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The Ship Asunder: A Maritime History of Britain in Eleven Vessels
A Sunday Times Book of the Year'Three and a half millennia of British Maritime history, from the Middle Bronze Age to the early 20th century ... This book is written with passion and sympathy. It will live with me for a very long time' Francis Pryor, author of The FensIf Britain's maritime history were embodied in a single ship, she would have a prehistoric prow, a mast plucked from a Victorian steamship, the hull of a modest fishing vessel, the propeller of an ocean liner and an anchor made of stone. We might call her Asunder, and, fantastical though she is, we could in fact find her today, scattered in fragments across the country's creeks and coastlines.In his moving and original new history, Tom Nancollas goes in search of eleven relics that together tell the story of Britain at sea. From the swallowtail prow of a Bronze Age vessel to a stone ship moored at a Baroque quayside, each one illuminates a distinct phase of our adventures upon the waves; each brings us close to the people, places and vessels that made a maritime nation. Weaving together stories of great naval architects and unsung shipwrights, fishermen and merchants, shipwrecks and superstition, pilgrimage, trade and war, The Ship Asunder celebrates the richness of Britain's seafaring tradition in all its glory and tragedy, triumph and disaster, and asks how we might best memorialize it as it vanishes from our shores.
336 pages, Paperback
Published March 30, 2023
About the author
Tom Nancollas
2 books20 followersBorn in Gloucester in 1988, Tom Nancollas is a writer and building conservationist based in London. After university, he joined English Heritage to work on church repair grants before moving on to the City of London and its historic townscape. Of Cornish ancestry, Tom maintained a love of seascapes during his work in the capital and became fascinated with offshore rock lighthouses, finding in them a new way of looking at buildings, heritage and, unexpectedly, family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
April 26, 2025
Each chapter of this intriguing book is a delight, with anecdotes, historical information, biography, geography and ship lore melded together into an analysis of British maritime history from the early medieval to the present.
This is so much more than just a popular history; it’s a marvel of design by a building conservationist with a passion for detail and for teasing out the most unusual facts that inspire his curiosity.
Read it.
This is so much more than just a popular history; it’s a marvel of design by a building conservationist with a passion for detail and for teasing out the most unusual facts that inspire his curiosity.
Read it.
May 10, 2022
I like boats, and small ships, and sailing, and messing about by and in the sea. But whilst I appreciate Britain’s maritime history, I do not consider myself much of a seafarer. And I’ve never been good at British History – enough to tackle quiz questions, is about it.
So The Ship Asunder, Tom Nancollas’s gallop through several thousand years of Britain’s association with boats, is full of surprises.
The author takes us through the history of ships and British sea-faring by deconstructing boats and identifying the history within them. Who knew that there was a pre-Roman boat discovered in the mud at Dover, carefully preserved in the Ashmolean Museum of all places – about as far from the sea as you can get in Britain. And a large trumpet used for inter-ship (and intra-ship) communication in pre-medieval times, salvaged from the muddy banks of the Thames, and now in the Museum of London?
Starting at the prows of the boats and ending past the propellers and back onto the land that provided the wood, Nancollas strings together a fascinating mix of archaeology, fable and record. He treads paths and describes ancient and modern side by side. I am tempted to try to locate the building in Caithness that uses the hull of a ship as its rafters. He does it by satellite mapping, and street view, and so can any of us, if we look hard enough.
Among the sea souvenirs there are plenty of human stories. Inventors, sailors, rich men, poor men, beggar men, some women. He also gives a clear account of Britain’s rich past in slavery. We got rich on this trade, no doubt about it. Just as we did on exploiting all the rest of the ‘Empire’ countries. We owe them big time.
Sometimes the text jumps about a bit. Abrupt changes of subject when you think it’s a follow-on. This may be the ebook, and the paperback layout may solve the problem. But I did have to stop several times to work out where the thread had gone. Nevertheless, it’s a good read, an artistic piece of delving, and a useful reference work too. For those who like to know how much of the ebook is references – 6%. There are also useful footnotes in the text, too.
