Pride Of The North Atlantic

 

 

David F. Hutchings

Waterfront - Kingfisher Productions / 2003

David Hutching’s maritime trilogy delivers what it promises ~ a compilation of his earlier works dedicated to each Cunard Queen, all in one volume. I am familiar with only one of his previous works, The QE2 ~ A ship For All Seasons, which I have in my collection, thus to have a reprint of RMS Queen Mary ~ The Stateliest Ship and RMS Queen Elizabeth ~ From Victory to Valhalla, both out-of-print and somewhat difficult to find, was reason enough to convince me to purchase this latest offering. According to the author, each ‘book within the book’ has been updated, and includes additional photographs. As noted, I am unfamiliar with the previous ‘Mary’ and ‘Elizabeth’ thus can not comment on the presence of ‘new material’ however the story of QE2 has been expanded to include 13 additional, if somewhat short, chapters to continue the story, post-1988, making the previous publication redundant.

This is a slick publication, of 320 high-quality glossy pages, none of which are blank or partially filled. An excellent selection of both black-white, and color photographs, is presented. Unfortunately, save for the 1969 GA plans of the QE2, plans for the Mary and Elizabeth are absent. Although several other publications feature plans of the QM, those of the QE are difficult to come by. This is, in my mind, the only oversight in what is an excellent tribute.

As stated in the introductory notes, the book is published to coincide with the entry into service of Cunard’s newest liner ~ the Queen Mary 2. Although brief, the first five pages are devoted to the building and sea trials of the QM2, including one detailed close up photograph of her ‘What the …..???’ hybrid stern. In fact, the book is, in part, dedicated to ‘all those who died in the shipyard tragedy at St. Nazaire on 15th November 2003’. A thoughtful touch.

Of use to modelers? I suspect the photographs alone will be of benefit in determining deck and deckhouse detail, even though (as mentioned) the book lacks GA plans. Of particular interest, to me, are several aerial photographs of the QM’s stern area, which show the construction before the upper addition above the Verandah Grill. These will be of much use to those who wish to reconfigure their QM to represent her first year of service. Also of benefit are the color photographs, which give an excellent indication of what constitutes ‘Cunard Red’. It is obvious that the ‘red’ of the QE2 today is much different (more red than orange) than the funnel livery of her predecessors. Written in a ‘matter of fact’ style the narratives (as do most British publications) lack the ‘playful prose’ and interesting antidotes, say of John Maxtone-Graham, yet it is an easy, and enjoyable read.

Although somewhat pricey, 29.95 UKP ($55.00 US. I paid $90.00 Canadian) it is well worth the investment if the Cunard Queens are of interest to you, as a researcher and modeler. I give this book an overall rating of 9 out of 10.

 

This publication, along with other hundreds of other nautical titles, is available on-line from www.nauticalmind.com.

 

Arjay ~ 03/04