Nautilus Telegraph's Book of the Month for January 2021.

The loss of East Indiaman HCS Halsewell in January 1786 touched the very heart of the British nation.

In this book Bernard concentrates on cargo ships, but other types also appear to illustrate the variety of ships that were built.

It’s a thorough work with useful charts and graphs, an interesting selection of photos and a good index. In addition to the facts and figures, Ireland provides analysis and insight, notably arguing provocatively that ‘the situation was never as parlous nor the struggle so evenly balanced as was perceived at the time and has consistently been described since’. It’s a stance that may not prove popular in the Merchant Navy community, but the book is worth a read nevertheless, and readers can make up their own minds after giving Ireland’s arguments a hearing.

Simon Quail’s Gangway stands out for the quality of its writing as well as its tales of maritime adventure. This well-crafted fourth edition now comes with photographs and technical details of all the ships on which the author sailed, so it’s a good moment to pick up a copy if you haven’t read the memoir before.

Nautilus Telegraph's Book of the Month for December 2020.