
FOREWORD
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER I THE DEVELOPMENT OF SHIPS
CHAPTER II THE DEVELOPMENT OF SAILS
CHAPTER III THE PERFECTION OF SAILS—THE CLIPPER SHIPS
CHAPTER IV THE DEVELOPMENT OF STEAMSHIPS
CHAPTER V THE PERFECTION OF STEAMSHIPS
CHAPTER VI STEAMSHIPS OF MANY TYPES
CHAPTER VII SHIPS OF WAR
From a seasoned mariner’s eye and a scholar’s diligence, this sweeping survey brings the world of seafaring to life. It begins with the earliest river craft and ancient Egyptian vessels, moving steadily through Phoenician biremes, Greek triremes, Viking longships, and the grand galleons of the age of exploration. Along the way, vivid illustrations and first‑hand anecdotes let listeners picture the creaking hulls, billowing sails, and bustling decks that shaped human history.
The work then turns to the engine‑driven era, tracing how sail gave way to steam, then to the sleek warships and massive liners of the twentieth century. Chapters on seamanship, navigation, lighthouses, and port infrastructure reveal the practical art behind every voyage, while a handy glossary decodes the language of the sea. Whether you’re curious about the clippers that raced the winds or the modern destroyers that patrol today’s oceans, the narration offers a clear, engaging guide to the vessels that have crossed every horizon.
Language
en
Duration
~8 hours (502K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
Garden City: Doubleday, Page & company, 1925.
Credits
Bob Taylor, Peter Becker and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2024-02-02
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1890–1981
A prolific American writer who moved easily between sea adventures, mysteries, history, and military subjects, he published dozens of books across a long career. He is especially remembered for For Want of a Nail, a widely noted study of how logistics shapes war.
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