Books

The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland

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How a town came to t he rescue of stranded passengers and crew
A Story About the Truest and Kindest People on Earth
Interesting Subject but Poorly Written
The Best of Human Nature
Day The World Came To Town

The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland
Jim DeFede
Manufacturer: Regan Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0060513608
Release Date: 2002-09-03

Amazon.com

The events of September 11 have seemingly been covered, analyzed, and discussed from every angle imaginable. So the subject matter alone of Jim DeFede's The Day the World Came to Town makes it noteworthy. In the immediate aftermath of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, 38 commercial airliners carrying over 6,000 passengers were forced, as a precautionary measure, to land in Gander, Newfoundland, Canada. Due to the ongoing closure of U.S. airspace, the passengers spent four days in this isolated town of 10,000 before being allowed to continue on their way. In that time, Gander's residents rallied together to extend a kind of hospitality that seems too expansive for the word hospitality. Townspeople not only opened schools and legion halls for use as emergency shelters, they invited the passengers into their homes for showers, meals, and warm beds while local businesses simply gave toiletries and clothing to passengers stuck without luggage. Despite the grim consequences that led to the situation, DeFede finds humor: two flight attendants are offered a car for sightseeing by a local woman who happened to be driving by; the stranded chairman of Hugo Boss finds himself shopping for men's underwear at the local Wal-Mart. But the real message of the book is how, even in times of great turmoil and conflict, people can and must look to one another for comfort, help, and hope. --John Moe

Book Description

"For the better part of a week, nearly every man, woman, and child in Gander and the surrounding smaller towns stopped what they were doing so they could help. They placed their lives on hold for a group of strangers and asked for nothing in return. They affirmed the basic goodness of man at a time when it was easy to doubt such humanity still existed."

When thirty-eight jetliners bound for the United States were forced to land in Gander, Newfoundland, on September 11, 2001, due to the closing of United States airspace, the citizens of this small community were called upon to come to the aid of more than six thousand displaced travelers.

Roxanne and Clarke Loper were excited to be on their way home from a lengthy and exhausting trip to Kazakhstan, where they had adopted a daughter, when their plane suddenly changed course and they found themselves in Newfoundland. Hannah and Dennis O'Rourke, who had been on vacation in Ireland, were forced to receive updates by telephone on the search for their son Kevin, who was among the firefighters missing at the World Trade Center. George Vitale, a New York state trooper and head of the governor's security detail in New York City who was returning from a trip to Dublin, struggled to locate his sister Patty, who worked in the Twin Towers. A family of Russian immigrants, on their way to the Seattle area to begin a new life, dealt with the uncertainty of conditions in their future home.

The people of Gander were asked to aid and care for these distraught travelers, as well as for thousands more, and their response was truly extraordinary. Oz Fudge, the town constable, searched all over Gander for a flight-crew member so that he could give her a hug as a favor to her sister, a fellow law enforcement officer who managed to reach him by phone. Eithne Smith, an elementary-school teacher, helped the passengers staying at her school put together letters to family members all over the world, which she then faxed. Bonnie Harris, Vi Tucker, and Linda Humby, members of a local animal protection agency, crawled into the jets' cargo holds to feed and care for all of the animals on the flights. Hundreds of people put their names on a list to take passengers into their homes and give them a chance to get cleaned up and relax.

The Day the World Came to Town is a positively heartwarming account of the citizens of Gander and its surrounding communities and the unexpected guests who were welcomed with exemplary kindness.

Customer Reviews:

How a town came to t he rescue of stranded passengers and crew.......2007-05-13

This is an absolutely fascinating true story of how the residents of Gander, Newfoundland, rallied around when many aircraft were diverted there on 9/11 when US airspace was closed. How the town coped with more planes and people than it had ever seen before at once is a legendary story of human kindness and support for others. Very hard to put down once started. Will bring tears (mainly of joy) to many eyes.

A Story About the Truest and Kindest People on Earth.......2006-09-29

My son and daughter-in-law were part of the mass of passengers stranded in Newfoundland after 9-11 and I will always be grateful to the Newfies for the loving way that they cared for them. I am also grateful to Jim Defede for writing this book to thank them for all of us.

This book clearly shows how people the world over should be living their lives. Thank you Newfies.

Interesting Subject but Poorly Written.......2006-09-11

I found this book to be extremely interesting. It tells of a true story unknown to many. However, while the subject was excellent, the quality of the writing was poor. I would not conider this book a final product. It is similar to a draft, with words spelled incorrectly and improper grammar. The publishers should be ashamed for printing such a poor quality manuscript that had not been proof read.

The Best of Human Nature.......2006-05-19

If you ever wanted to read a book that took the best part of human nature, you've found it. The people behind 9/11 were expecting the worst of humanity to come about, instead the result was the best humanity. The people of Gander captured my heart and I would love to meet those wonderful people who took strangers in from around the world. This book will move you to tears and astound you in ways you never thought possible. The spirit of kindness is alive and well in Gander, Newfoundland. I love the United States, but we could learn a thing or two from these wonderful in what to do in the event of a tragedy.

