First published 2019
David Macaulay takes readers inside the story of ocean travel's transformation from wind power to steam. Before the 1800s, Atlantic crossings depended entirely on sails catching favorable winds. Steam power changed everything. Macaulay focuses on the pinnacle of this technological evolution: the SS United States, the most sophisticated steamship ever built and the final vessel of its kind. The book follows the ship's design and construction while exploring the life of William Francis Gibbs, the engineer who conceived it. Through detailed illustrations and clear explanations, Macaulay shows how centuries of maritime innovation led to this singular achievement. The narrative reveals both the technical mastery required to build such a vessel and the personal drive of the man who made it possible.
Genres: 20th-century, non-fiction, 21st-century, engineering, history-of-science, american-history
Vibes: educational, informative, thought-provoking
Tropes: personal-drive, technical-mastery
Setting: Atlantic Ocean
Period: 19th Century, 20th Century
128 pages · Hardcover · Roaring Brook Press