The traditional cargo-carrying narrowboat - recently voted one of the 100 icons of England - emerged with the construction of the narrow canal network and lasted in until 1970 when the last regular long-distance contract was lost. Up until then, working boat families lived aboard according to their own culture and work ethic. Narrow Boats explores this, explains why their way of life persisted for so long, and looks at why and how it has changed. The vessels evolved as the horse gave way to steam and diesel power and boatyards developed the skills to build beautiful boats, decorated with roses, castles, scrolls and geometric designs that brought colour and vibrancy to the waterways. Since their demise, a new generation of craft has emerged purely for leisure and residential use. This book, by technical consultant Tom Chaplin, reflects on the origin and purpose of the traditions that many of these attempt to replicate. This book is part of the Britain's Heritage Series, which provides definitive introductions to the riches of Britain's past, and is the perfect way to get acquainted with the narrow boat in all its variety.

The Great Western is the least known of Isambard Kingdom Brunel's three ships, being overshadowed by the later careers of the Great Britain and the Great Eastern. However, the Great Westernwas the first great success, confounding the critics in becoming the fastest ship to steam continuously across the Atlantic, and began the era of luxury transatlantic liners. It was a bold venture by Brunel and his colleagues, who were testing the limits of known technology. This book examines the businessmen, the shipbuilding committee and Brunel and looks at life on board for the crew and the passengers using diaries from the United States and England. The ship's first voyage made headline news in New York and London and involved a race with the small steamship Sirius. The Great Western's maiden voyage was a triumph, and this wooden paddle steamer became the wonder of her age. She linked antebellum New York with the London of Charles Dickens and the youthful Queen Victoria. The ship continued to carry the rich and the famous across the Atlantic for eighteen years.

'If you enjoy Dilly Court or Rosie Goodwin, this one will be right up your street' reader review 'One of the nation's favourite saga writers' Lancashire Post In the grand tradition of Catherine Cookson, Josephine Cox and Poldark, comes a page-turning and enthralling new Cornish-set saga of shipwrecks, smugglers, secrets and romance, from Jennie Felton. ................................................................................ She always knew a piece of her heart was missing... Cecile has been raised to a life of privilege at Polruan House, by her widowed father and aunt. Now she's of age, they are determined that she make a proper match, but Cecile's heart belongs to their coachman, Sam - most definitely not suitable marriage material. When Sam turns to his friend, smuggler Zach Carver, for help eloping with Cecile, Zach tells of a recent encounter with Lise, a beautiful but poor girl in St Ives, who is the mirror image of Cecile. And so a daring plan is born to briefly swap the girls. But bringing Cecile and Lise together will uncover an astonishing family secret of a bold escape from a loveless marriage, a treacherous shipwreck and a sister thought lost to the sea long ago... ................................................................................ For more heartwrenching, heartwarming saga, look out for The Stolen Child and A Mother's Sacrifice, out now! And don't miss Jennie's Families of Fairley Terrace series, which began with Maggie's story in All The Dark Secrets and continued with Lucy's story in The Miner's Daughter, Edie's story in The Girl Below Stairs, Carina's story in The Widow's Promise and Laurel's story in The Sister's Secret.

If Lars Marlin had three wishes, two have already been granted: he has escaped from Devil's Island ... and he has come face to face with the man who put him there-Paco Corvino. But the third wish-putting a bullet in Corvino-will have to wait. They're off to sea, and not since Fletcher Christian and Captain Bligh set sail on the Bounty have two more heated enemies been in the same boat. Corvino is a convict, con-man and killer who has schemed his way into a position as chief steward on a luxury yacht sailing out of Rio de Janeiro. And, in a twist as devious as it is diabolical, he's managed to install Lars-his hated rival-as captain of the very same vessel. And there are even darker twists to come.... Lars is determined to find out what Corvino has up his sleeve ... and what killer cargo he's hiding on board. But the yacht owner's daughter proves to be a beautiful-and dangerous-distraction. Will Lars be safe in her arms ... or is she part of Corvino's plot-a deadly trap set with honey? Like several leading writers of the day, L. Ron Hubbard was invited to Hollywood to write scripts, where his superior talent and productivity attracted numerous lucrative offers from the studios. But, as he wrote in a letter to the editor of Argosy magazine in August 1937: "I love to tie a yarn and try to make it blaze in print. The mags will never lose me to the movies. Never, at any salary!" And as Argosy gleefully responded in its pages: "Next to exorcise the Hollywood virus from his veins was L. Ron Hubbard ... he has set to work to give Argosy some more of his rousing yarns. The first, -Cargo of Coffins,' is due to appear in the November 13th issue, and a serial is likely to follow."