Using an engaging question and answer format, Queen Mary expert David Ellery tells you everything you need to know about one of the most famous ships in the world: from her construction, to her wartime service, through to the haunting myths in her wake over her glorious 85 years.
For 1930s Britain, the Queen Mary was a symbol of hope. Cunard had abandoned construction on what they had planned to be the grandest liner of all time in the depths of the Depression. Her half-finished hull sat on the Clyde for years, but when Cunard announced they were going to complete her, it was a sign, perhaps, that the darkest days were over, that the country was emerging from economic disaster and that Britannia would soon rule the waves once again.
The Queen Mary would go on to be one of the most famous ships in the world for all the right reasons. The first British ship to be over 1,000 feet in length, launched by her namesake, she won the Blue Riband (the record for fastest Atlantic crossing) not once by twice – and when she won it the second time in 1938 she held it until 1952.
After wartime service carrying up to 16,000 US troops to Europe at a time, she finally retired to Long Beach, California, in 1967. There she remains, a perfectly preserved reminder of a bygone era, and a celebration of the golden age of the transatlantic liner.
In this book David Ellery, maritime historian, TV presenter and documentary maker, answers all the questions you might have about this glorious ship – and ones you might never have thought to ask too. This unique, accessible approach gives a fantastic introduction to the ship to anyone curious about her, but is also very detailed and comprehensive, covering everything from the ship's design, construction, engineering and interior fittings to her naming, wartime service and more. He also addresses all the myths and rumours such a famous ship attracted over her decades in service.
Packed with archival photographs and other original material, this is a fascinating and illuminating guide to the Queen Mary, looking beneath the sheen of her appointments to explore how her fame is well deserved.
David Ellery is a feature writer, producing articles for a range of national publications in the UK. He began his career in television working with several independent producers before co-founding his own production company in 1996. Since then he has written, produced and, on a number of occasions, presented dozens of documentaries, receiving three RTS awards. Many of the programmes are history-related, including three series of In The Past (ITV) and standalone films for BBC television, which include Regal & Retired – the story of RMS Queen Mary. He was also part of the presentation team for BBC Two's Home Movie Roadshow.
David Ellery's previous maritime books feature other prominent, historic liners. He also appears as guest presenter aboard luxury cruise ships with presentations on maritime history. He lives in Hampshire with his wife and three children.
