Cunard: A Photographic History

""The greatest shipping line the world has ever known"" gets a stodgy but thorough treatment in this pictorial history. Cunard was begun by a Nova Scotian, Samuel Cunard, in 1840, and its first ship sailed from Liverpool to Halifax and Boston. Over the years, it introduced the world to iconic vessels like the Luistania, the Queen Mary, the Queen Elizabeth 2 and the Queen Mary 2. McCutcheon covers the company's history, from WWI to 2005, and her chronological approach will probably appeal to general history and military history buffs. She explains how Cunard's mission of ""safety first, then excellent service"" has been carried out over the past 165 years, and includes over 200 illustrations, many previously unpublished, including sketches of various-level reading rooms, cabins and dining rooms; cards used to advertise service; and a menu from a 1908 ship. The book also does a fine job of depicting Cunard's competition (it's now owned by Carnival) and its part in the relations between the U.S. and Britain. There's something old-fashioned in the book's feel, bolstered by the strangely b&w photos of modern ships like the QM2.