Majesty at Sea: The Four Stackers
Front Cover and Spine, Majesty at Sea: The Four-Stackers by John J. Shaum, Jr. and William H. Flayhart III, 1981. Foreword by Walter Lord. Cover Design by Bob Swan. GGA Image ID # 2051268ddf
On the Front Cover
Artistic license being what it is, the Aquitania towers over everything else in sight except the lower Manhattan skyline. She was big, no doubt, but such devices were often utilized to make the ships appear even more considerable in advertising.
From the Dust Jacket Flap
The opulent and luxurious four-funnel passenger liners, of which only fourteen have ever been built, are unsurpassed in maritime history. Built between 1897 and 1921, these great vessels vied with each other in their standards of comfort, spaciousness, and speed, and great was the rivalry between their owners.
Norddeutscher Lloyd started the trend and built the greatest number—Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, Kronprinz Wilhelm, Kaiser Wilhelm II and Kronprinzessin Cecilie. HAPAG, their major German competitor, built only one—Deutschland—as did the Compagnie Général Transatlantique with their France.
The Cunard and White Star lines each constructed three, and these are probably the most famous liners of all time: Lusitania, Mauretania, Aquitania, Olympic, Titanic, and Britannic. Finally, Union Castle built the Arundel Castle and Windsor Castle to introduce the same standards to the Cape run as on the Atlantic routes.
Each ship had a unique identity, their interiors lavishly decorated in historical and international styles to resemble floating palaces. Several also served in less glamorous wartime roles as commerce raiders, troopships, and hospital ships.
This sumptuous book portrays their careers in words and an unparalleled selection of photographs and prints. Written by two eminent maritime historians, it is bound to be treasured by all who share their love affair with the sea and ships.
Contents
- Foreword by Walter Lord
- Introduction
1. Norddeutscher Lloyd
- Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, Kronprinz Wilhelm, Kaiser Wilhelm II, Kronprinzessin Cecilie
2. Hamburg America
- Deutschland
3. Cunard
- Lusitania, Mauretania, Aquitania
4. White Star
- Olympic, Titanic, Britannic
5. Compagnie Générale Transatlantique
- France
6. Union-Castle
- Arundel Castle, Windsor Castle
- Acknowledgements
- Index
Back Cover, Majesty at Sea: The Four-Stackers by John J. Shaum, Jr. and William H. Flayhart III, 1981. GGA Image ID # 2051d3698e
On the Back Cover
The portrait of Kaiser Wilhelm I graces the first-class music room-drawing room of the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, constructed around one of the funnel casings. The architectural style can only be described as 'High Victorian' or, in the German manner, 'Wilhelmine' (Library of Congress).
From the Back Cover
Unmatched for sheer opulent luxury, the fourteen superb four-funnel liners are unique in maritime history. Norddeutscher Lloyd's Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, Kronprinz Wilhelm, Kaiser Wilhelm II and Kronprinzessin Cecilie; HAPAG's Deutschland; Cunard's Lusitania, Mauretania and Aquitania; White Star's Olympic, Titanic and Britannic; the Compagnie Général Transatlantique's France and the Union Castle's Arundel Castle and Windsor Castle: what magic their very names convey. This sumptuous book portrays their histories in vivid words and pictures. All maritime historians and enthusiasts will treasure it.
About the Authors
John H. Shaum, Jr is a radio broadcaster in Baltimore, Maryland, where he was born in 1948. He entered journalism after serving with the United States Marine Corps and, like his co-author, has had a lifelong enthusiasm for ships and the sea. He is Regional Vice President of the Steamship Historical Society of America, Regional Editor of Steamboat Bill, and a member of the World Ship Society. In addition to ships, his interests include railways and organ music. He lives with his wife Martha and their two children in Baltimore.
William H. Flayhart III is a History and Political Science Professor at Delaware State College. Born in Philadelphia in 1944, he has had a lifelong fascination with the sea and majored in British maritime history. He has always had close links with this country, completing his doctoral research at the University of London following a year as an undergraduate at Edinburgh. Since then, he has returned many times, usually on maritime affairs. A member of the Society for Nautical Research, the United States Naval Institute, and the North American Society of Oceanic Historians, he has held the American Chair on the International Committee of the World Ship Society. He has been awarded the Steamship Historical Society's gold medal for maritime and naval history contributions. He lives with his wife, Deborah, and their two children in Dover, Delaware.