Day The World Came To Town.......2006-05-11

If there could be a "feel good" book about the events of Sept. 11th,this is it. I was so moved by the wonderful people of Newfoundland I had to go here and meet some of them in person. This book proves that good does win over evil and how people from all over the world can come together and overcome adversity.

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Luxury Liners

Luxury Liners: Life on Board
Catherine Donzel
Manufacturer: Vendome Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0865651736

Book Description

An irresistible world unfolds in this fascinating voyage through the heyday of the great ocean liners. For over a century, from the 1850s to the launch of the Queen Elizabeth II in 1969, great ships like the Queen Mary, Normandie, and Brittania were undisputed monarchs of the sea, when the transatlantic crossing was still the swiftest route between Europe and America.

Luxury Liners presents a sumptuous illustrated history of the glamorous life onboard these enormous ships. The book's organization mimics an actual crossing: the mountains of cargo crammed below decks before embarkation; the crossing itself, with entertainment that might include trained seals; the danger of shipwrecks; and finally, arrival.

Illustrated with rare, unpublished photographs from private collections, Luxury Liners is ideal for maritime history buffs and lovers of a bygone era.

Customer Reviews:

Luxury Liners.......2007-01-11

A fantastic book, worth it's money..... excellent art direction for layout and styling.... giant images printed in amazing quality....I like the enormous amount of nostalgic photos showing opulence and luxury of ocean travel (dining rooms!) , but also immigrants leaving Europe with a heavy heart.... I liked the inclusion of posters, menues and close-ups of silverware and passenger lists....the double-spread photo of the FRANCE (on pages 74/75)in stormy weather listing at an extreme angle makes you feel good to sit in the easy chair in your home in front of the fireplace turning the pages....

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Great for Aviation Management Students
Very comphrensive to all areas of airport operations
A valuable book for any transport researcher
A very complete, accurate, and timely explanation of Airport
I've based my studies on that. Amazing amount of Knowledge.

Airport Operations
Norman Ashford , H. P.Martin Stanton , and Clifton A. Moore
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Professional
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Managing Airports, Second Edition: An International Perspective
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ASIN: 0070030774

Book Description

By far the most comprehensive book on the subject, the completely new Second Edition of Airport Operations updates the many developments in this fast-changing industry. The book provides a broad perspective on the effects of deregulation, privatization, and commercialization. Thoroughly illustrated, it examines the most current practices in airport security and terminal access, cargo relations, noise control, scheduling issues, and more. It is equally valuable to aviation educators and students as well as to airport personnel.

Customer Reviews:

Great for Aviation Management Students.......2004-10-20

Im planning to go into Aviation Management and this is a great book that goes over everything that happens at an airport and how to run an airport!! Great book!!

Very comphrensive to all areas of airport operations.......2000-01-10

This book is an excellent text to all airport related personnels. I found it's particularly useful to people working in airport and/or aviation management who want to gain more in-depth understanding to all areas of airport operations. This book can also serve as in-house classroom training text for airline personnel. A highly recommended one!

A valuable book for any transport researcher.......1999-01-30

This book provides a thorough analysis in all facets of airport operations and provides the reader with a logistical insight that is unmatched. While the book provides a great overview, it lacks information particularly on air cargo development and facility planning at airports. While the growth in air cargo traffic significantly outpaces passenger growth, air cargo development issues at airports become more significant. Air cargo development issues must be addressed by airport authorities. This book only makes scant reference to this. However, "Airport Operations" is a valuable book to all airport authorities, consultants and transport researchers. No doubt, a very timely piece of information.

A very complete, accurate, and timely explanation of Airport.......1998-11-18

This is a great source of information and very clear definitions of many of the key issues relating to Airport Management and Operations. Although written primarily from the European and Asia Pacific Airport and Airline perspectives, the author has worked very hard to include North American issues and examples. As The Airport Industry moves continually towards privatization, these differences will move to the background and be less obvious; and less important. This is a great starting place for the researcher or the occasional affectionato

I've based my studies on that. Amazing amount of Knowledge........1998-05-07

Don't be afraid of the great amount of number data. It's all understandable

They Came in Ships: Finding Your Immigrant Ancestor's Arrival Record (3rd Edition)

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They Came in Ships
Excellent Information
They Came In Ships
An Excellent Resource
Invaluable Genealogical Tool!

They Came in Ships: Finding Your Immigrant Ancestor's Arrival Record (3rd Edition)
John Philip Colletta
Manufacturer: Ancestry.com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 091648937X

Book Description

Chances are excellent that your ancestors came to America from somewhere-England, Spain, Germany, China, Africa. Can you imagine how they felt as they left their homes, what they left behind? Do you want to know? Would you know where to even start looking for the details? Author and genealogist John P. Colletta prepares you to undertake the search. He tells you not only what fundamental facts you need to know about your immigrant ancestor before beginning, but suggests where you may find that information as well.

