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/14729= 88655

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 r= ecord 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 serv= ice, 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 sto=
ry of these three extraordinary ships from the bottom up, starting with the=
ir conception and construction (and later their modification) and following=
their very different careers. Behind the technical details of these magnif= icent 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 w= hat was actually possible, engineers unable to prepare for every twist of f= ate, 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 h=
ow well the ships were designed and built. "Olympic Titanic Britannic: The = anatomy and evolution of the Olympic Class" offers unparalleled access to s= hipbuilders Harland & Wolff's specification book for the Olympic Class, inc= luding original blueprints and (being made widely available for the first t= ime) large fold-out technical drawings showing how these extensive plans we=
re meant to be seen.

Critique: An incredibly impressive, profusely illustrated, definitively res= earched, well organized and presented maritime history of three now legenda=
ry ocean liners, "Olympic Titanic Britannic: The anatomy and evolution of t=
he 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 helpe=
d 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 secon=
d place to coordinating the development of the Britannic project, the wreck=
of which he bought in 1996.

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