The Coming of the Comet: The Rise and Fall of the Paddle Steamer by Nick Robins

The Coming of the Comet: The Rise and Fall of the Paddle Steamer by Nick Robins

In August 1812 Henry Bell's Comet, a revolutionary paddle steamer, made her first journey on the Clyde. This marked the start of extraordinary developments that completely transformed shipping and transport in Britain, Europe and the Americas. The paddle steamer soon became the key link with Empire, pushing the Honourable East India Company's wooden walls off the seas; it provided the all- important link with the Americas, and it offered emigrants to the New World a means of pushing westwards. In this fascinating new book Nick Robins analyses the remarkable impact of the paddle steamer and goes on to describe its development, both in terms of technology design and in relation to its effects on the transformation of nineteenth-century economies. He includes all Henry Bells disciples - the Burns brothers, Laird, Napier, Fulton, Syminton Cunard and Denny to name a few, and looks at their individual contributions. The impact of the paddle steamer on transport is difficult to overstate. It helped with the export of cotton from the American southern states, and with the transport of oil from Burma's oil fields. The great stern wheelers of the Mississipi are legendary, but they also migrated to the Murray and Darling rivers in Australia, and to the Congo and Nile rivers in Africa, and the great rivers of Russia.This wonderful story of nineteenth-century ingenuity will appeal to shipping enthusiasts and those with a wider interest in industrial history.

Detailed hardback bookIncludes outstanding historical photos of many famous paddlers. Ships Monthly This detailed hardback book looks at the development of the paddle steamer, starting with henry bells famous comet, which made her first journey on the clyde in 1812. Ships Monthly

Nick Robbins, a geologist by trade, is known for situating marine history within a larger social and political context. His publications chronicle the development of a wide range of ship types, from tugs and tenders to excursion steamers and cargo ships.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781848321342
ISBN 10	1848321341
Title	The Coming of the Comet: The Rise and Fall of the Paddle Steamer
Author	Nick Robins
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	Pen & Sword Books Ltd
Year published	2012-12-01
Number of pages	192
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.