Shipping - France: Illustrated History Books & Guides

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 Presenting many previously unpublished images alongside insightful text and anecdotes, William H. Miller brings the reader on board France's greatest transatlantic liners.

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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 However, in the summer of 1974, with jet airliners dominating transatlantic travel, France was withdrawn and allowed to molder for five years.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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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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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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