So The Ship Asunder, Tom Nancollas’s gallop through several thousand years of Britain’s association with boats, is full of surprises.
The author takes us through the history of ships and British sea-faring by deconstructing boats and identifying the history within them. Who knew that there was a pre-Roman boat discovered in the mud at Dover, carefully preserved in the Ashmolean Museum of all places – about as far from the sea as you can get in Britain. And a large trumpet used for inter-ship (and intra-ship) communication in pre-medieval times, salvaged from the muddy banks of the Thames, and now in the Museum of London?
Starting at the prows of the boats and ending past the propellers and back onto the land that provided the wood, Nancollas strings together a fascinating mix of archaeology, fable and record. He treads paths and describes ancient and modern side by side. I am tempted to try to locate the building in Caithness that uses the hull of a ship as its rafters. He does it by satellite mapping, and street view, and so can any of us, if we look hard enough.
Among the sea souvenirs there are plenty of human stories. Inventors, sailors, rich men, poor men, beggar men, some women. He also gives a clear account of Britain’s rich past in slavery. We got rich on this trade, no doubt about it. Just as we did on exploiting all the rest of the ‘Empire’ countries. We owe them big time.
Sometimes the text jumps about a bit. Abrupt changes of subject when you think it’s a follow-on. This may be the ebook, and the paperback layout may solve the problem. But I did have to stop several times to work out where the thread had gone. Nevertheless, it’s a good read, an artistic piece of delving, and a useful reference work too. For those who like to know how much of the ebook is references – 6%. There are also useful footnotes in the text, too.
March 28, 2022
Britain's history is synonymous with the sea - being an island, we are surrounded by it. Boats, ships, & their assorted paraphernalia are entwined with British life from our language, to our penal codes (picking oakum) & political & military history. The author takes features from ships from different historical periods & melds them into "The Ship Asunder". It includes a prehistoric prow, a mast from a Victorian steamship, & the propeller of an ocean liner. The book moves forward through time, from the early oar propelled boats of the prehistoric, Roman, & Medieval periods, to harnessing the power of the wind for the age of the sail, through to the enormous liners such as the Lusitania. From the pinnacle of British naval might with Lord Nelson to the role of ships in the shameful slave trade.
There's a lot of carefully researched information here - I particularly enjoyed the section on Medieval ships - imagining them sailing into harbour, flags flying, with their heralds ready to blow their horns to announce their arrival. I was intrigued to see Winchelsea mentioned, I had heard of it before but knew nothing about it, yet in the last two weeks have now read two books which cover its history. Overall it's an interesting, informative read if you have an interest in maritime & naval history. I enjoyed it so much I bought the author's book on historic lighthouses for a future read.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Penguin Press UK, Allen Lane, Particular, Pelican, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
There's a lot of carefully researched information here - I particularly enjoyed the section on Medieval ships - imagining them sailing into harbour, flags flying, with their heralds ready to blow their horns to announce their arrival. I was intrigued to see Winchelsea mentioned, I had heard of it before but knew nothing about it, yet in the last two weeks have now read two books which cover its history. Overall it's an interesting, informative read if you have an interest in maritime & naval history. I enjoyed it so much I bought the author's book on historic lighthouses for a future read.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Penguin Press UK, Allen Lane, Particular, Pelican, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
February 17, 2023
Perhaps it's my maritime heritage of being brought up at a port city or my academic studies, but anything to do with ships from history really excites me. Added to that, the brilliantly original idea of this book to make a (virtual) ship portraying England's seafaring history from artefacts from the great vessels of our country - well, that's me sorted!