Customer Reviews:

They Came in Ships.......2004-06-26

This book is a must for anybody working on their genealogy. It is packed with information and is easy to read. Dont let the size of this book fool you! The author explains everything perfectly. There is so much information that you will have a hard time putting this book down. I recommend it for all, novice and professional genealogist.

Excellent Information.......2000-07-30

This is an excellent book for find passenger lists that are not at the National Archives.A must have for finding them.

They Came In Ships.......2000-04-24

There is an unbelievable amount of information packed into this book and it is organized in a way that works for both the experienced and new genealogist. I had almost given up finding my immigrant ancestors in several lines I'm researching until I discovered this gem. By following the step by step information given here, I was able to find them all! Don't overlook the bibliography. The information in it alone is well worth the price of the book. Thank you, Dr. Colletta!

An Excellent Resource.......1999-11-28

Concisely summarizes the methods by which passenger lists can found. Highly recommended.

Invaluable Genealogical Tool!.......1999-08-24

If you are, as I was, baffled by the maze of microfilm and sources involved in trying to track down your ancestors' ships lists, you need this book!! The author very clearly explains the how the films are indexed, the exceptions to the rules, etc. Perhaps the most useful aspect of this book is the way the author walks you through various examples of how to take whatever information you have about your ancestor and how to use the indexes to track down where to start searching for your ancestor's ship. I read this book cover to cover twice, then tackled the library, and finally accomplished something! I recommend it VERY highly.

Devils on the Deep Blue Sea : The Dreams, Schemes and Showdowns That Built America's Cruise-Ship Empires

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Great fun!
War ships/tankers to cruise ships....Oh My!!!
If your cruise reservation is non-refundable...don't read this book
An even treatment with a fascinating storyline...
Informative and Good Book

Devils on the Deep Blue Sea : The Dreams, Schemes and Showdowns That Built America's Cruise-Ship Empires
Kristoffer Garin
Manufacturer: Amazon Remainders Account
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: B000EUKQYG

Book Description

The twelve billion dollar cruise-ship industry caters to 10 million Americans annually on six- hundred million dollar floating cities.

In this terrifically entertaining history, Kristoffer A. Garin chronicles the cruise-ship industry, from its rise in the early sixties, to its explosion in the seventies with the hit show The Love Boat, to the current vicious consolidation wars and brazen tax dodges. Entrepreneurial genius and bare-knuckle capitalism mate with cultural kitsch as the cruise lines dodge U.S. tax, labor, and environmental laws to make unimaginable profits while bringing the world a new form of leisure.

A colorful and compelling behind-the-scenes narrative, Devils on the Deep Blue Sea is a definitive look at the industry and its robber barons who created floating empires.

Customer Reviews:

Great fun!.......2007-05-27

Travel agents and veteran cruisers alike will get a big kick out of this book.

It's a behind the scenes look that pulls no punches but manages to remain affectionate. Garin simply proves that you can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs. I certainly hope it doesn't discourage any non-cruisers from taking the plunge.

My favorite bit: Carnival's Meshulam Zonis' line, "A passenger is like a wet towel," which he illustrated by hand motions that wordlessly said, "First we squeeze them this way, then we squeeze them that way."

War ships/tankers to cruise ships....Oh My!!!.......2007-04-25

In the first chapter, Garin writes of the last day on a cruise ship which any cruiser knows is every man, woman and child for themselves....no longer are passengers royalty but more like refugees! He captures the irony of the debarking day that has always made my family chuckle as we tell stories of things we see on that last day! E.g. one poor passenger's luggage broke open outside an elevator...not one steward or other crew member offered assistance....they walked right over his strewn belongings. Anyway, Garin knows cruises and gives a wonderful history of the makings/history of the cruise industry from its humble beginnings to the big business it is today (and the two major cruise lines left). I was particularly fascinated with the evolution of the ships themselves! This was an easy read (and if a portion got dry....I skimmed!). I am cruising in 17 days...will do so with even more appreciation for the experience!

If your cruise reservation is non-refundable...don't read this book.......2007-02-06

I picked this up after enjoying his Harper's article "On the great Ukrainian bride hunt". His writing style and my interest in critical looks at the evolution and externalities of specific industries (a la Fast Food Nation) made this an amusing & informative read. And the long odds that I'd ever go on a cruise got even longer.

An even treatment with a fascinating storyline..........2006-09-03

Being a vacationer who has been on numerous cruises, this book recommendation looked like a certain fit... Devils On The Deep Blue Sea by Kristoffer A. Garin. He does a very good job in revealing how the cruise industry works, and the forces that have shaped it along the way.

