Arguably the world s most articulate and authoritative maritime historian, John Maxtone-Graham documents SS United States, her design, construction, and seventeen years of impeccable service. He introduces us to dozens of U.S. passengers, famous and infamous, as well as captains and crew. The last great American ocean liner, SS United States could be converted to a 14,000-man troop carrier and was capable of attaining a speed of over 40 knots (although in her luxury Atlantic crossings the ship was much slower). Sadly, jet travel put an end to ocean crossings, and the all-aluminum ship rests in Philadelphia while groups of fans continue to try to repurpose it."

Southampton Docks is one of the most important maritime centres in the UK, and here Andrew Britton explores its rich history. From four-funnelled liners and flying boats to power stations and refineries, this volume depicts all that happened in the docks, the living heartbeat of the city. Herein see previously unpublished behind-the-scenes shots of the dock at work, of captain's logbooks and tickets - even some ships' menus; it all gives the true flavour of dock life. Using the original port map of Southampton and historic artefacts, the lives and times of Southampton Docks are brought to the fore. This edition is lavishly illustrated with rare and unseen images, providing a real treat for anyone interested in Southampton and its docks.

The sailing junk was an amazing vessel. From Tientsin to Hong Kong-and up and down the great rivers in between-Ivon A. Donnelly immortalized these lost treasures in this book from 1924, with a pen and sketchpad and with words that betray his passion for the ancient watercraft of China. Vivid and graceful, grotesque and gay, junks were supremely honed for their particular work. But time and new technology took their toll and the junk is today all but extinct.

In the late 1960s, P&O established ferry services in the North Sea and English Channel. Roll-on/roll-off operations and containerisation were introduced and new ships, facilities and investment was needed to take advantage of developments. What followed was several decades of growth, buyouts and divisions. The twenty-first century saw the closure of several routes as the ferries saw increased competition from low-cost airline and the Channel Tunnel. Throughout this period, P&O attracted a loyal customer base and became one of the most recognisable names on the sea. Utilising a selection of rare and previously unpublished images, maritime historian Ian Collard delves into the story of this iconic company and its ships.

A magical, thrilling pirate adventure: fun, fantastical and totally unputdownable! '[A] magical tale of pirates, magic and high adventure!' DAN SMITH 'non-stop adventure, Loved all the magic lurking beneath the sea.' NICKI THORNTON Tiggy has always had the ocean in her blood - and lately, she's been dreaming of mermaids - but she's a high-born girl on the Isle of Fortune, forced to wear dresses, attend balls and (worst of all) comb her wild curls. But then the Pirate King strikes, wielding deadly turquoise magic, and Tiggy's younger brother is stolen - along with every boy on the island. Tiggy knows it is time to claim her destiny, take to the high seas and rescue the boys of Fortune ... A spellbinding, hugely exciting pirate adventure: fun, feminist, classic in feel and totally unputdownable. Perfect for fans of Pirates of the Caribbean! Oli is co-founder and executive producer at Blue Zoo, a BAFTA-winning film animation company - bringing a brilliantly cinematic and visual feel to Antigua de Fortune.

This colourful history covers the SS United States' active service from 1952 to 1969 when she dominated the seas of Atlantic, sweeping all rivals before her. The astonishing operational capacity of this national icon of the United States, with her red, white and blue funnels, sleek streamlined hull and silver coated fittings, was shrouded in secrecy in case she was ever required to be converted to a troop carrier. Andrew Britton presents a revealing insight into the record-breaking liner, how she performed in the secret sea trials and her epic maiden voyage. Compiled from a wealth of previously unpublished material, drawn from the author's own unparalleled collection and others from around the world, this special commemorative book is packed with historical colour photography from both sides of the Atlantic, including the maiden voyage departure from New York. This evocative book will be a must for all shipping enthusiasts and is sure to enhance the fine reputation of the preserved SS United States for future generations.

In The Great Escape and Papillon, Steve McQueen embodied the tough guy on the run from captivity and injustice. But when it comes to toughness, McQueen is following in the daring and determined footsteps of Captain Spar. Wrongfully accused, Spar has been condemned to suffer the brutality of the guards and the conditions on Devil's Island. But they haven't broken his will, and now, escaping, he has one mission in life: revenge. Spar's out to kill the man who put him into the devil's hands. But he'll have to take on a gallery of rogues who are as treacherous as the waters of the Caribbean. Pressure is rising and a storm is brewing. But even in the face of a natural disaster, Spar discovers that nothing is more volatile than human nature-as temptation and danger are about to collide with Hurricane force. In 1937 L. Ron Hubbard wrote to one of his editors: "You might have noticed that I am intensely wary of becoming any kind of a story specialist. I have sold the gamut of types: air war, air, western, detective, love, terror. . . . My one passion is to build a name for variety. . . . I like my freedom. I fight hard for independent individualism. I love to tie into a yarn and make it blaze in print." Hubbard's passion for writing, creativity and individualism certainly blazes across the page in stories like Hurricane. "Hurricane will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end as it unfolds." -Mommy's Favorite Things * An International Book Awards Finalists