Nancollas goes on the hunt for ships' parts and gives a tour and history of each town and port he visits. There is a chatty commentary, starting at the port and town of Dover and going through such places as London, Plymouth, Looe, Newlyn, Liverpool and Portsmouth. Always engaging and at times tense, this really is a fascinating and thrilling read as the author travels to dockyards, harbours, museums and ports to discover his eleven parts for his symbolic ship. The items include rope, a bell, a figurehead and an anchor, for example, and Nancollas explains how the items were made and how they were used. Often the descriptions are poetic and full, and include nautical terms, but always explained in pure layman's language, and diagrams, paintings and photographs illustrate, just to make sure.
Full as well, is the history of the places he visits and periods in which the ships lived. The first item is a Bronze Age prow and the following relics represent each period such as Tudor, Victorian, Georgian, Jacobean and so on, until the twentieth century and the World Wars. I like how there is always time for a pint as well.
An adventure story and a quest, this book could so easily have been a novel. The writing is imaginative and colourful, the story as good as many I have read and even better than a lot of them. For historians, seafarers and British folk or anyone who likes a a good book. This book is an absolute delight to read. Love it.
Nancollas goes on the hunt for ships' parts and gives a tour and history of each town and port he visits. There is a chatty commentary, starting at the port and town of Dover and going through such places as London, Plymouth, Looe, Newlyn, Liverpool and Portsmouth. Always engaging and at times tense, this really is a fascinating and thrilling read as the author travels to dockyards, harbours, museums and ports to discover his eleven parts for his symbolic ship. The items include rope, a bell, a figurehead and an anchor, for example, and Nancollas explains how the items were made and how they were used. Often the descriptions are poetic and full, and include nautical terms, but always explained in pure layman's language, and diagrams, paintings and photographs illustrate, just to make sure.
Full as well, is the history of the places he visits and periods in which the ships lived. The first item is a Bronze Age prow and the following relics represent each period such as Tudor, Victorian, Georgian, Jacobean and so on, until the twentieth century and the World Wars. I like how there is always time for a pint as well.
An adventure story and a quest, this book could so easily have been a novel. The writing is imaginative and colourful, the story as good as many I have read and even better than a lot of them. For historians, seafarers and British folk or anyone who likes a a good book. This book is an absolute delight to read. Love it.
April 6, 2022
I loved reading this book although I am neither a sailor, fisherman or naval historian. I do love coasts and Tom Nancollas tells the history of British ships through remnants and artifacts from ships found wherever they broke up.
I had never heard of the ruins of the oldest ship discovered, and plan to visit this fascinating wreck in Dover museum , Neither had I given much thought to ship's trumpets though vaguely aware of them in pictures. In the days before lights and modern navigation methods being able to signal across foggy windswept conditions was essential to survival, I had seen ships timbers used as rooftops on Lindisfarne but never thought of coastal communities in windswept treeless settlements needing to recycle timbers or of the close affinity between boat builders and church builders. The section on figureheads put into context the two larger-than-life examples I had seen at Bluetown Heritage Centre in Sheerness docks.
I found the personal anecdotes and references to the author's family distracting initially in this well researched book but my final thoughts were that these anecdotes helped to make the history more personal and to link it to the lives of ordinary seamen.
Tom Nancollas has written an intriguing and thought provoking book that will bring readers closer to the seafaring way of life through the centuries.
I had never heard of the ruins of the oldest ship discovered, and plan to visit this fascinating wreck in Dover museum , Neither had I given much thought to ship's trumpets though vaguely aware of them in pictures. In the days before lights and modern navigation methods being able to signal across foggy windswept conditions was essential to survival, I had seen ships timbers used as rooftops on Lindisfarne but never thought of coastal communities in windswept treeless settlements needing to recycle timbers or of the close affinity between boat builders and church builders. The section on figureheads put into context the two larger-than-life examples I had seen at Bluetown Heritage Centre in Sheerness docks.
I found the personal anecdotes and references to the author's family distracting initially in this well researched book but my final thoughts were that these anecdotes helped to make the history more personal and to link it to the lives of ordinary seamen.
Tom Nancollas has written an intriguing and thought provoking book that will bring readers closer to the seafaring way of life through the centuries.
