Ship: The Epic Story of Maritime Adventure (Smithsonian)

Rating:
Summary: Interesting Writing, Beautiful Illustrations
Review: This profusely illustrated book covers boats from the earliest Pre-historical times until the present. It includes everything from birch bark canoes to the latest commercial and military vessels, junks to dhows, clipper ships to cruise liners and boats built especially for the Americas cup. More than a coffee table book, the descriptions that go with the photographs enhance and explain the photographs.

In the section on the First Boats, there are drawings amd photographs from both ancient times and modern. From here the story continues and reflects the leastest research. For instance:

There are thirteen photographs of the Vasa, the Swedish ship that rolled over and sank on its maiden voyage in 1628. As the book puts it, this was "the largest and most elaborately decorated flagship, Sweden's VASA sailed into this arena for a few minutes." This is, of course the ship that was found and raised in 1961, teaching us a lot about 17th Century construction.

Also included is the story of Zheng He, the Chinese explorer who made seven discovery voyages in the early 1400's covering some 35,000 miles.

The drawing of the Hunley, the Confederate submarine reflect the latest discoveries made since it was found and raised only a few years ago.

All in all, this book is what you'd expect. Interesting writing, beautiful illustrations.