The story starts in the late 1950's, when the cruise industry was really nothing more than a way to transport passengers from one location to another. The rich often had a lavish experience, while the "steerage" passengers were cramped and confined to the lower decks with restrictions on where they could go and what they could do. But in both cases, it was still a case of traveling from point A to point B. The airline industry quickly made cruise ships obsolete for rapid travel, and the shipping lines were becoming a footnote in history. But a few people thought that cruising could become a destination in itself, a way to vacation, see other lands, and then return to where you started. But the appeal had to be broad, and the luxuries of first class had to extend to all the passengers. Thru visionaries, financial risks, and mergers, what we have today is a $13 billion dollar industry that is truly global in numerous aspects. But behind the glitter and glamour, there are some less appealing items of interest...

Garin talks about how the cruise industry is largely staffed by impoverished workers from third-world nations who sign on for low base wages and whatever tips come from passengers. To many of us, these base wages wouldn't even support poverty, but they are considerable in the countries where the workers come from. The hours and rules aboard ship are harsh, with 12 to 16 hour days with little time off the norm. The industry also pays little in the way of taxes due to their ship registration being out of country to take advantage of international treaties preventing retaliatory fees. The laws and rights of the United States are not always in play either, as the ship is actually foreign territory. And if that's not enough, many of the tourist destinations are unable to get additional fees from the industry to support their infrastructure, as the industry will threaten to pull out of the port and destroy their tourism. It can be capitalism at its worst...

Personally, this book was better than I expected. I thought it was going to be a muck-raking, "boycott cruises" diatribe, and one that I wouldn't necessarily agree with. But the balance between the story of the cruise lines and the less-savory parts of the industry was just about right. And even the "expose" part wasn't hypercritical. I came away understanding the abuses, but (in many cases) understanding both sides of the issues. And really, it's not much different than what most other industries would do in the same circumstances...

Yes, I'm still going to go on cruises, and I'll still enjoy them. But I'll be even more considerate of the staff that makes it all work, and more in awe of what it takes to pull off the experience, week after week after week...

Informative and Good Book.......2006-06-19

This book sheds new light on this part of the leisure industry. The material is well thought out and organized well. It is interesting and riveting. The only time it got boring for me was in the beginning and towards the end of the book. Other than that, I would say it was an excellent piece of investigative journalism. Also has about 10 pages of black and white photos in the center of the book. Definitely opens your eyes to the people behind the faces on the cruises.

When the Dancing Stopped: The Real Story of the Morro Castle Disaster and Its Deadly Wake

Average customer rating:

Mystery solved?
Newly declassified files help to shed light on a 70 year old mystery
A great read! Highly recommended!
No new info
The Disaster that Improved Ship Safety

When the Dancing Stopped: The Real Story of the Morro Castle Disaster and Its Deadly Wake
Brian Hicks
Manufacturer: Free Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0743280083

Book Description

During the dark days of the Great Depression, thousands of weary souls escaped their bleak lives for a week of paradise aboard the Ward Line's glamorous cruise ship, the Morro Castle. It was the most famous passenger liner of its day, lightning fast, elegantly appointed. It was also a ticking time bomb.

It was the summer of 1934. Two sailors joined the Morro Castle crew, one a teenager on his first job away from home, the other a dangerous psychopath. Within two months, they would witness the end of the party in a single night of death, killer storms, and catastrophic fire. And that was only the beginning of a twenty-year-long story.

In When the Dancing Stopped, we too walk up the gangplank to that art-deco liner and, at first, enjoy the glamour and the sultry Havana nights. With mounting suspense, we also witness the launch of a mystery that mesmerized the nation and then, in the midst of troubled times, faded away. Award-winning author Brian Hicks, using newly declassified FBI files, thousands of pages of investigation notes, testimony, and new interviews, takes the reader on a mid-century cruise through history, revealing a cold-case file that had been, until now, left unsolved for history. And, as he relates in this work of masterful storytelling, it all began with the last cruise of the Morro Castle.

One of those two men, Thomas Torresson Jr., first sailed on the cruise ship as a high school senior recovering from serious illness and soon found a love that would endure his entire life. Within months, he would join the crew. For George Rogers, a gifted radio operator with a secret past, the ship was merely the latest in a long line of jobs. Their paths would cross several times on the way to their destiny, and the disaster would affect the two in very different ways: one would become famous, the other scarred forever.

In the grand tradition of The Devil in the White City, Hicks details a desperate investigation and the search for what may be the modern era's first serial killer through the tragic backdrop of a country suffering through depression and a buildup to war. With cameos by J. Edgar Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Ernest Hemingway, When the Dancing Stopped is the captivating true story of two men irrevocably bound by history -- a true American hero and a dangerous killer masquerading as one. More than that, there is the larger cast of characters: crew members and passengers, investigators, scoundrels, and, yes, additional victims. For the story that began on that storm-tossed night off the coast of New Jersey continued, as we now learn, for decades to come.

Customer Reviews:

Mystery solved?.......2007-03-19

Having grown up only minutes from Asbury Park I have seen the many photos of the Morro Castle beached in front of Convention Hall for years, but never knew the details of the fateful voyage until reading this excellent book. Unfortunately too much remians unknown about the ships true fate, and many years have passed. The author does an excellent job of trying to solve the mystery, but the ultimate explanation will never be known. Nonetheless "When the Dancing Stopped" is a well written, suspenseful book; a worthy read for anyone interested in maritime history or the history of New Jersey.

