A DICTIONARY OF BRITISH SHIPS AND SEAMEN by Uden, Grant & Richard Cooper

New York: St. Martin's Press ., 1980. First American edition. hard bound in dust jacket, 6 1/2 x 9 1/2, VG/VG- CONDITION, ( small chip in dj spine ), 591 pages, illustrated, maps.................................................................. The fortunes of the British Isles have – not surprisingly – been strongly linked to the sea since earliest times. As a result, a rich and colourful heritage of mariners and an incomparable maritime history of voyages, discoveries, special skills, triumphs anddisasters, in both the royal and merchant navies, have been produced – all of which have been a constant source of inspiration, especially to writers and artists. They have even enriched the English language, with words and phrases often used now without any suspicion of their nautical origin.Grant Uden and Richard Cooper have compiled this dictionary to provide a companionable guide to the seamen, ships, battles and trading enterprises that feature in this remarkable part of British history. Also included are entries on seas and oceans, winds and weather, canals, lighthouses, uniforms and many other matters connected with the sea. Although concentrating on British achievement, there is much here concerned with other countries and individuals, in peace or at war.The entries are illustrated by a wealth of line drawings, contemporary prints, portraits, maps, paintings and photographs – all of which makeA Dictionary of British Ships and Seamen a hook which will be of interest to the landsmen and experienced sailor alike.