Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)It's funny, but contrary to the adjacent review, I found the author's opinions of classic yacht design to be right on target, and I learned an incredible amount of historical information. Did we read the same book? Through the text (and amazing images!) I learned a great deal about the evolution of yacht design. Fascinating as well were the many "sidebars" offering a wealth of information on yacht designers, builders, and even a quote from Mark Twain! The biographies of the yacht owners also drew me in, and helped make their yachts come alive. Where did the author find all this information?
And while the adjacent reviewer also didn't like the author's personal history with yachts (a wholly separate section), I found this helpful. When I read about the author's experience aboard the derelict PANZOLA (page 242), for example, my heart was in my throat! And ALONDRA! The author plainly loves classic yachts, and I enjoyed learning the underpinnings of this passion.
The adjacent reviewer and I agree on one thing: The images are incredible. The author states that most were never published. All are beautifully presented in duotone, and a great many will take your breath away. I can't imagine the research required to find so many images. The lively text draws the reader in and makes the evocative images, and the era they represent, come alive in a way that would not have been possible in a dry, academic exercise.
Moreover, the "Timeline" and "Sources" at the end of the book make this an excellent research tool.
Click Here to see more reviews about: The Golden Century: Classic Motor Yachts, 1830-1930
The recreational vessels of the rich and famousduring the age of the classic motor yacht.
The history of sailing yachts has been recounted often, but these magnificent motor yachts, although far more popular in their time, have been largely neglected. They were the playthings of the very rich, men who competed with one another to have the fastest, longest, and most up-to-date motor yacht. Many of these vessels rivaled great mansions in both the luxury and the quality of their workmanship. And they cost fortunes to build and maintain.This book is a loving look at some of the most beautiful motor yachts in the world, beginning in 1830 when the first private steam vessel was commissioned in England, the 120-foot Menai. It would be followed by more lavish private boats, some powered by gas, others by diesel. As one can see from the beautiful photographs in this book, all were elegant. Ross MacTaggart documents here a world that has largely vanished, a world where small fortunes were spent tastefully. 220 duotone photographs
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