Newly declassified files help to shed light on a 70 year old mystery.......2006-11-23

Every so often I come across a book that grabs my attention in the opening pages and keeps me fixated right until the very end. "When The Dancing Stopped" is just such a book. Author Brian Hicks relates the incredible tale of the cruise ship Morro Castle and fantastic events that led to its untimely demise in September 1934 off the New Jersey Coast. The Morro Castle, flagship of the steamship company known as the Ward Line, carried all of the mail between New York and Cuba. It was a lucrative government contract worth more than $750,000 per year. The ship was also outfitted to carry hundreds of passengers on its weekly jaunts to Havana.
None of the passengers or crew members of the Morro Castle could possibly have anticipated the bizarre and deadly events would unfold on that fateful evening of September 8, 1934. Within just a few short hours the ships captain Robert Willmott would be found dead in his quarters and a deadly fire would break out on board the Morro Castle. To make matters worse a tropical storm was rapidly approaching the disabled vessel from the South while a massive Nor'easter was bearing down from the North. All the ingredients were in place for a major catastrophe!
What makes all of this so disturbing is that there was ample evidence to suggest that Captain Willmotte just might have been murdered and that the fire was indeed no accident. What could possibly motivate an individual or group of people to perpertate such dastardly deeds? This is what "When The Dancing Stopped" is all about. You will meet the members of the crew and learn how they reacted during this tragedy. You will be appalled to learn why so many of the lifeboats on board were never even used. You will also learn the identity of the individual who many suspect may have been motivated to set these horrible events in motion. Brian Hicks does a splendid job in researching this book. Hicks also makes use of recently declassified government documents that shed new light on this 70 year old mystery. But the story does not end with the Morro Castle. The individual suspected of planning and executing the events on that fateful night would continue to wreak havoc for another 20 years. It turns out that this portion of the book is every bit as compelling as the story of the disaster itself. Whether you are a fan of disaster books like I am or enjoy murder mysteries I suspect that "When The Dancing Stopped" is a book you will certainly enjoy. Highly recommended!

A great read! Highly recommended! .......2006-11-06

I highly recommend this book. It gives a poignant overview of the tragedy and a compelling overview of the man behind it. The author has gone to great lengths to research the disaster and it shows-- in a very readable way. An enjoyable read!

No new info .......2006-10-27

The book, When the Dancing Stopped, purports to put a new spin the story of the mysterious Morro Castle of 1934. The author reaches startlingly unoriginal conclusions about the fires origin- basically the same as found in the book, Morro Castle by Hal Burton.

Some of the FBI files that the author used were actually blocked for many years until authors Bob McDonnell and Fred Rasmussen fought to get them. Yet, the files that appear to be used only seem to pertain to George Rogers. Many FBI files (and important testimony) exist that do not pertain to George Rogers, but these were not used. There is nothing said about the empty B Deck suites that were soaked with gasoline, causing the fire to accelerate; Nothing about the ship's unlucky history regarding the potential to be destroyed by revolutionaries; and not much about the Ward Line's unlucky history and their history of suspicious ship fires.

The author also claims that he wanted to write this for Tom Torresson, and to try and set the record straight about the crew. This thread seems to be dropped in the book and not much is said in defense of the crew or to condemn the crew. The two stories Hicks uses (Doris Wacker and Tom Torresson) have been used before, so again, not much new info.

I cannot really think of anything exceptional about the book and unfortunately, cannot recommend it.

The Disaster that Improved Ship Safety.......2006-10-22

The Morro Castle disaster has largely been forgotten. Simply too much has happened for this ship to have remained in our awareness. Still, it is a story worth remembering.

First this is a good, well written story. It describes the ship, what happened and the times themselves in a way that makes it seem current and real. There were enough mysteries about the ship that the story keeps you interested.

One of the big mysteries is the origin of the fire. It could have been started in any of a variety of ways, one of which was arson. Mr. Hicks has, however, put together a surprising amout of evidence that it was. No one really knows.

Despite its cause, the fire aboard the SS Morro Castle served to improve fire safety for future ships. The use of fire retardant materials, automatic fire doors, ship-wide fire alarms, the necessity of emergency generators, mandatory crew training in fire fighting procedures, and greater attention to fire drills and procedures resulted directly from the Morro Castle disaster.

Average customer rating:

fine reference book
COME TO SOUTH PHILLY AND SEE THE SHIP IN PERSON!
Last Word on SSU
Excellent historical information on the SS United States!

Ss United States

Manufacturer: Turner Publishing Company (KY)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1563118246

Customer Reviews:

fine reference book.......2007-05-07

this is quite a decent reference book. the only thing missing is a complete deck plan.

