The best-selling guides to Britain’s canals and rivers for more than 50 years.The map companion to the Collins Nicholson Waterways Guides, covering the entire network of canal and river navigations in England, Scotland and Wales, including newly restored/opened canals and rivers.The map identifies:• narrow and broad canals• navigable rivers• tidal river navigations• waterways under constructionAlso:• contact telephone numbers and dimensions for each waterway• internet linksClear insets of the Birmingham Canal Navigations, Scottish inland waterways, the Norfolk Broads and the London area. Read more

**THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER****WINNER OF THE NERO AWARDS GOLD PRIZE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024****WINNER OF THE NERO AWARDS NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024** An extraordinary true story of shipwreck, survival and love'An enthralling, engrossing story of survival' Bill Bryson‘An absolute jewel of a book’ India Knight‘A gripping tale of adventure’ Elizabeth Day‘An extraordinary survival story’ Sunday TimesBored of 1970s suburban life, Maurice and Maralyn plan their escape: sell the house, build a boat, set sail for New Zealand. Then, halfway around the world, their beloved boat is struck by a whale and the pair are cast adrift in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Alone on a tiny raft, their love is put to the test. This is a book about human connection and the human condition; about how we survive – not just at sea, but in life.‘This skilful storytelling drew me in…very touching indeed’ James Rebanks‘With the adrenaline kick of Jaws . . . A remarkable portrait of a marriage kept afloat against the odds’ Financial Times‘This dramatic, profound human story is so beautifully told. I really could not put it down’ Nina StibbeA Guardian, Observer & Waterstones Non-fiction Book of the Year**READERS ADORE MAURICE & MARALYN**‘A riveting tale of survival . . . and of the power of love when all appears lost’‘A mind-blowing story of resilience and love in the face of adversity’‘The very best kind of true story, and beautifully written’‘I couldn’t put this book down’‘I was absolutely hooked from the outset’ Read more

THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER  *LONGLISTED FOR THE 2023 BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION* 'The beauty of The Wager unfurls like a great sail... one of the finest nonfiction books I’ve ever read' Guardian ‘The greatest sea story ever told’ Spectator'I cannot think of anyone who would not love this book . . . It is an extraordinary true story, beautifully written' Richard Osman‘A cracking yarn… Grann’s taste for desperate predicaments finds its fullest expression here’ ObserverFrom the international bestselling author of KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON and THE LOST CITY OF Z, a mesmerising story of shipwreck, mutiny and murder, culminating in a court martial that reveals a shocking truth.   On 28th January 1742, a ramshackle vessel of patched-together wood and cloth washed up on the coast of Brazil. Inside were thirty emaciated men, barely alive, and they had an extraordinary tale to tell. They were survivors of His Majesty’s ship the Wager, a British vessel that had left England in 1740 on a secret mission during an imperial war with Spain. While chasing a Spanish treasure-filled galleon, the Wager was wrecked on a desolate island off the coast of Patagonia. The crew, marooned for months and facing starvation, built the flimsy craft and sailed for more than a hundred days, traversing 2,500 miles of storm-wracked seas. They were greeted as heroes.   Then, six months later, another, even more decrepit, craft landed on the coast of Chile. This boat contained just three castaways and they had a very different story to tell. The thirty sailors who landed in Brazil were not heroes – they were mutineers. The first group responded with counter-charges of their own, of a tyrannical and murderous captain and his henchmen. While stranded on the island the crew had fallen into anarchy, with warring factions fighting for dominion over the barren wilderness. As accusations of treachery and murder flew, the Admiralty convened a court martial to determine who was telling the truth. The stakes were life-and-death—for whomever the court found guilty could hang.   Read more

**THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER****WINNER OF THE NERO AWARDS GOLD PRIZE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024****WINNER OF THE NERO AWARDS NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024** An extraordinary true story of shipwreck, survival and love'An enthralling, engrossing story of survival' Bill Bryson‘An absolute jewel of a book’ India Knight‘A gripping tale of adventure’ Elizabeth Day‘An extraordinary survival story’ Sunday TimesBored of 1970s suburban life, Maurice and Maralyn plan their escape: sell the house, build a boat, set sail for New Zealand. Then, halfway around the world, their beloved boat is struck by a whale and the pair are cast adrift in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Alone on a tiny raft, their love is put to the test. This is a book about human connection and the human condition; about how we survive – not just at sea, but in life.‘This skilful storytelling drew me in…very touching indeed’ James Rebanks‘With the adrenaline kick of Jaws . . . A remarkable portrait of a marriage kept afloat against the odds’ Financial Times‘This dramatic, profound human story is so beautifully told. I really could not put it down’ Nina StibbeA Guardian, Observer & Waterstones Non-fiction Book of the Year**READERS ADORE MAURICE & MARALYN**‘A riveting tale of survival . . . and of the power of love when all appears lost’‘A mind-blowing story of resilience and love in the face of adversity’‘The very best kind of true story, and beautifully written’‘I couldn’t put this book down’‘I was absolutely hooked from the outset’ Read more

A NEW YORK TIMES TOP-TEN BOOK OF 2024A BARACK OBAMA BOOK OF THE YEARFrom New York Times bestselling author Hampton Sides, the epic account of the most momentous voyage of the Age of Exploration, culminating in Captain James Cook's death‘Extraordinarily compulsive and fascinating. I felt it somehow told me more about the making of the modern world than any book I had read for ages' STEPHEN FRY, BOOKS OF THE YEAR, Observer‘An astounding tale . . . recreated in swashbuckling detail . . . Sides delivers it with narrative urgency. The cast of characters is a joy’ Sunday Times‘An enthralling account of Captain Cook’s final, fatal voyage… An excellent new book’ The Economist ‘A rollicking good read, with a tone that reminds me of David Grann’s recent tale of the 1741 Wager shipwreck . . . riveting’ Daily Telegraph'Vivid and propulsive' New York Times---On July 12th, 1776, Captain James Cook, already lionized as the greatest explorer in British history, set off on his third voyage in HMS Resolution. Two-and-a-half years later, on a beach in Hawaii, Cook was killed – beaten and stabbed in a conflict with the indigenous population.What brought Cook to these final moments, so at odds with his reputation? Renowned for his humane leadership, dedication to science and the curiosity and respect, not judgement, with which he greeted societies that were new to him, Cook had already mapped huge swathes of the Pacific and initiated first European contact with numerous native peoples.The stated mission for his third voyage was to return a Tahitian man, Mai, who had become the toast of London high society, to his home islands. But Cook carried secret orders to venture north, to discover the fabled Northwest Passage and chart and claim lands before Britain’s imperial rivals. And Cook himself was different on his final, fatal voyage.Deeply researched and vividly told, The Wide Wide Sea is at once a ferociously-paced, epic adventure and a searching examination of the consequences of the Age of Exploration from a master storyteller.----‘Sides has written a riveting book, deeply researched, light of touch and always judicious and full-sailed about an exceptional man’s final extraordinary journey’ SPECTATOR'A wonderful, visceral yarn and an enthralling read, replete with brilliant detail' ―ROBERT MCCRUMPRAISE FOR HAMPTON SIDES'Enthralling … as gripping as any well-paced thriller but a lot more interesting because it is also true' THE TIMES‘Stunningly vivid’ MARK BOWDEN, AUTHOR OF BLACK HAWK DOWN'Splendid in every way… a marvellous nonfiction thriller' WALL STREET JOURNAL‘Extraordinary … meticulous research shores up a fast-paced narrative’ FINANCIAL TIMES'Viscerally dramatic … spellbinding... bold, dynamic, unusually vivid’ NEW YORK TIMES'Unforgettable…a pulse-racing epic … a masterful work of history and storytelling' LOS ANGELES TIMES‘Reads like a first-class epic thriller' TIME Read more

