History of Ocean Liners in 50 Objects

Ocean liners, brought to life by objects and ephemera, reveal life aboard, luxury, magnificence, and peril. Explore their history through these objects. Liners symbolized nations’ ambitions in peace and war, incorporating contemporary technology and art. In peacetime, they carried celebrities, vacationers, and emigrants; in war, troops and war brides. 

This book covers evolving technology, supreme luxury, fine cuisine, hardship, and hope for a better life. It includes peril, disaster, death, international pride, competition, glory, and war. The objects tell a fascinating story of the functional sea voyage’s evolution from the late 19th to early 20th century to today’s huge cruise industry.