COME TO SOUTH PHILLY AND SEE THE SHIP IN PERSON!.......2007-05-03

Better yet, take it back with you! She may have been a great lady back in the day, but the ship is just a rotting eyesore taking up space here in Philly! Wish someone would buy it for scrap.

Last Word on SSU.......2006-09-23

This book is the last word on this liner. The SSU was the last of the great ocean liners before Jet Airplanes made them obsolete. If you are studying our nation's flagship this is the book !

Excellent historical information on the SS United States!.......2005-11-05

A very thorough book on an icon of United States maritime history to add to any collection. There is a lot of information that you don't find in other books written on the ship. It focuses anywhere from the planning put into the ship, the glory years, and the sad final voyages. The book is well written, with the forward by Susan Gibbs, daughter of the genius naval architect that designed the ship. The book is mostly written information, but still contains many photos. I believe is was originally published to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the SS United States, which still sits laid up in Philadelphia.

Average customer rating:

The English Invade Paradise
Very Good Book
Excellent historical fiction
an adventure story, a morality tale, a cultural/historical novel
Colonizing Eden

English Passengers: A Novel
Matthew Kneale
Manufacturer: Anchor
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 038549744X
Release Date: 2001-01-16

Amazon.com

Christopher Columbus was looking for a passage to India when he ran full-tilt boogie into the Americas. One of the narrators of Matthew Kneale's ambitious historical novel English Passengers has more modest aspirations: Captain Illiam Quillian Kewley wants only to smuggle a little tobacco, brandy, and French pornography from the Isle of Mann to a secluded beach in England. Yet somehow in the process, he and his crew end up weighing anchor for Australia. Worse, they're forced to carry three temperamental Englishmen bound for Tasmania on a mission to discover the exact location of the Garden of Eden. The year is 1857, and the study of geology is beginning to make serious inroads into areas of religious doctrine. When the Reverend Geoffrey Wilson runs across a scientific treatise that puts the age of Silurian limestone somewhere in the neighborhood of a hundred thousand years, he is scandalized: "This was despite the fact that the Bible tells, and with great clarity, that the earth was created a mere six thousand years ago." His many attempts to prove the Bible's accuracy lead, eventually, to a scientific expedition comprising himself, Timothy Renshaw, a dilettante botanist, and Dr. Thomas Potter.

Now jump back 30 years, to 1828, when a revolution of sorts is stirring on the island of Tasmania. Over the years, white settlers have been encroaching on aboriginal land and relations have deteriorated into violence. At the heart of the action is Peevay, a young half-breed abandoned by his aborigine mother, who had been kidnapped and raped by a white escaped convict. Now his vengeful mother is leading a war against the whites, and Peevay, desperate to win her love, has joined her. Chapters from the past narrated by Peevay and augmented by letters and dispatches from white settlers alternate with the sections told by Kewley, Wilson, Renshaw, and Potter. Eventually, of course, the two time lines intersect with momentous results.

War, mutiny, shipwreck, and not a little farce make English Passengers a gripping read, but it is Matthew Kneale's literary ventriloquism that renders it remarkable. In a novel with so many different points of view, the individuality of each voice stands out. There is, for instance, the mutinous Dr. Potter, whose descent into paranoia and egomania results in diary entries reminiscent of a 19th-century psychotic Bridget Jones: "Manxmen = treacherous even to v. last. Self heard Brew (lashed to mainmast as per usual) instructing helmsman to steer N.N.W. When self questioned he re. this he claiming we = carried into Bay of Biscay by difficult sea currents + must set course to avoid Breton Peninsular. He pointing to distant point of land to N.N.E. claiming this = Brittany. Self = doubtful." But perhaps the most compelling voice in English Passengers belongs to Peevay, who paints a vivid picture of aboriginal life in a foreign tongue he nonetheless makes his own:

When we sat so in the dark, after our eating, Tartoyen told us stories--secret stories that I will not say even now--about the moon and sun, and how everyone got made, from men and wallaby to seal and kangaroo rat and so. Also he told who was in those rocks and mountains and stars, and how they went there. Until, by and by, I could hear stories as we walked across the world, and divine how it got so, till I knew the world as if he was some family fellow of mine.

By the close of this epic tale, the world Peevay had known is gone forever and the lives of the Manx sailors and English passengers have been irrevocably changed. Based on real events in Tasmanian history, Matthew Kneale's novel delivers a home truth about Australia's brutal colonial past, even as it conveys the wonder and allure of the age of exploration. --Alix Wilber

Book Description

In 1857 when Captain Illiam Quillian Kewley and his band of rum smugglers from the Isle of Man have most of their contraband confiscated by British Customs, they are forced to put their ship up for charter. The only takers are two eccentric Englishmen who want to embark for the other side of the globe. The Reverend Geoffrey Wilson believes the Garden of Eden was on the island of Tasmania. His traveling partner, Dr. Thomas Potter, unbeknownst to Wilson, is developing a sinister thesis about the races of men.

