaking work. And it all comes to life in Peter L. Bernstein’s epic history of the canal." -- Terry Golway - New York Post"Engrossing…the tale merits a place among the popular classics of American economic history." -- Stephen Schurr - Financial Times"Mr. Bernstein has opened a rich historical vein." -- Roger Lowenstein - Wall Street Journal"Mr Bernstein is at his best in showing how a colorful group of American politicians turned this dream into reality…The book provides a splendid window into early American life, which was as raucously divided then as it is now by class and taste." -- The Economist"A riveting account of one of the most amazing technological achievements of all time." -- Thomas J. Brady - Philadelphia Inquirer"An excellent overview of the struggles that went into making the Erie Canal a reality." -- Josh Ozersky - Chicago Tribune

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Book SynopsisA sea captain’s beautifully written tour of our planet, our oceans, and our ever-changing atmosphere“An extraordinary book by a modern-day Melville.”—Mark Vanhoenacker • “Immensely rewarding and entertaining.”—Lincoln Paine • “Full of history, wisdom, and hilarious stories from life on the open seas.”—Daniel Stone  What’s in a cloud? Did you know that water vapor is invisible and actually lighter than dry air? What separates a tropical storm from a winter blizzard? And what exactly is El Niño? Elliot Rappaport, a professional captain of traditional sailing ships, has spent three decades at sea, where understanding weather is crucial to the safety of vessels and their crews. In Reading the Glass, he offers a sailor’s-eye view of the moving parts of our atmosphere and unveils the larger patterns it holds: global winds, storms, air masses, jet streams, and the

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