As quintessentially British as a plate of fish and chips or a British Bulldog, the boxy, utilitarian Land Rover Defender has become an iconic part of what it is to be British.

It is said that for more than half the world's population, the first car they ever saw was a Land Rover Defender. It mirrors many of our national traits, stiff upper-lipped and slightly eccentric. The car has remained relatively unchanged for nearly seven decades and has spawned an industry that includes dozens of publications, car shows, clubs, associations and even model car collectors who dedicate their lives to the Land Rover.

To understand this national love affair, Ben has travelled the length of the British Isles in a Defender, spending time with fellow Land Rover enthusiasts: from visiting Colonel Blashford-Snell, who crossed the jungles of the Darien Gap, to patrolling the streets of Belfast with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). Ben has met folk who have converted their beloved Defenders into everything from hearses and coffee shops to works of art and fire trucks. He has travelled from the Red Wharf in Anglesey, Wales onto the Western Isles of Scotland and Islay, the island used as a testing ground by Spencer Wilks in 1947 to put several of the early Series Land Rover prototypes through their paces.

After 67 years and 2 million vehicles the Land Rover Defender has ceased production, and this book is a fitting tribute to this most British institution which has stood as a beacon of durability and Britishness across the world. Every Land Rover has its own unique story to tell. This is the story of the world's favourite car.

A riveting account of the French pilot and World War I hero, Georges Guynemer.

First published in 2002 as volume 24 in the NASA "Monograph in Aerospace History" series. This study contains photographs and illustrations.

Before the advent of commercial transatlantic flights in the early 1950s, the only way to travel between continents was by sea. In the golden age of ocean liners, between the late nineteenth century and the Second World War, shipping companies ensured their vessels were a home away from home, providing entertainment, dining, sleeping quarters and smoking lounges to accommodate passengers of all ages and budgets, for voyages that could last as long as three months. Secrets of the Great Ocean Liners leads the reader through each of the stages – and secrets – of ocean liner travel, from booking a ticket and choosing a cabin to shore excursions, dining, on-board games, social events, romances, and disembarking on arrival. Additional chapters disclose wartime voyages and disasters at sea. The shipping companies produced glamorous brochures, sailing schedules, voyage logs, passenger lists, postcards and menus, all of which help us to savour the challenges, etiquette and luxury of ocean liner travel. Diaries, letters and journals written on board also reveal a host of behind-the-scenes secrets and fascinating insights into the experience of travelling by sea. This book dives into a vast, unique collection to reveal the scandals, glamour, challenges and tragedies of ocean liner travel.

The book tells the story of the R38/ZR2 airship which broke in half and crashed into the River Humber in Hull England. It also tells the fictitious love story of a local girl and one of the American crew.

The trams and trolleybuses that once operated in Maidstone could fairly be said to embody all that was good in providing a decent public service attuned to local demands. The attractive livery used for the Corporation fleet, golden ochre and cream, added to the appeal of the place for enthusiasts. The system was compact, but there always seemed to be something happening. This book covers the story of these vehicles in the County town of Kent until electric traction ceased there, and in the county as a whole, in 1967.

Published in commemoration of the one-hundredth anniversary of the "Titanic"'s sinking, this book tells the story of that fateful night from an unusual angle: through the many wireless communications sent to and from the land stations and the ships involved as the tragic events unfolded.Drawing on the extensive record of wireless transmissions in the Marconi Archives, "Titanic Calling" recounts this legendary story the way it was first heard, beginning with repeated warnings--just hours before the collision--of several large icebergs unusually far south and alarmingly close to the "Titanic"'s course. The story follows senior operator Jack Phillips as he sends distress messages to nearby ships and shows how these urgent calls for help were received and rapidly relayed across the Atlantic in a desperate attempt to save the lives of the "Titanic"'s passengers and crew. Finally, the distant SS "Virginian" receives the "Titanic"'s final, broken message. The story concludes with the rescue of the fortunate survivors, who radio messages to loved ones from aboard the RMS "Carpathia "while safely on their way to New York. Illustrated throughout with photographs of the messages and including full transcripts of original material, the book also features an introduction to the development of maritime wireless communications and a discussion of the Marconi Archives's "Titanic "collection. The forced brevity of the messages lends the narrative a startling sense of immediacy and brings to life to the voices of the individuals involved.

This comprehensive reference guide reviews the literature concerning the impact of the automobile on American social, economic, and political history. Covering the complete history of the automobile to date, twelve chapters of bibliographic essays describe the important works in a series of related topics and provide broad thematic contexts. This work includes general histories of the automobile, the industry it spawned and labor-management relations, as well as biographies of famous automotive personalities. Focusing on books concerned with various social aspects, chapters discuss such issues as the car's influence on family life, youth, women, the elderly, minorities, literature, and leisure and recreation. Berger has also included works that investigate the government's role in aiding and regulating the automobile, with sections on roads and highways, safety, and pollution. The guide concludes with an overview of reference works and periodicals in the field and a description of selected research collections.

"The Automobile in American History and Culture" provides a resource with which to examine the entire field and its structure. Popular culture scholars and enthusiasts involved in automotive research will appreciate the extensive scope of this reference. Cross-referenced throughout, it will serve as a valuable research tool.

Die Schweiz verfügt über eines der dichtesten Eisenbahnnetze der Welt. Dies ist keine Selbstverständlichkeit: Nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg wurden in fast allen Industrieländern zahlreiche Eisenbahnstrecken stillgelegt. Der motorisierte Individualverkehr triumphierte über das Massenverkehrsmittel aus dem 19. Jahrhundert. Dennoch blieben bei den Schweizer Eisenbahnen Streckenschliessungen grösseren Stils aus. Das Buch untersucht die Antwort der Schweizerischen Politik auf die vermeintliche Agonie der Eisenbahnen vom Ende des Zweiten Weltkriegs bis in die frühen 1980er-Jahre. Die Basis hierzu bildet eine quantitative Analyse der Schweizerischen Eisenbahnwirtschaft, gefolgt von der Darstellung eines umstrittenen Stilllegungsfalles mit Signalwirkung für die gesamtschweizerische Gesetzgebung. Der Politikvollzug, der von der Abkehr von reinen Wirtschaftlichkeitskriterien bei der Eisenbahnsubventionierung und der opportunistischen Ausdehnung der Staatshilfen auf einen grösseren Empfängerkreis geprägt war, bildet einen weiteren Schwerpunkt. Die Darstellung wird durch die Analyse der Triebkräfte hinter dem Wandel der Schweizerischen Bundesbahnen vom gemeinwirtschaftlichen Verwaltungsunternehmen zum ökologischen Massenverkehrsmittel mit einer ausgeprägten Management-Kultur vervollständigt.

First published in 1997 as volume 6 in the NASA "Monograph in Aerospace History" series. This study contains photographs and illustrations.