The True Transatlantic Super-Liners

<p><strong>At a time before budget air travel, when the ocean liner ruled the seas, the demand for speed, regularity and luxury on the transatlantic route launched a glorious era of ocean super-liners.</strong> They truly were spectacular design icons: stylish, elegant and massive in size, but beautiful to behold. They stirred the imagination; their achievements and exploits were legendary; and they were unique, both as a group and individually, each having a distinctive character and ‘look’ of its own. Unquestionably, they were veritable floating cities, the like of which had never been seen before and, with a solitary exception, have not been seen since.</p><p>Only thirteen ships were entitled to the ‘super-liner’ accolade: <em>Imperator</em> (later <em>Berengaria</em>), <em>Vaterland</em> (later <em>Leviathan</em>), <em>Bismarck</em> (later <em>Majestic</em>), <em>Bremen</em>, <em>Europa</em> (later <em>Liberté</em>), <em>Rex</em>, <em>Normandie</em>, <em>Queen Mary</em>, <em>Queen Elizabeth</em>, <em>United States</em>, <em>France</em> (later <em>Norway</em>), <em>Queen Elizabeth 2</em> and <em>Queen Mary 2</em>. In The True Transatlantic Super-liners, maritime authors David L. Williams and Richard P. de Kerbrech tell each ship’s equally singular story in fascinating detail and supplement the tales with stunning photographs of a bygone era.</p>