Celtic, Cedric, Baltic & Adriatic

by Mark Chirnside

The White Star Line’s Celtic (1901), Cedric (1903), Baltic (1904) and Adriatic (1907), collectively known as the ‘Big Four’ carried around 1.5 million passengers on the North Atlantic route for a combined no years. Hugely popular and luxurious, even their thirdclass accommodation was spacious, clean and comfortable compared with earlier vessels.

Celtic and Cedric served as armed merchant cruisers and troop and cargo carriers during the First World War. Modernised in the 1920s, the four ships remained popular despite the drop in immigrant numbers after the war.

The book looks at what made these ships, forerunners to the famous ‘Olympic’ class, so special.

The book contains an array of previously unpublished material including letters, diaries and photographs which explore the adventures and experiences of the passengers and crew.

Images reveal the ships under construction, external and internal views, passenger accommodation and the passengers enjoying life on board. This is a brilliantly put together book that I would very highly recommend.

Published by:
The History Press
The Mill
Brimscombe Port
Stroud
Gloucestershire
GL5 2QG
www.thehistorypress.co.uk

Hardback: 227mm x 252mm 186 pages, illustrated

Price: £25