February 28, 2022
This meandering journey through Britain’s maritime heritage is rich with anecdotes and snippets of history. Although Tom Nancollas follows the stories of eleven relics of important ships. I was expecting more about each ship, but as Tom Nancollas points out,
“at the heart of this book is an absence, for ships are definingly perishable things. Sea washes, wears, squishes their hulls. Wind pulls, pushes prises apart structural members or hull coverings. Salt abrades, corrodes, dissolves until a ship may scarcely be identifiable. This is not just a story of ships’ live, but of their afterlives too.”
There are many ‘detours’ and no sense of urgency. We pause to visit Spike Milligan’s ‘Celtic’ grave in Winchelsea, and the ornate chair, allegedly made from the timbers of Drake’s Golden Hinde.
I enjoyed the historical details, such as how the Romans would cut the prow from captured enemy ships, then use it as a platform from which to deliver victory speeches - the origin of the ‘rostrum’ sill loved by orators today.
Tom Nancollas has an engaging and relaxed style, and this is a book I’m sure I’ll return to, and makes an ideal gift for anyone with an interest in maritime history. Recommended.
“at the heart of this book is an absence, for ships are definingly perishable things. Sea washes, wears, squishes their hulls. Wind pulls, pushes prises apart structural members or hull coverings. Salt abrades, corrodes, dissolves until a ship may scarcely be identifiable. This is not just a story of ships’ live, but of their afterlives too.”
There are many ‘detours’ and no sense of urgency. We pause to visit Spike Milligan’s ‘Celtic’ grave in Winchelsea, and the ornate chair, allegedly made from the timbers of Drake’s Golden Hinde.
I enjoyed the historical details, such as how the Romans would cut the prow from captured enemy ships, then use it as a platform from which to deliver victory speeches - the origin of the ‘rostrum’ sill loved by orators today.
Tom Nancollas has an engaging and relaxed style, and this is a book I’m sure I’ll return to, and makes an ideal gift for anyone with an interest in maritime history. Recommended.
May 10, 2022
The Ship Asunder by Tom Nancollas is a fascinating and original tour of maritime history. Throughout his book the author constructs the image and identity of a British ship from eleven relics of seafaring history including a prow, hull and anchor. The book includes accounts from naval architects, shipwrights, fishermen, shipwrecks, trade and war that examine the richness and complexity of Britain’s maritime history and seagoing traditions. It is a beautiful, personal exploration around Britain that examines the triumphs and tragedies that happened at sea. This book is perfect for fans of nonfiction and history about social issues, politics and myths from the perspective of the constantly shifting landscape of the sea. Enchanting 4 Stars ✨.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy of this book in exchange for honest feedback.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy of this book in exchange for honest feedback.
Did Not Finish
August 21, 2022DNF.
This book is not what it said it was. It says it's a Maritime History in Eleven Vessels, cf. Seashaken Houses, but it's not. It's actually about maritime relics. One chapter was dedicated to a trumpet. That's not what I want. I want the history of a ship, the biography of the shipbuilder, etc, as in the vein of Seashaken Houses.
Ships not trumpets.
This book is not what it said it was. It says it's a Maritime History in Eleven Vessels, cf. Seashaken Houses, but it's not. It's actually about maritime relics. One chapter was dedicated to a trumpet. That's not what I want. I want the history of a ship, the biography of the shipbuilder, etc, as in the vein of Seashaken Houses.
Ships not trumpets.
Read
May 11, 2022Weaving together stories of great naval architects and unsung shipwrights, fishermen and merchants, shipwrecks and superstition, pilgrimage, trade and war, The Ship Asunder celebrates the richness of Britain’s seafaring tradition in all its glory and tragedy, triumph and disaster, and asks how we might best memorialise it as it vanishes from our shores.
