The Ship Asunder: A Maritime History of Britain in Eleven Vessels

Tom Nancollas' The Ship Asunder is a passionate and sympathetic exploration of British maritime history, from the Middle Bronze Age to the early 20th century. It seeks out eleven relics that together tell the story of Britain at sea, from a Bronze Age vessel's swallowtail prow to a stone ship moored at a Baroque quayside. The book celebrates the richness of Britain's seafaring tradition and asks how we might best memorialize it as it vanishes from our shores.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 30 March 2023
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Three and a half millennia of British maritime history, from the Middle Bronze Age to the early 20th century, are explored in this captivating book. Written with passion and sympathy, it will leave a lasting impression on the reader. Francis Pryor, the author of "The Fens," praises it as a masterpiece that will remain with him for a long time.

If Britain's maritime history were to be represented by a single ship, it would possess a prehistoric prow, a mast borrowed from a Victorian steamship, a hull reminiscent of a modest fishing vessel, a propeller from an ocean liner, and an anchor crafted from stone. We might dub her "Asunder," and while she may seem fantastical, there is a chance that fragments of her may still be found scattered across the country's creeks and coastlines.

In his poignant and innovative new history, Tom Nancollas embarks on a quest to uncover eleven relics that together weave the tale of Britain at sea. From the graceful swallowtail prow of a Bronze Age vessel to a stone ship moored at a Baroque quayside, each artifact illuminates a distinct phase of our maritime adventures. Each brings us closer to the people, places, and vessels that shaped a maritime nation. The Ship Asunder celebrates the rich tapestry of Britain's seafaring tradition, encompassing its glory, tragedy, triumph, and disaster. It raises questions about how we can best commemorate this disappearing legacy as it fades from our shores.

Weight: 250g
Dimension: 197 x 129 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780241434154