Shipping - France: Illustrated History Books & Guides

France / Norway : France's Last Liner / Norway's First Mega Cruise Ship

The dean of ocean-liner historians brings to life one of the last transatlantic liners: the legendary France, later renamed Norway.

As a dedicated passenger during both the vessel's lives, John Maxtone-Graham is in a perfect position to give us this rich, profusely illustrated history of France / Norway. The French Line's dazzling ocean liner S.S. France was alone in her class until the arrival of the QE2 in 1967. She was fast, chic, lavishly manned, and offered sumptuous catering.

For a dozen years she was a star on the North Atlantic. However, in the summer of 1974, with jet airliners dominating transatlantic travel, France was withdrawn and allowed to molder for five years.
Then a miraculous reprieve: the head of Norwegian Cruise Line decided to buy France; the vessel was revamped for warm weather and rechristened Norway. One of the last North Atlantic liners became the Caribbean's first megaship.
The singularity of this incredible hull that sailed in two contrasting modes demands remembrance - she was the pioneering big ship, popularizing a scale of cruising then unknown.

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Great French Passenger Ships

France produced some of the finest and best-decorated passenger ships of the twentieth century. Beginning in 1912 with the four-funnel France, the nostalgic voyage continues with the great and grand transatlantic liners of the French Line, the CGT. These include the famous Île-de-France, Normandie and Liberté, as well as the lesser passenger ships of the French Line.

In addition, focus is given to Compagnie de Navigation Sud-Atlantique, Transports Maritimes and Chargeurs Réunis operating important South American routes and to Messageries Maritimes running in Africa, the East and the South Pacific.

Packed full of nostalgic reminiscence of great ship days gone by, the book explores majestic liners, mail boats to Africa and colonial steamers to Saigon. Presenting many previously unpublished images alongside insightful text and anecdotes, William H. Miller brings the reader on board France's greatest transatlantic liners.

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Péniches de chez nous

Turn the pages of this book for a stroll along the water! From the Canal de la Somme to the Canal du Midi, via the Canal de Briare, explore the waterways of France and their exceptional places, such as the Fontinettes boat lift, the Castelnaudary lock ladder or the Agen canal bridge.

Discover, through more than 200 photos, life on board the commercial barges that crisscross the country, as well as the houseboats and hotel barges that make more than one walker dream, along the banks.

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Barques de pêche de nos côtes - Chaloupes et pinasses

Once a familiar and essential presence in all our fishing ports, the traditional boats of the coasts of France are an exciting part of the heritage of our shores. Reflecting the lives of all these modest sailor-fishermen hauling up their traps, setting their nets, rowing or sailing, these Pinasses, Pointus, Bisquines, Cutters and other Doris have now practically disappeared.
Some still sail on holidays, others lie dormant in museums, this book brings them back to life by telling their history, their construction, their maneuvers...

Based on numerous period documents: plans and images of these thousand moving objects which were part of the daily life of these boats, it is aimed as much at maritime history enthusiasts as at all lovers of the sea.

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Sauveteurs en mer - Atlantique (Tome I)

It was necessary that, that night, a line got caught in its propeller... "The boat, held by the stern, took on the crests which came to break on the transom. The helm was hard, we had been fighting for two hours in the night and the swell. [...] My words will never be strong enough to thank the guys from the night team of La Rochelle who came to get us and bring us back to the port. "
Another situation, another intervention on the Atlantic coast, during a festive Sunday when this station welcomes personalities for the christening of the 1st class vedette. The time is for rejoicing around a warm table. The meal has barely started when a phone call reports a boat in distress.
At 1: 45 p.m., the Anne de Bretagne heads towards the north-east of the Four lighthouse. The vedette advances at full power and joins a pleasure craft with three people on board. The ship has engine failure, a broken mast, and rough seas... It is just 3 p.m. when the rescue crew resumes their place at the table to the applause of the other guests and survivors.

For the 40th anniversary of the SNSM in 2007, Michel Giard dedicated a first book to sea rescuers along the shores of Brittany. The winds being favorable, the adventure continues along the Atlantic coast!
The author takes us from Belle-Ile to the island of Aix, passing through the Gulf of Morbihan, Le Croisic, the island of Yeu and other places.

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Une ligne mythique: Paquebots français et britanniques sur l'Atlantique Nord entre 1890 et 1940

This book focuses on studying three major shipping lines: the British White Star Line and Cunard Line, and the French Compagnie Générale Transatlantique.
Organized around several major themes, discover how each of these companies established ties with their government, how they approached the race for size and speed, and how they faced the challenges of security in the face of the terrible tragedies that were unfolding on this dangerous ocean.

From the Titanic to the Normandy, an entire transatlantic society is outlined here, both isolated from the terrestrial world and yet its extension. Because between 1890 and 1940, these two "golden ages" of ocean liner travel separated by a world war are also a reflection of the developments and ruptures of their time.

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