The history of the Clyde and the great ships that were built there is well known. Less familiar and equally important, however, is the story of how the great river was made suitable for shipping. The dredging of the Clyde and the building of the great docks and quays that line it to this day remain some of the most impressive engineering feats of the industrial revolution.

From prehistoric times to the twentieth century, John Riddell explores fully this fascinating saga, the great monuments of which still define the city of Glasgow and the towns on the banks of the Clyde. At the same time The Clyde is also the story of the extraordinary plans and proposals that were never realised; schemes which stand as a testament to the power and wealth of Britain's Second City during its Victorian and Edwardian heyday.