Windrush: A Ship Through Time

by Paul Arnott

A gripping exploration of the Empire Windrush, from its German origins to its pivotal role in shaping modern Britain.Hamburg, 1930: The German-Jewish shipbuilders Blohm & Voss build a transatlantic ocean cruiser that they christen the Monte Rosa. This is the beginning of an extraordinary journey through time.Paul Arnott's A Ship Through Time explores the vessel's multifaceted from its time as a German troop carrier during World War II to its controversial voyage in 1948, bringing 600 Caribbean migrants to Britain. This is a story of migration, identity, and the enduring legacy of colonialism, revealing the human stories behind a name that has become synonymous with both hope and injustice. Perfect for readers interested in British history, social justice, and maritime adventures.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

Published June 17, 2019

Reviews

[Reixma]

This book was a fascinating read. It follows the ship Monta Rosa as she was known before being captured by the British after World War II, and her travels.
The book shows snippets of history, some of it incredibly brutal, and what the ship was used for.
The Windrush Generation were a small part in the story of this ship, but like so many others, had a massive impact.

[Christian]

Some sections are more interesting than others. The British sections relied too much on direct quotes from diaries and journals, while the other parts were more successful at paraphrasing the content (more enjoyable). Not much discussion of the scandal or of that specific period in the book, but an interesting look at Norway in WW2.

[Ginny Burt]

Quite an intense read. The ship has poor provenance...built in Germany. Shipped the german facists from home to Argentina after the first world war, the jews from Oslo to Auschwitz during the second world war.....and then Windrush. Need to read it again. Can't begin to take it all in on the first read!

[Elizabeth Williams]

An interesting book about the history of a ship. Spanning its nearly 25 years. It’s a tale that sparks an interest in the era that it spanned. From birth to her demise her history is one that should be known. It took awhile to read as I had to dip into the stories that I knew absolutely nothing about. I borrowed this via Libby but will be purchasing a hard copy. As it is one that I will want to dip into and do further reading

[Gráinne]

Interesting history of the Windrush ship. I knew nothing of its life before being used to bring people from the West Indies to Britain.

[India Todd]

3.5/5