The Truth About the Titanic', by Colonel Archibald Gracie, is a striking recital of the monumental shipwreck, by the sole survivor of all the men passengers, "stationed during the loading of six or more life-boats with women and children on the port side of the ship.'' The book is written as a tribute and testimony to the "heroism on the part of all concerned." Colonel Gracie refutes many of the press reports of the disaster, as for instance, the Captain and the First Officer shooting themselves, for which statement he says there is no direct testimony. The story of the author's marvelous escape beggars the imagination and gives proof of a remarkable telepathic communication with his wife. Horrible are the scenes described and they bring vividly before you the heroism and endurance that were borne until the arrival of the Carpathia. Some of the testimony taken before the Senate Committee and the British Courts of Inquiry is analyzed and the story of each lifeboat is given according to the testimony given and the different affidavits. The part devoted to J. Bruce Ismay's testimony will be of especial interest to readers. Colonel Gracie's death, eight months after the world's greatest marine disaster, was due to the exposure and strain received at that time, and the restraint is a marked feature in this vivid account of an unprecedented ocean disasterwhich occasioned the sympathy of the world. Read more

Adventure, shipwreck, storms and survival on the high seas.ENDURANCE is the story of one of the most astonishing feats of exploration and human courage ever recorded. In 1914 Sir Ernest Shackleton and a crew of 27 men set sail for the South Atlantic on board a ship called the Endurance. The object of the expedition was to cross the Antarctic overland. In October 1915, still half a continent away from their intended base, the ship was trapped, then crushed in ice. For five months Shackleton and his men, drifting on ice packs, were castaways on one of the most savage regions of the world. This utterly gripping book, based on first-hand accounts of crew members and interviews with survivors, describes how the men survived, how they lived together in camps on the ice for 17 months until they reached land, how they were attacked by sea leopards, the diseases which they developed, and the indefatigability of the men and their lasting civility towards one another in the most adverse conditions conceivable. Read more

The true story of the world's most famous ship is retold in this beautiful book with stunning visuals and a gripping narrative. One fateful night in 1912 the so-called Ship of Dreams turned into a nightmare in the Atlantic Ocean after hitting an iceberg and sinking on its maiden voyage.??The tragedy of the Titanic is shown in dramatic original illustrations by award-winning artist Steve Noon. This luxurious liner still has the power to capture public imagination more than any other vessel in history and more than a century later. From being built and setting sail to sinking fast and saving lives, theTitanic is explored and explained in fascinating detail with intricate cutaway scenes and cross-sections. ??Meet the captain, crew, and passengers from all walks of life who lost their lives or survived the sinking. Discover exactly what happened on the disastrous voyage, the reasons why Titanic sank, and what lessons were learned for the future. Watch the drama unfold as ordinary people became unsung heroes and the supposedly unsinkable ship became an underwater wreck.??Whether you're a history buff or simply seeking help for a school project, this is the ultimate tribute to Titanic. Read more

THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER  *LONGLISTED FOR THE 2023 BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION* 'The beauty of The Wager unfurls like a great sail... one of the finest nonfiction books I’ve ever read' Guardian ‘The greatest sea story ever told’ Spectator'I cannot think of anyone who would not love this book . . . It is an extraordinary true story, beautifully written' Richard Osman‘A cracking yarn… Grann’s taste for desperate predicaments finds its fullest expression here’ ObserverFrom the international bestselling author of KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON and THE LOST CITY OF Z, a mesmerising story of shipwreck, mutiny and murder, culminating in a court martial that reveals a shocking truth.   On 28th January 1742, a ramshackle vessel of patched-together wood and cloth washed up on the coast of Brazil. Inside were thirty emaciated men, barely alive, and they had an extraordinary tale to tell. They were survivors of His Majesty’s ship the Wager, a British vessel that had left England in 1740 on a secret mission during an imperial war with Spain. While chasing a Spanish treasure-filled galleon, the Wager was wrecked on a desolate island off the coast of Patagonia. The crew, marooned for months and facing starvation, built the flimsy craft and sailed for more than a hundred days, traversing 2,500 miles of storm-wracked seas. They were greeted as heroes.   Then, six months later, another, even more decrepit, craft landed on the coast of Chile. This boat contained just three castaways and they had a very different story to tell. The thirty sailors who landed in Brazil were not heroes – they were mutineers. The first group responded with counter-charges of their own, of a tyrannical and murderous captain and his henchmen. While stranded on the island the crew had fallen into anarchy, with warring factions fighting for dominion over the barren wilderness. As accusations of treachery and murder flew, the Admiralty convened a court martial to determine who was telling the truth. The stakes were life-and-death—for whomever the court found guilty could hang.   Read more

