Ships of Discovery and Exploration

Ships of Discovery and Exploration is a spin-off from Lincoln Paine’s Ships of the World: An Historical Encyclopedia, which Library Journal described as “clearly the most fascinating book of the year” and the New York Public Library named one of the best reference books of the year.

A spin-off from that larger project, Ships of Discovery and Exploration tells the stories of 125 vessels that have played important roles in voyages of geographical exploration and scientific discovery, from early Polynesian double canoes to the most technically sophisticated submersibles. Each ship is described in a vivid short essay that captures its personality as well as its physical characteristics, construction, and history. Drawings, paintings, and photographs show the grandeur and grace of these oceangoing vessels, maps help the reader follow the routes of great seafarers and naval campaigns, and chronologies offer a perspective on underwater archaeology sites, maritime technology, exploration, and disasters at sea.