by Simon Wills

The loss of the Costa Concordia in 2012 shocked Europe when 32 passengers died on a luxury liner. Yet in mid-Victorian times, more lives than this were lost in shipwrecks every week. This book will tell the story of one particularly notorious Victorian wreck that the author has been researching for over 10 years.

The sinking of the SS London in 1866 provoked incredulity because of the especially heavy death toll: a large, new, luxury liner en route to Australia went down shortly after leaving England. All but 3 passengers died, including several well-known personalities, and the captain himself was a celebrated mariner.

This book tells the story of the vessel’s loss within the wider context of mid-Victorian maritime history, a time of great change. Seamen led a precarious existence as employees and faced many dangers, yet the British Empire was expanding and it needed them. The technology and appearance of ships was changing rapidly, passenger expectations were evolving, and behind it all was the often treacherous business of managing shipping lines.

This is a thoroughly well researched book and I would very highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in this subject.

Published by:

Amberley Publications
The Hill
Merrywalks
Stroud
Glos
GL5 4EP
www.amberley-books.com

Paperback: 235mm x 156mm, 192 pp illustrated

Price: £15.99