I enjoyed reading this book. It’s a tour of Britain’s ports, coasts and islands with an imaginary ship built from fragments acquired across the centuries. Being surrounded by the sea can have a profound effect on a person, and we all love to escape to the coast when we can. The next best thing surely is reading a good book about it!
I enjoyed reading this book. It’s a tour of Britain’s ports, coasts and islands with an imaginary ship built from fragments acquired across the centuries. Being surrounded by the sea can have a profound effect on a person, and we all love to escape to the coast when we can. The next best thing surely is reading a good book about it!
December 8, 2022
A great piece of creative non-fiction. How obscure relics of ships scattered round our country illuminate our relationship with the sea and seafaring.
August 28, 2022
I was looking forward to reading this book, having enjoyed Tom Nancollas' first book, Seashaken Houses.
To best explain the purpose of this book, I will quote the author himself:
"Each of (the book's) chapters revolves around a ship-fragment from a specific period of Britain's seafaring history. Each is, symbolically, all that remains of this particular kind of vessel or time. A few of these are in museums, because of their age and rarity, but most are not; I'm most drawn to artifacts which must fend for themselves ...
"Through their stories it is possible to see a wider narrative of the ascendancy, decline and fall of seafaring Britain - as our attitudes to and dependance on the sea begin to change, as the prestige of ships and their coastal berths begins to dim, as the last of the sea drains out of the country, leaving only residue in an empty vessel".
The book is set out in a logical order, starting with stories of Mediaeval seafaring, and finishing in the 20th Century, with its author pondering whether there is any future for using ships for industry in Britain. At one point, he even points out the fact that use of aircraft is a natural successor.
All of the chapters feel that they have been very well-researched, and they are full of anecdotes (often humorous) about the author's own visits to the sites he describes in the books, as well as his own musings. The best chapter for me went into great detail about the horror of the slave trade, with stories about captives jumping off boats because they would rather drown than end up in a lifetime of slavery.
I did have to re-read a few sections to make sure I hadn't missed anything, but overall I really enjoyed this.
To best explain the purpose of this book, I will quote the author himself:
"Each of (the book's) chapters revolves around a ship-fragment from a specific period of Britain's seafaring history. Each is, symbolically, all that remains of this particular kind of vessel or time. A few of these are in museums, because of their age and rarity, but most are not; I'm most drawn to artifacts which must fend for themselves ...
"Through their stories it is possible to see a wider narrative of the ascendancy, decline and fall of seafaring Britain - as our attitudes to and dependance on the sea begin to change, as the prestige of ships and their coastal berths begins to dim, as the last of the sea drains out of the country, leaving only residue in an empty vessel".
The book is set out in a logical order, starting with stories of Mediaeval seafaring, and finishing in the 20th Century, with its author pondering whether there is any future for using ships for industry in Britain. At one point, he even points out the fact that use of aircraft is a natural successor.
All of the chapters feel that they have been very well-researched, and they are full of anecdotes (often humorous) about the author's own visits to the sites he describes in the books, as well as his own musings. The best chapter for me went into great detail about the horror of the slave trade, with stories about captives jumping off boats because they would rather drown than end up in a lifetime of slavery.
I did have to re-read a few sections to make sure I hadn't missed anything, but overall I really enjoyed this.
June 20, 2022
The premise for this book is to tell the maritime history of Britain in eleven vessels. However, it is more a ragbag of facts, each section centred around a period in history and with a vessel included. The piece is well researched and many of the facts revealed are fascinating. However, the whole thing is rather a hotch-potch with no clear direction and I could certainly have done without the author's personal opinions and pastiches about going for a pint or walking in the rain. Its more whimsical than scholarly.
