Ocean Liners [Hardcover]

Olivier Le Goff (Author), Oliver LeGoff (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1999

Ocean Liners is a detailed look at nearly fifty fabulous ships that have provided pleasure, practicality, and fascination since the beginning of the century. Included in this colorful investigation are the gallant Ile-de-France, the exorbitantly expensive Vaterland and the ill-fated Titanic, Deutschland and Willem-Ruys, as well as the quintessential ocean liner of its time, the Queen Mary, which did double duty as a high-speed troop carrier during World War II. With views of plush interiors and luxurious appointments, this magnificent book gives an insider's look at the adventure of an ocean crossing on ships of yesteryear, today, and those in development for future use. Ocean Liners also explores the historical, industrial, and economic conditions which led to the construction of these maritime behemoths and the current technology that is ushering in even more elaborate ship designs for the twenty-first century.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

By sail, steam and diesel, people have been traveling across the oceans for centuries. By the dawning of the twentieth century, to voyage had evolved from cramped, damp and sometimes perilous journey to a luxury cruise. Ocean Liner depicts in both fascinating drawings and stunning photographs fifty of the most famous passenger ships, from the Kaiser Wilhelm built in 1897 to the huge cruise ships that hold thousands of passengers plying the Caribbean trade routes.

About the Author

OLIVER LE GOFF comes from a long line of sailors who have lived in Le Havre, where he spent his childhood exploring the harbor and watching ocean liners. A writer by profession, he has contributed to many different books and publications.

CLAUDE MOLTENI DE VILLERMONT has always been fascinated by ocean liners. He now contributes to numerous maritime publications and, as a member of trhe Association des Amis des Paquebot, the World Ship Society and the Steam Shop Historical Society of America, often gives lectures on the subject.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Book Sales (September 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785810862
• ISBN-13: 978-0785810865
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 9.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,334,426 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Room for considerable improvement., January 17, 2005

By 

Ned Middleton (British professional underwater photo-journalist & author) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Ocean Liners (Hardcover)

This book contains brief details of the lives of 45 of the world's greatest Ocean Liners. Naturally, the Titanic is in there but only as one of three sister ships and for once she does not appear on the cover and is not allowed to dominate the content.

Sadly I have problems with mistakes such as "Steam Shop Historical Society" which not only reveal errors in spelling but also in grammar - when the single word Steamship should have been used. Throughout the book several pictures leave a lot to be desired. I have researched many of these ships and I know better photographs exist - because I have found them. I am always critical of blurred images - and rightly so. If, however, a blurred image is all that exists of a ship that has long disappeared then I can understand it being used. What I cannot accept is that it should be blown up so that the picture in question is reproduced across both pages of a book which measures 12in x 9½in (30 x 24cm). In so doing, the poor quality of a number of images is exaggerated.

With a little redesign, this book could easily become a 5 star product.

NM