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Title: A Lavish Treat for Devotees of the Sailing Warship
Review: Much like the Victory herself, this book is heavy, handsome, and expensive. Written by the Chairman of the Victory Advisory Technical Committee, it contains discussions of the Royal Navy, the Victory's construction and active service, her post-Trafalgar history, and many particular aspects of her restoration. However, the big attraction for many readers will be visual-- the striking photographs, some in color, and especially the 90 pages of drawings by John McKay. While some of the tables and descriptions of the ship's restoration might cause a casual Patrick O'Brian fan's eyes to glaze over, this book is invaluable for those who always wanted to know which rider knees were made of which wood and how they were fastened together in 1759--and in 1959. The effort of the scholars and shipwrights who have maintained Victory as she is today, over 240 years after she was first laid down, is truly awe-inspiring.
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