Meanwhile, an aboriginal in Tasmania named Peevay recounts his people’s struggles against the invading British, a story that begins in 1824, moves into the present with approach of the English passengers in 1857, and extends into the future in 1870. These characters and many others come together in a storm of voices that vividly bring a past age to life.

Customer Reviews:

The English Invade Paradise.......2006-08-23

In reading this book, the Prime Directive in the Star Trek series came to mind. Star Fleet personnel were not to interfere with the civilizations they studied to prevent harm. This book demonstrates the value and need for such a policy.

In the early 19th Century, the British Empire was in full swing. In Tasmania, once known as Van Dieman's land, England had established penal colonies and other colonies for the intrepid. The fact that Tasmania was already occupied was not an issue, for the aborigines were seen as savages, in need of civilizing and Christ. The felons kidnapped and raped the women with impunity. When the aborigines fought back, the colonists, with better weapons and resources, eventually captured the majority, often through trickery, and placed them in a camp. That the aborigines slowly, but surely fell victim to European diseases for which they had no immunity was seen as a sign of their unfitness. The colonists tried to evangelize the aborigines, and at one point, in a cringe-inducing moment, gave the aborigines "Christian" names.

The English Passengers in the title may refer to the colonists on Tasmania, though, in actuality, they were not passing through Tasmania so much as taking over. No, the English Passengers are three Englishmen who board a Manx ship to Tasmania for the purpose of finding the Garden of Eden. They include a minister, rigid in his beliefs, who is fighting the emergence of evolutionary theories, a "scientist," whose theories on race are chilling, and a young, hapless man, whose family thinks this trip will make a man of him. The ship is manned by sailors from the Isle of Wight, who failed in an attempt to smuggle goods into England, and only reluctantly took the passengers on as a way to escape the sharp eyes of English custom inspectors. On Tasmania, Peevay, the son of an aborigine and the man who raped her, describes the tale of English treatment of aborigines and him.

The story utilizes numerous narrators, and the author does an excellent job of giving them their own distinctive voices. The story of Peevay is especially poignant, as we observe his betrayal by the English and the delusions of the English that they are actually helping the aborigines. The Manx sailors provide a great deal of comic relief. I highly recommend this book. It is an interesting read, and the story is compelling.

Very Good Book.......2006-08-13

This is one of the best and wittiest books I have read, dealing with "benign" colonialism. The British, in the name of "saving the natives" managed to eradicate the whole population of Tasmania. True comedy always has the element of the tragic in it as this book proves.

Excellent historical fiction.......2006-08-06

I recently read the English Passengers as part of my local book club. Not being a huge fan of historical fiction, and having heard that it was a difficult book to begin, I wasn't looking forward to reading it. However, once I began, I was quickly entranced and delighted by the story. Kneale has a quick, dry wit that permeates all the different story lines, which are told in many different voices and perspectives.

There are two main missives, one following the ship Sincerity, captained by Manx-men from the Isle of Mann, trying to surreptitiously smuggle some goods to make a profit, and their unlikely passengers who are off to find Eden in Tasmania.

The second follows a half-caste Tasmanian as he struggles to find his place in a world where neither the white men nor the aboriginals accept him. I found this part to be very disturbing and gripping, as it illustrates the near-extermination of the Tasmanian natives. The concept of benign (and intentional) malevolence is very clearly presented.

I found the ending to be very satisfying and not something I would have anticipated. In part sea yarn, historical fiction, and social commentary, I highly recommend this book.

an adventure story, a morality tale, a cultural/historical novel.......2006-05-23

What a marvelous book. It is an adventure story, a morality tale, a cultural/historical novel. It is informative and fun. In 1857, three Englishmen charter a ship to Tasmania, where one of them, a pastor, expects to find evidence of the Garden of Eden. The reader does not find it incredible that he might believe in his theory. The ship is crewed by "Manx", sailors from a town in the Isle of Man and their roguish captain, who are intent on making their fortune through smuggling. Their tale is wrapped into an account of Tasmanian history, focusing on the aborigines. The story is told in the voices of its many characters, most powerfully by a half/caste Tasmanian who witnesses the decline of his mother's people, while "enduring". The Tasmanians are destroyed by the English, mostly through the English germs. While some of the English were brutal, it is not active evil as much as indifference to others that Kneale finds. The plot has a remarkable number of twists, which come ever more quickly as the book nears its end. The beginning of the book may seem lightweight to some readers, but stick with it.

Colonizing Eden.......2006-03-15

Three Englishmen set out on a Manx sailing vessel to reach Tasmania. One is a cleric who believes the island is the site of the Garden of Eden, another is a surgeon with pre-Hitlerian ideas about racial stereotypes, and the third is a young botanist. Interwoven with this is the story of the exploitation and near-extermination of the aboriginal peoples at the hands of the English colonists, whether exploitative or well-intentioned. Taken together, the various interwoven stories, told in a variety of different voices, present a well-researched but damning portrait of colonialism and other nineteenth-century attitudes. Kneale's multiple-narrator technique permits a good deal of irony and even outright humor, and his inclusion of the Manx sea captain and part-time smuggler among these voices adds the picaresque flavor of a sea yarn. My only disappointment, though, is that the author ends by tying up these narrative threads on the comic and adventure-story level, without rising to the kind of spiritual catharsis that his brilliant exposition might have made possible.

