Ebook: A History of Ocean Liners in 50 Objects

Explore the history of ocean liners through the objects that bring them to life. Liners represented the ambitions of their nations in peace and war; their design, interiors, and fittings incorporated the finest contemporary technological and artistic features. In peacetime they carried celebrities, vacationers, and emigrants; while in war they carried thousands of troops—and then war brides seeking new lives. A History of Ocean Liners in 50 Objects takes in evolving technology, supreme luxury, and fine cuisine, as well as hardship and the burning hope for a better life. There is peril, disaster, and death, international pride and competition, glory and war. The objects tell a fascinating story, showing how the functional sea voyage has evolved from the late 19th and early 20th century to the huge cruise industry we have today.