A fascinating, well-written, and suprisingly detailed account of the history of merchant ships presented in a heavily illustrated, oversized format. Marshall outlines the early development of ocean trading and shows how the Age of Discovery led to its growth. Clear and succinct prose relates the evolution of ship construction techniques, the development of navigational aids and charts, and the growth of specialized sailing rigs to ocean-going trade. He consistently shows how and why certain routes developed and how ships were designed to meet the needs of these voyagers. The coming of the steam engine and subsequent hull designs are examined right down to present-day carriers such as supertankers, liquid natural gas carriers, and the remarkable Ferncarrier , a semi-submersible capable of carrying huge off-shore oil rigs. The informative text is augmented by hundreds of drawings, engravings, and black-and-white photographs. In addition to being entertaining reading, this is a useful, up-to-date overview of a subject that is rarely documented.