DISCOVER A GRIPPING HISTORICAL NAVAL ADVENTURE SERIES FROM A BESTSELLING AUTHOR.Can Scarlett secure her legacy across the Caribbean as she faces down her ultimate enemy?Fearless captain Scarlett Browning’s passion for sea adventure shows no sign of waning.Over the years her infamy has made her many enemies, all of whom seek bloodthirsty revenge.When her mother and brothers are kidnapped and a price put on their heads, Scarlett sets off on a daring mission to save them and prove her ruthlessness.Scarlett must once again use her cunning to face down the unforgiving rage of the Spanish Inquisition and protect those she loves.But the tides continue to turn in the Caribbean, and England’s allegiances shift like the sand. Spain seeks a truce with England and Scarlett’s battles with the Spanish fleet come under scrutiny.But is there a greater pull on Scarlett that will decide her destiny?PRAISE FOR CHRISTOPHER C. TUBBS:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Really enjoyable romp through part of the 17th century.’ Bryan⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Mr Tubbs is an excellent crafter of personae, they are human and fun, yet not perfect.’ Dustin P.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A terrific story, very difficult to put down.’ Sydney H.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Very well written . . . Scarlett is a great character.’ John P.M.Perfect for fans of John Drake, C.S. Forester, Patrick O’Brian, Griff Hosker and Bernard Cornwell. Read more

When Adam Lind lost his father as a teenager, his grief became a catalyst for change. Driven by a deep desire to find meaning, Adam set out on a journey that would shape the course of his life. From hitchhiking across twenty-six countries to living off-grid on a narrowboat, roaming around the British Waterways, Adam's experiences reshaped his understanding of freedom, adversity and purpose.In this uplifting book, he shares the ten life principles that helped him thrive, from lessons in community ad discipline to the importance of resilience and living with intention. Alongside his own story, Adam introduces the Humans of the Waterways, his community of fellow boat dwellers who share why they left conventional life behind. Their raw, honest stories touch on everything from housing pressures to unfulfilling careers, offering powerful insights into what drives us to seek a different path.More than a memoir, Floating Home is a call to live with courage, connection, and freedom, wherever you are. Read more

The awe-inspiring actions of H.M. Submarine Upholder and her captain, Lieutenant-Commander Malcolm David Wanklyn, one of the greatest submariners of World War Two, are detailed in this account.This account of the heroic service of the crew of Upholder is the perfect read for fans of Alex Kershaw, Andrew Williams, John Wingate, and Terence Robertson.HMS Upholder, commanded for her entire career by Lieutenant-Commander Malcolm David Wanklyn, began service with the 10th Submarine flotilla based on the besieged island of Malta in December 1940. Thanks to the extraordinary dedication and leadership of her captain, she was destined to become the most successful British submarine of World War Two.The news from the Mediterranean at the time was dismal; losses of underwater craft were considerable. The Italian Navy was proving to be fast, efficient, and deadly. Upholder’s objective was to help scupper the supply convoys crossing the Mediterranean to support Rommel’s campaign in North Africa, where Wavell’s army was battling desperately. During her short service of 24 patrols, Upholder and her dedicated crew sank an incredible 93,031 tons of enemy shipping before being lost with all hands in April 1942.Using his own personal testimony, as a submariner serving in the Mediterranean at the same time as Upholder, author Sydney Hart witnessed first-hand some of the events he so eloquently describes. His account also includes interviews with Lieutenant-Commander Wanklyn’s family, friends, and comrades; research from official records, letters, and newspaper reports. His own service on submarines akin to Upholder gives the reader a thorough sense of what it would have been like on board at the time, operating in this theatre of war. Read more

'There is no danger that Titanic will sink. The boat is unsinkable and nothing but inconvenience will be suffered by the passengers.' - Phillip Franklin, White Star Line Vice-PresidentOn April 15th, 1912, Titanic, the world's largest passenger ship, sank after colliding with an iceberg, claiming more than 1,500 lives. Walter Lord's classic bestselling history of the voyage, the wreck and the aftermath is a tour de force of detailed investigation and the upstairs/downstairs divide. A Night to Remember provides a vivid, gripping and deeply personal account of the 'unsinkable' Titanic's descent.WITH A NEW FOREWORD BY JULIAN FELLOWES Read more

'Consistently illuminating ... Like all the best stories, it is about the timeless tides of power and influence ... trade deals can sometimes be sexy, thrilling and epic' Sinclair McKay, SpectatorLife in Europe was fundamentally changed in the 16th century by the astonishing discoveries of the New World and of direct sea routes to Asia. To start with England was hardly involved and London remained a gloomy, introverted medieval city. But as the century progressed something extraordinary happened.Stephen Alford's evocative, original and fascinating new book uses the same skills that made his widely praised The Watchers so successful, bringing to life the network of merchants, visionaries, crooks and sailors who changed London forever. In a sudden explosion of energy English ships were suddenly found all over the world - trading with Russia and the Levant, exploring Virginia and the Arctic, and fanning out across the Indian Ocean. London's Triumph is above all about the people who made this possible - the families, the guild members, the money-men who were willing to risk huge sums and sometimes their own lives in pursuit of the rare, exotic and desirable. Their ambitions fuelled a new view of the world - initiating a long era of trade and empire, the consequences of which we still live with today. Read more

How to Train Your Dragon meets Robinson Crusoe in this high-flying dragon adventure from Lindsay Galvin!'A striking and original adventure ... just the sort of story I love.' EMMA CARROLL'WHAT a voyage! [Darwin's Dragons] is everything you hope it will be ...' LUCY STRANGE'[A] beautifully fictionalised story' THE TELEGRAPHSyms Covington has landed the job of a lifetime - cabin boy and fiddler on Charles Darwin's Beagle - but when he is separated from the crew during a storm, his life takes a truly extraordinary turn.Shipwrecked on a Galapagos island, he makes a discovery that could change the world - and make his fortune. But should he share his find, or will it lead to the extinction of a legendary species?There's one person who could help, but he's busy writing a book ...Based on a true story and Charles Darwin's real journal!Perfect for fans of Cornelia Funke's Dragon Rider or Cressida Cowell's How to Train Your Dragon series. Effortlessly blends exciting adventure with a rip-roaring historical story and non-fiction elements. Read more

