The first book to provide an overview of all of Brunel’s vessels, richly illustrated, and endorsed by the SS Great Britain Trust.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel created a number of quite revolutionary steamships - the Great Western which was the first practical transatlantic paddle-steamer; the Great Britain, the first iron-built screw-driven liner; and the monster Great Eastern which remained the largest ship in the world for almost half a century. Besides these well-known wonders of the maritime world, Brunel also worked with the Admiralty on the introduction of the screw propeller into naval service.

Even as airlines provide faster means of travel, ships and boats remain as important as ever in transporting passengers and cargo across the world’s bodies of water. While ship design has become increasingly sophisticated with time, everything including the luxury liners, warships, and sailboats of today owe much to the watercraft that facilitated travel, trade, and war among ancient cultures. This detailed volume examines the development of the different types of water vehicles and the design of related structures, including docks and quays.

The story of Brunel's most famous ship and the people who knew her, using new archive sources

The SS Great Britain, designed by Isambard Brunel, was the first ocean-going vessel to be screw-driven and built entirely of iron. When she was launched in 1843 she was twice the size of any previous ship and her revolutionary design heralded a complete break with traditional ship construction. As is the case for many historic ships, however, there is a surprising shortage of informative and well illustrated guides, for reference during a visit or for research by enthusiasts - ship modellers, naval buffs, historians or students. This new series redresses the gap. ??Written by experts and containing more than 200 specially commissioned photographs, each title takes the reader on a superbly illustrated tour of the ship, from bow to stern and deck by deck. Significant parts of the vessel _ for example, the propeller, steering gear, engine and accommodation _ are given detailed coverage both in words and pictures, so that the reader has at hand the most complete visual record and explanation of the ship that exists. In addition, the importance of the ship, both in her own time and now as a museum vessel, is explained, while her design and build, and her career prior to restoration and exhibition are all described.??No other books offer such superb visual impact and detailed information as the Seaforth Historic Ship Series _ a truly groundbreaking concept bringing the ships of our past vividly to life.

The first ever history of Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s forgotten first ship, the SS Great Western, the fastest and largest Atlantic Steamship of its day.