December 2022 MBR The Nautical Shelf

The Nautical Shelf

Olympic Titanic Britannic
Simon Mills
Adlard Coles
c/o Bloomsbury Press
www.bloomsbury.com
9781472988652, $35.00, HC, 272pp

https://www.amazon.com/Olympic-Titanic-Britannic-anatomy-evolution/dp/1472988655

Synopsis: The Olympic Class liners were conceived as the largest, grandest ships ever to set sail. Of the three ships built, the first only lost the record for being the largest because she was beaten by the second, and they were both beaten by the third. The class was meant to secure the White Star Line's reputation as the greatest shipping company on earth. Instead, with the loss of both the Titanic and the Britannic in their first year of service, it guaranteed White Star's infamy.

"Olympic Titanic Britannic: The anatomy and evolution of the Olympic Class" by Simon Mills is unique maritime history that tells the extraordinary story of these three extraordinary ships from the bottom up, starting with their conception and construction (and later their modification) and following their very different careers. Behind the technical details of these magnificent ships lies a tragic human story -- not just of the lives lost aboard the Titanic and Britannic, but of the designers pushing the limits beyond what was actually possible, engineers unable to prepare for every twist of fate, and ship owners and crew who truly believed a ship could be unsinkable.

A fascinating maritime history enhanced with rare photographs, new computer-generated recreations of the ships, and unique wreck images that explore how well the ships were designed and built. "Olympic Titanic Britannic: The anatomy and evolution of the Olympic Class" offers unparalleled access to shipbuilders Harland & Wolff's specification book for the Olympic Class, including original blueprints and (being made widely available for the first time) large fold-out technical drawings showing how these extensive plans were meant to be seen.

Critique: An incredibly impressive, profusely illustrated, definitively researched, well organized and presented maritime history of three now legendary ocean liners, "Olympic Titanic Britannic: The anatomy and evolution of the Olympic Class" is a singular and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library 20th Century Maritime History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note: Simon Mills (https://eurotek.uk.com/simonmills-2) has helped to research a number of maritime-themed documentaries, authored or edited 11 books, and has for many years written articles on the Britannic and the Olympic class liners for maritime periodicals. All of this now takes second place to coordinating the development of the Britannic project, the wreck of which he bought in 1996.

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