I found the information included in it to be fascinating for the most part; I certainly learnt more than I knew starting off. The author doesn't confine himself to ships, but talks of rope, masts, bells, figureheads and early diving bells, as well as covering the important transition from sail to steam. But I felt the writing style would have benefitted from some serious condensing and removal of the peripheral anecdotes.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Press UK for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I found the information included in it to be fascinating for the most part; I certainly learnt more than I knew starting off. The author doesn't confine himself to ships, but talks of rope, masts, bells, figureheads and early diving bells, as well as covering the important transition from sail to steam. But I felt the writing style would have benefitted from some serious condensing and removal of the peripheral anecdotes.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Press UK for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 5, 2022
A real deviation from traditional non-fiction formats. The author uses the history of eleven parts of vessels to encompass the entire history of maritime adventures. I had thought it was to be eleven, moving from crude pre-historic dugouts, through sails, steam, nuclear. Although somewhat parallel, the various parts of the various ships are examined, not the entirety (mostly).
My landluberness (a word?) and not being from the UK limited me considerably, but Tom Nancollas did a wonderful job of describing the essence of the topic.
His lyrical, over-sweet descriptions were a bit distracting.
This is a book in desperate need of more illustrations, maps (please!) and photos or renderings. His flowery failed to give the detail that a non-fiction of this undertaking warranted.
More like 3.5 stars.
My landluberness (a word?) and not being from the UK limited me considerably, but Tom Nancollas did a wonderful job of describing the essence of the topic.
His lyrical, over-sweet descriptions were a bit distracting.
This is a book in desperate need of more illustrations, maps (please!) and photos or renderings. His flowery failed to give the detail that a non-fiction of this undertaking warranted.
More like 3.5 stars.
March 20, 2022
I haven't quite finished reading this book yet but wanted to review it ahead of the publication date. It is a fascinating read, full of interesting information and anecdotes. A very readable style, and a personal one with mentions of the family and friends accompanying the author on his journey around Britain seeking out the artefacts and information which form the backbone to this book. I very much look forward to reading the rest of the book. A very good read for anyone interested in our maritime heritage - the good and the bad. With thanks to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for an advanced copy of this book to read and review.
June 17, 2023
This book has a really cool premise. Ships and Britain are, and for a long time have been, intrinsically linked. It's part of being an island nation that made naval development here so necessary. I like that this wasn't just a general history though. Instead we discovered 11 items from ships, learned about the item, then about the ship it came from, and then about ships and British history in that period. I think it was a really great and novel way to approach the history of Britain or the history of ships.
August 15, 2022
An fascinating look at British maritime history, told through the lens of a piece of eleven different ships.
A enjoyable and well researched, informative read, suitable for anyone with an interest in maritime history.
The story is told through 11 ships and is interspersed with the authors experiences and anecdotes, makes the book well worth reading.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC of this book
A enjoyable and well researched, informative read, suitable for anyone with an interest in maritime history.
The story is told through 11 ships and is interspersed with the authors experiences and anecdotes, makes the book well worth reading.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC of this book
March 12, 2022
British history through the lens of its maritime past.
A wealth of historical information is at least partly obscured by the insinuation of the author into the narrative. Places known to me, Bristol, for instance, become unrecognisable in his hands.
An easy-going, fascinating read, but could be better.
A wealth of historical information is at least partly obscured by the insinuation of the author into the narrative. Places known to me, Bristol, for instance, become unrecognisable in his hands.
An easy-going, fascinating read, but could be better.
August 22, 2023
The idea of the book is great and there were chapters on the SS Great Eastern and the Lusitania which were really interesting but for me the book was a bit of a dirge to get through.
It is only 284 pages long but it has been slow going the subject matter I just was not that interested in to be honest. Not sure all the reviews of it are correct think it’s overhyped but it is different.
It is only 284 pages long but it has been slow going the subject matter I just was not that interested in to be honest. Not sure all the reviews of it are correct think it’s overhyped but it is different.
February 25, 2023
Here is a stroll through maritime history in Britain. Taking a ship asunder, using eleven locations where innovation in design or technology can still be found. Mr Nancolas leads is on a walking your of Britain, whilst holding a conversation with the reader!
February 3, 2024
So strange, this comes up as Middle School: It’s a Zoo in Here! By Patterson on my iPad. A’ decent kids book about a boy who is always in trouble but learns an appreciation for animals in a summer job
February 13, 2022
Absolutely wonderful interesting book learning about the most stunning part of ship from years ago.
The detail and meaning of each
So much passion as gone in to this book
Worth buying
The detail and meaning of each
So much passion as gone in to this book
Worth buying
May 20, 2024
I’ve learnt a lot about sea going vessels that I never knew I would be interested in knowing. Delightfully written.
June 2, 2024
Just beautiful, so much time and story distilled into one relatively short book.
November 14, 2024
An interesting history of Britain through the lens of maritime history and specific ships (or what’s left of them)
March 15, 2026
I have scribbled all over this book which means one of two things: a) its toilet paper that will never again leave the house because I couldn’t leave things well alone and my issues with it silent or b) its thought provoking enough to re-awaken the English Literature student within me that won’t be smothered quietly (aka love it until I spectacularly fall out with it)
This was category B. That is to say, a long winded way to say I almost love this book. To say it’s essential premise is to take notable aspects of a working ship - archaic or otherwise - the subject matters get surprisingly deep. It covers everything from piracy and slavery (both equally uncomfortable and important subjects to cover), mistakes made through hubris (not explicitly stated but more read between the lines) and the tradesmen and innovators who kept the ship building industry alive. Famous ships include the Golden Hind replica, the Rosebud, Brunel’s endeavours and the Lusitania.
My only issue is that ships outside the scope of but relevant to the circumstances behind a sinking or decommissioning of the ship the author laser focuses on in that particular segment are not mentioned in the text or as a note. The date of Lusitania’s sinking is one such example and I did very often break off to do a bit of extra research where the details didn’t satisfy. Whether that is down to the author or editors, it is impossible to say, but the text itself isn’t so heavy that omitting these little extra details allow the weight of the subject matter to suffer.
This was category B. That is to say, a long winded way to say I almost love this book. To say it’s essential premise is to take notable aspects of a working ship - archaic or otherwise - the subject matters get surprisingly deep. It covers everything from piracy and slavery (both equally uncomfortable and important subjects to cover), mistakes made through hubris (not explicitly stated but more read between the lines) and the tradesmen and innovators who kept the ship building industry alive. Famous ships include the Golden Hind replica, the Rosebud, Brunel’s endeavours and the Lusitania.
My only issue is that ships outside the scope of but relevant to the circumstances behind a sinking or decommissioning of the ship the author laser focuses on in that particular segment are not mentioned in the text or as a note. The date of Lusitania’s sinking is one such example and I did very often break off to do a bit of extra research where the details didn’t satisfy. Whether that is down to the author or editors, it is impossible to say, but the text itself isn’t so heavy that omitting these little extra details allow the weight of the subject matter to suffer.
June 15, 2025
Another case where I should have read the blurb more carefully - I was expecting the story of 11 ships/boats through time that would outline British maritime history. Instead we have 11 chapters loosely based around "vessels" - parts of ships that do the same, but in a slightly more roundabout way. Though I found it overall informative and interesting, the writing was quite dense and overly flowery in places, often jumping back and forth between places and time. I would also have liked more pictures in the text, especially when some photos and pieces of art are directly described and referenced.
January 9, 2024
Loved this. Tells some fascinating stories about Britain's maritime past through a selection of fragments squirreled away in failing ports and abandoned slipways, or sunk in the deep. From Brunel's mighty Great Eastern to the yacht of Charles II, to the hordes of pleasure craft that now choke every anchorage around the coast, Nancollas fascinates with his insights and startles with his often lyrical prose.
March 30, 2024
A seriously overwritten, meandering text. My interest quickly waned.
January 4, 2026
this book would have been of more interest and enjoyment to me if it didn’t keep filtering off to the pub trips the author took while researching for said book
March 13, 2026
Bit of a slow start but really got into this and it gives a really interesting evolution of ships and maritime through time
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews