Ocean liners : an illustrated history /Peter Newall ; foreword by Stephen Payne.

"The growth of the ocean liner was driven not only by political and social changes, and developments in marine technology and design but also by increased competition as new companies were established to meet the demands of travellers. Most liner books tend to be focussed on the transatlantic routes: this book is to tell the much wider story of the development of the liner over all the world's oceans. Not only are well-known liners featured, but also many lesser known routes and ships. The story starts in the ninetheenth century with the greatest migration ever seen. Communications around the world were also rapidly improving with the introduction of railways, the opening of the Suez Canal, a universal postal system and, most importantly, the laying of undersea telegraph cables. Tourism as we know it took off in the 1870s and 1880s, and it was also an era of colonial expansion which would see Britain and other countries establishing empires around the world. To meet the demand, passenger ships became increasingly significant with great advances being made not only in ship design but also marine engineering. These technological innovations soon included the introduction not only of the turbine but also diesel engines. Ocean liners also became statements of national pride and artistic achievement. The story concludes in the 1960s when, despite increasing numbers of travellers choosing to fly rather than travel by sea, a final flurry of liners were built, but their lives were to be sadly truncated."