Author Inscription and Signature. With many thanks for your photographic talents and assistance. Best Wishes. Bill Flayhart. 12/5/1981. GGA Image ID # 205216c1ba
List of Passenger Ships Referenced in Majesty at Sea
- Adriatic
- Aller
- America (ex-Amerika)
- Amroth Castle
- Anne de Bretagne
- Aquitania
- Arlanza
- Arucas
- Arundel Castle
- Athlone Castle
- Baltic
- Berengaria (ex-Imperator)
- Bethania
- Birma
- Bismarck
- Borussia
- Bremen (1897)
- Bremen ( 1929)
- Britannic
- Britannic (1910)
- Calamares
- Californian
- Campania
- Canadian
- Cap Trafalgar
- Carmania
- Carnarvon Castle
- Caronia
- Carpathia
- Cedric
- Celtic
- Ceramic
- Champlain
- Charles Roux
- Chasehill
- City of Exeter
- Coleby
- Columbus
- Conte de Savoia
- De Grasse
- Deutschland
- Duala
- Duca Degli Abruzzi
- Duilio
- Dwinsk
- Ebernburg
- Empress of Britain
- Empress of Canada
- Empress of Ireland
- Estonian
- Europa
- France (1865)
- France (1912)
- France (1962)
- Frankfort
- Friedrich der Grosse
- Galician
- George Washington
- Georgic
- Giulio Cesare
- Great Eastern
- Grosser Kurfürst
- Guadeloupe
- Hemisphere
- Holger
- Homeric (ex-Columbus)
- Ile de France
- Imperator
- Incemore
- Indian Prince
- Instructor
- Kaipara
- Kaiser Friedrich
- Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse
- Kaiser Wilhelm II
- Kaiserin Auguste Victoria
- Kronprinz Wilhelm
- Kronprinzessin Cecilie
- Kroonland
- La Correntina
- La Lorraine
- La Picardie
- La Provence
- La Savoie
- Lafayette
- Lapland
- Laurentic
- Leviathan (ex- Vaterland)
- Lucania
- Lurline
- Lusitania
- Macedonia
- Magdeburg
- Main
- Majestic (1887)
- Majestic (ex-Bismarck)
- Mauretania
- Megantic
- Meteor (yacht)
- Mesaba
- Mont Agel
- Mont Blanc
- Mount Temple
- Narragansett
- New York
- Nieuw Amsterdam
- Normandie
- Nyanga
- Oceanic
- Oceanic (1928)
- Olans Olssen
- Olympic
- Orinoco
- Orizaba
- Paris
- Pendennis Castle
- Pontos
- Potaro
- President Grant
- Prinz Eitel Friedrich
- Prussia
- Queen Elizabeth
- Queen Mary
- Rex
- Saale
- Samson
- Semantha
- Sequaranca
- Sierra Cordoba
- Stirling Castle
- Tamar
- Teutonic
- Titanic
- Union
- Vaterland
- Virginian
- Walhalla
- Washington
- Winchester Castle
- Windsor Castle
List of Steamship Lines Referenced in Majesty at Sea
- British & North American Royal Mail Steam Packet Co.
- Compagnie Générale Maritime (CGM)
- Compagnie Générale Transatlantique (CGT) French Line
- Cunard Line
- Cunard Steam-Ship Co.
- Elder Dempster Line
- Hamburg America Line (HAPAG)
- Inman & International Line
- International Mercantile Marine
- Nelson Line
- New Zealand Shipping Co.
- Norddeutscher Lloyd (NDL)
- Oceanic Steam Navigation Co.
- Roland Line
- Royal Mail Steam Packet Co.
- Union-Castle Mail Steamship Co.
- United American Lines
- Ward Line
- White Star Line
Library of Congress Catalog Listing
- Personal name: Shaum, John H., 1944-
- Main title: Majesty at sea: the four-stackers / by John H. Shaum Jr. & William H. Flayhart III.
- Published/Created: Cambridge [Cambridgeshire]: P. Stephens, 1981.
- Description: 168 p.: ill. (some col.) ; 32 cm.
- ISBN: 0850594618
- LC Classification: VM381 .S48 1981
- Related names: Flayhart, William H., 1944-
- LC Subjects: Ocean liners--History.
- Notes: Includes index.
- LCCN: 82208085
- Dewey class no.: 387.2/432/09
- Type of material: Book