Ships Through the Ages

by Douglas Lobley

non-fiction work on ships and shipbuilding

Genres: History

144 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1972

Reviews

[Jim Razinha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found last weekend at an antique mall in Millington, Tennessee...I eat this stuff up. Published in 1972, the jacket boast 43 color and 131 monochrome illustrations. At times it seems written for a young audience, and at others...for more mature reader. Short history of ancient watercraft, a broad look at the age of sail, transition to steam, brief look at warships (1700-1906) and concluding with cargo and passenger ships. I loved the photographs, and illustrations. Lobley let a little editorial loose a few times - describing a model of the schooner Thomas W. Lawson, he called it "one of the most grotesque ships in the history of sail"! (It has seven masts and appeared to be rather unwieldy.) He even had a chapter titled "Freaks", where he described a handful of truly odd ships. One, the Connector, had three hinged sections to to help the ship ride easier in rough waters...disposition unknown.

Fun book and serendipitous find, as I was in Millington for the 244th Navy Ball. As the entry has no picture, here is the cover of my copy: