First published 2010
Winchester chronicles the Atlantic Ocean's complete biography, spanning from its geological origins to its predicted demise millions of years hence. The ocean extends 9,000 miles between the poles and has shaped civilizations along its coastlines. Winchester examines how this vast sea influenced residents of remote outposts like the Aran Islands and Newfoundland, as well as major ports including Lisbon, Rio, London, and New York. The book reconstructs pivotal moments in Atlantic history: explorers crossing unknown waters, European colonization of the Americas, the growth of transatlantic trade alongside the brutal slave economy, massive waves of nineteenth-century immigration, and decisive naval warfare. Winchester travels by small sailboat, container ship, and cargo vessel to visit locations that embody the ocean's most compelling narratives. He combines historical analysis with scientific insight and firsthand reporting to create a comprehensive portrait of this massive body of water and humanity's intricate relationship with it.
Genres: history, adventure, 21st-century, academic
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-narrative, travelogue
Setting: Aran Islands, Newfoundland, Lisbon, Rio, London, New York
Period: 19th-century, 20th-century
495 pages · Hardcover · Harper