DISCOVER A GRIPPING HISTORICAL ESPIONAGE ADVENTURE WITH A HEROINE AS DEADLY AS SHE IS CHARMING.Lady Bethany Stockley, codenamed ‘Chaton’, serves the British Secret Service with unflinching loyalty. Her latest mission is to uncover the elusive El Dragon, a ruthless pirate targeting American ships.But El Dragon died years ago.Intent on finding the real villain, Beth sails to Mexico disguised as an American trader.She sails straight into a trap.Captured by Colombian privateers, Beth’s crew and her infamous schooner, The Fox, are seized.Armed with her deadly combat skills and fearless determination, Beth must outwit her enemies. A final battle aboard The Fox will determine her fate and Britain’s supremacy across the waves.Betrayal is an epic tale of swashbuckling adventure, loyalty, and intrigue. Perfect for fans of John Drake, Philip McCutchan, David Grann, C.S. Forester, Patrick O’Brian, Griff Hosker and Bernard Cornwell.Readers love the Lady Bethany naval adventures:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A delightful book filled with intriguing characters and a plot filled with twists and turns enough to keep me wanting more. My first nautical novel with a marvellous woman as the lead character.’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Wow! Fantastic start for Beth. I liked how she is forming her own little group and we see Scarlet in her. I can't wait for the next book!’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Leaves you wanting more! Terrific.’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Well written and a wonderful story.’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘[Tubbs] engages you in the plot and carries you through every twist and turn . . . you will not be disappointed.’ Read more

Explore Britain's canals and rivers with the Nicholson bestselling guides.For all users of the inland waterways. This popular and practical guide covers the waterways of the Broads National Park, including the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads and the Rivers Ant, Bure, Thurne, Wensum, Yare, Chet and Waveney.The detailed Ordnance Survey® maps clearly show the location of essential features such as boating facilities, as well as pubs, shops and restaurants in the area. There are comprehensive navigational notes and descriptive text on the history of The Broads, and on local services and places of interest, for which postcodes are included – ideal for use with sat-navs. Scale: 2 inches = 1 mile, 3 cm = 1 km.This practical A5 guide features 'lie flat' spiral binding and 'book mark' back cover flap for ease of reference.The Broads are one of Britain's best-known holiday boating areas. They make up Britain's largest and most important protected wetland and are a national park providing a home to some of the rarest plants and animals in the country. A unique and enchanting wetland, with over 125 miles of lock-free navigable tidal waters, all waiting to be explored.Nicholson's – The bestselling guides to Britain's Waterways. Read more

*** BARACK OBAMA'S SUMMER READING LIST 2024 ****** One of the New York Times Top Ten Books of 2024 ****** NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER ***'The story of Captain Cook’s third voyage. Extraordinarily compulsive and fascinating on every page, it combines the satisfaction of a Patrick O’Brian or CS Forester maritime blockbuster with the insights and revelations of a true historian. I felt it somehow told me more about the making of the modern world than any book I had read for ages' STEPHEN FRY, BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2024, OBSERVERFrom New York Times bestselling author Hampton Sides, the epic account of the most momentous voyage of the Age of Exploration, culminating in Captain James Cook's death‘An astounding tale . . . recreated in swashbuckling detail . . . Sides delivers it with narrative urgency. The cast of characters is a joy’ Sunday Times‘An enthralling account of Captain Cook’s final, fatal voyage… An excellent new book’ The Economist ‘A rollicking good read, with a tone that reminds me of David Grann’s recent tale of the 1741 Wager shipwreck . . . riveting’ Daily Telegraph'Vivid and propulsive' New York Times---On July 12th, 1776, Captain James Cook, already lionized as the greatest explorer in British history, set off on his third voyage in HMS Resolution. Two-and-a-half years later, on a beach in Hawaii, Cook was killed – beaten and stabbed in a conflict with the indigenous population.What brought Cook to these final moments, so at odds with his reputation? Renowned for his humane leadership, dedication to science and the curiosity and respect, not judgement, with which he greeted societies that were new to him, Cook had already mapped huge swathes of the Pacific and initiated first European contact with numerous native peoples.The stated mission for his third voyage was to return a Tahitian man, Mai, who had become the toast of London high society, to his home islands. But Cook carried secret orders to venture north, to discover the fabled Northwest Passage and chart and claim lands before Britain’s imperial rivals. And Cook himself was different on his final, fatal voyage.Deeply researched and vividly told, The Wide Wide Sea is at once a ferociously-paced, epic adventure and a searching examination of the consequences of the Age of Exploration from a master storyteller.----‘Sides has written a riveting book, deeply researched, light of touch and always judicious and full-sailed about an exceptional man’s final extraordinary journey’ SPECTATOR'A wonderful, visceral yarn and an enthralling read, replete with brilliant detail' ROBERT MCCRUMPRAISE FOR HAMPTON SIDES'Enthralling . . . as gripping as any well-paced thriller but a lot more interesting because it is also true' THE TIMES‘Stunningly vivid’ MARK BOWDEN, AUTHOR OF BLACK HAWK DOWN'Splendid in every way. . . a marvellous nonfiction thriller' WALL STREET JOURNAL‘Extraordinary . . . meticulous research shores up a fast-paced narrative’ FINANCIAL TIMES'Viscerally dramatic . . . spellbinding . . . bold, dynamic, unusually vivid’ NEW YORK TIMES'Unforgettable . . . a pulse-racing epic . . . a masterful work of history and storytelling' LOS ANGELES TIMES‘Reads like a first-class epic thriller' TIME Read more