The book makes an interesting companion to Barry Unsworth's SACRED HUNGER, another novel that deals with English attitudes towards other races in the context of a sea story, though Unsworth's book is set almost a century earlier. Both books also touch upon the concept of a utopian society, and the various forces which inevitably destroy it. Readers who have enjoyed one book should certainly try the other. While Unsworth has the greater gravitas, Kneale uncovers less well-known areas of history, introduces a more varied cast of characters, and makes the more enjoyable read.

The American Railroad Passenger Car, Parts I and II (Johns Hopkins Studies in the History of Technology)

Average customer rating:

2 Volume Set
settting a standard for railroad history writing

The American Railroad Passenger Car, Parts I and II (Johns Hopkins Studies in the History of Technology)
John H., Jr. White
Manufacturer: The Johns Hopkins University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0801827434

Book Description

The American Railroad Passenger Car recaptures the lost, but not-too-distant past when 98 percent of all intercity travel in the United States was by rail. It documents in extraordinary detail the ingenuity and splendor of the classic trains as well as the rattle and clatter, the dust and cinders of early rail travel.

An unparalleled record of changes in taste and technology

With clarity and precision, White explains the methods of construction of wood, iron, steel, and aluminum cars. He traces the evolution of wheels and brakes, dining cars and sleeping compartments. And he follows the revolutions in taste and technology that dramatically altered the appearance of the railroad passenger car over the century and a half that it dominated American travel.

An extraordinary resource for railroad hobbyists

Detailed plans and diagrams accompanying the text make it possible for model-builders to reconstruct many famous passenger cars themselves. Appendixes contain biographies of coach builders and designers; numerous tables comparing models, materials, and prices; a chronology of passenger cars; and an annotated bibliography.

Customer Reviews:

2 Volume Set.......2006-10-22

Just to clarify -- this item is a 2-volume set, ISBN#0801827434. Part 1 is also listed individually as ISBN#0801827221. Part 2 listed individually as ISBN#0801827477.

settting a standard for railroad history writing.......1999-10-11

These books are unusual in their focus on the history of technology, explaining how it works, and how it changed over time. It gives a comprehensive account of the development of these cars with many fine pictures.

Pennsylvania Railroad's Broadway Limited (Great Passenger Trains)

Average customer rating:

Best of the Great Trains Series
The Illustrated Story of a Famous Passenger Train

Pennsylvania Railroad's Broadway Limited (Great Passenger Trains)
Joe Welsh
Manufacturer: Voyageur Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 076032302X

Book Description

This authoritative, illustrated history tells the story of one of the countrys premier passenger trains, Pennsylvania Railroads Broadway Limited, an institution in New YorktoChicago rail travel from 1902 to 1955. Text and pictures introduce readers to the posh cars and powerful engines, the luxuries and amenities on board, the stations, terminals, and timetableseverything that made the train the pride of the Pennsylvania.

Customer Reviews:

Best of the Great Trains Series.......2007-06-08

Pennsylvania Railroad's Broadway Limited may have spent most of its history in the shadow of the New York Central's 20th Century Limited, its great competitive rival, but this book by Voyageur Press is the best of the series including the Voyageur offering on 20th Century Limited. The Broadway itself outlasted its rival, and in a fashion survived into the Amtrak era. This book does the great train justice.

Well illustrated, with excellent photos coveing the full career of the train, from the 'Pennsylvania Special' to the Loewy-designed art deco "fleet of modernism," to the great rolling hotel of the post-World War II era, and then to its final faded glory. The text offers extensive detail on this once great train, more detail than the other books in the Voyageur series, which are also very good.

The Illustrated Story of a Famous Passenger Train.......2006-11-08

There was a time when the railroads cared about passenger travel. and the Pennsylvania Railroad's Broadway Limited was prime evidence. The ads said a lot, 'The Best Equipped Train in the World.' Of course you might get a bit of an argument from the New York Central's 20th Century Limited that also covered the New York to Chicago route.

The Broadway Limited is no more. For a while after Amtrak got started it continued the train, but in 1995 it was shut down due to declining ridership and the ever present budget problems. The Broadway Limited made the 908 mile run from New York to Chicago in 16 hours. Today Amtrak's Train 51 - Cardinal will get you from New York to Chicago in 28 hours.

This book is a magnificant collection of photographs of the Broadway Limited. It begins with the earliest days and continues through the Amtrak days. Most of the pictures are in black & white but there is a smattering of color. The story that goes along with the pictures is well researched and tells the history of the train in considerable detail. It reads well and doesn't whimper too much as it describes what we are now missing.

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