The Sunday Times Bestseller and Blackwell's Non-Fiction Book of the Month.Over one hundred years after its wreck, Endurance, Sir Ernest Shackleton's ship, was found in the depths of the most hostile sea on Earth. The Ship Beneath the Ice is the astonishing story of the ship and its discovery, told by Mensun Bound, the Director of Exploration on the Endurance22 Expedition.'As thrilling as any tale from the heroic age of exploration . . . Bound’s account is a triumph' – The Sunday TimesOn 21 November 1915, Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship, Endurance, finally succumbed to the crushing ice. Its crew watched in silence as the stern rose twenty feet in the air and then, it was gone. The miraculous escape and survival of all twenty-eight men on board have entered legend. And yet, the iconic ship that bore them to the brink of the Antarctic was considered forever lost.A century later, an audacious plan to locate the ship was hatched. The Ship Beneath the Ice gives a blow-by-blow account of the two epic expeditions to find the Endurance. As with Shackleton’s own story, the voyages were filled with intense drama and teamwork under pressure. In March 2022, the Endurance was finally found to headlines all over the world.Written by Mensun Bound, maritime archaeologist and Director of Exploration in the search to find the Endurance, this captivating narrative recounts incredible stories of Shackleton and his legendary ship, and the journey to its rediscovery. Beautifully illustrated with Frank Hurley’s photos from Shackleton’s original voyage in 1914–17, as well as from the expeditions in 2019 and 2022, The Ship Beneath the Ice is the perfect tribute to this monumental discovery.'The story of Shackleton’s Endurance is one of the most extraordinary in the history of exploration. This is more than just an astonishing sequel. It is a tale just as powerful, and one which redefines the meaning of impossible' – Sir Michael Palin Read more

“Altogether, a very detailed year-by-year account of escort development for anti-submarine work from the period between the wars to post World War II.” —The Nautical Magazine Winston Churchill famously claimed that the submarine war in the Atlantic was the only campaign of the Second World War that really frightened him. If the lifeline to North America had been cut, Britain would never have survived; there could have been no build-up of US and Commonwealth forces, no D-Day landings, and no victory in western Europe. Furthermore, the battle raged from the first day of the war until the final German surrender, making it the longest and arguably hardest-fought campaign of the whole war. The ships, technology and tactics employed by the Allies form the subject of this book. Beginning with the lessons apparently learned from the First World War, the author outlines inter-war developments in technology and training, and describes the later preparations for the second global conflict. When the war came the balance of advantage was to see-saw between U-boats and escorts, with new weapons and sensors introduced at a rapid rate. For the defending navies, the prime requirement was numbers, and the most pressing problem was to improve capability without sacrificing simplicity and speed of construction. The author analyses the resulting designs of sloops, frigates, corvettes and destroyer escorts and attempts to determine their relative effectiveness.“Atlantic Escorts has flowed from the pen of a master who has written so many fine books about the history of ship construction. It is a small masterpiece.” —Warship International Fleet Review Read more