Leviathan: "The World's Greatest Ship" Volume 6

Front Cover, Leviathan: "The World's Greatest Ship," Volume 6.

Front Cover, Leviathan: "The World's Greatest Ship," Volume 6. GGA Image ID # 1e8d40cff4

 

USL: "LEVIATHAN: The World's Greatest Ship, Volume 6", by Frank Braynard, published in 1982, hardbound with original dust jacket, 448 pages.

Braynard has created what is probably the most extensive history ever written about a single ship. His ground-breaking series covers 6 volumes.

This book is the final volume and picks up the LEVIATHAN saga in her final years of lay-up in Hoboken. She sailed a few voyages in 1934 but otherwise spent her final years rusting at the pier. In 1938 her old boilers were fired one last time for a slow journey to the breakers. Many large photos of her abandoned interiors, as well as a fold-out color Albert Brenet painting of the ship approaching the breakers. There are hundreds of great photos which makes for wonderful browsing and reading.

Because of the story and photos this book can stand alone if you do not want to collect the rest of the series.

 

  • Chapter I: DEAD SHIP
  • Chapter II: AT HOBOKEN AGAIN
  • Chapter III: “A FEAST OF THE ELEMENTS”
  • Chapter IV: ‘‘GREAT LEVIATHAN ... TO RESUME SERVICE”
  • Chapter V: “THE MIGHTY SHIP TREMBLED”
  • Chapter VI: BOOKINGS “BRISK”
  • Chapter VII: THE LAST VOYAGE
  • Chapter VIII: “TOMB-LIKE SILENCE”
  • Chapter IX: “SATURNALIA OF WASTE”
  • Chapter X: “THE HAND OF POLITICS”
  • Chapter XI: “AN INANIMATE PERSONALITY”
  • Chapter XII: “TROLLOP WITH A NEW PARIS HAT”
  • Chapter XIII: “THIS END HAD TO COME”
  • Chapter XIV: CHIEF'ENGINEER IVERSON
  • 96-Page Illustrative Section
  • Chapter XV: “DUST AND GLOOM
  • Chapter XVI: “TIE DOWN THE WHISTLE”
  • Chapter XVII: SHE SAILS
  • Chapter XVIII: THE SHIP SPEAKS OUT
  • Chapter XIX: ALMOST ON THE ROCKS
  • Chapter XX: THREE BLASTS ON HER
  • Chapter XXI: THE FINAL DAYS
  • NOTES
  • Appendix A: “THEY CALLED HER VATERLAND”
  • Appendix B: ARTIFACTS FROM GERMAN
  • Appendix C: FROM HER TIME AS THE LEVIATHAN
  • Appendix D: DOCUMENTS
  • Appendix E: PAINTINGS, RENDERINGS
  • Appendix F: THE POWER PLANT—HUGH PLATT
  • Appendix G: ERRORS IN PREVIOUS
  • Appendix H: LEVIATHAN BOOK PATRONS
  • INDEX
  • CREDITS

This, the sixth and concluding volume of the LEVIATHAN series, completes a writing project that began in 1968. The first volume was published in 1972. As a rare book it it priced today at $50 a copy. The author still has a few left.

There are at this writing plenty of copies of the succeeding volumes. Volumes II and III may be had for $30 each, plus postage and N.Y. State Sales Tax. Volumes IV and V are available for $45 each, plus postage.

The income from the sale of this volume will be used to pay back the many book patrons who have loaned the author from $100 to $250 over the years to help him finance these six volumes. A committee of LEVIATHAN patrons was formed recently to circulate a memo to all book patrons asking them to waive their right to get their original money back, in light of the great increases in the cost of the book’s production and the high price (and value) of the volumes. Virtually all to whom the appeal was sent have re­sponded as the committee suggested. Most recent patrons have not yet been offered this opportunity to show their appreciation of the series by saying they do not wish to have their original contribution returned.

The six-volume work has been unique as a publishing effort in this way. It will stand as a model to many who believe they have an important story to tell but who can not get backing from ordinary publishers.

THE AUTHOR—Frank O. Braynard—was honored recently for this series by being elected a Fellow of The Royal Society, of London. The volumes, in addition to his work as the creator and general manager of the Bicen­tennial’s tall ship event know as Operation Sail ’76, have brought him other recognition, including an Honorary LI. D. from C.W. Post University. He was twice president of the Steamship Historical Society of America and was editor of their journal for several years. He is an honorary member of the Council of American Master Mariners and of the Veteran Wireless Operators Association, and a Fellow of the Rochester Museum and Science Center.

Library of Congress Catalog Listing

  • Personal name: Braynard, Frank O. (Frank Osborn), 1916-2007.
  • Main title: "World's greatest ship"; the story of the Leviathan, by Frank O. Braynard.
  • Published/Created: [New York, South Street Seaport Museum, 1972-1983]
  • Description: 6 v. illus. (some col.) 29 cm.
  • LC classification: VM383.L3 B7
  • Related titles: Leviathan.
  • LC Subjects: Leviathan (Steamship)
  • Browse by shelf order: VM383.L3

Notes

  • On cover: Leviathan.
  • Vol. 4 has imprint: Newport News, Va. : Mariners Museum, [1978]
  • Vol. 5 has imprint: [Sea Cliff, N.Y.] : F.O. Braynard, [1981]
  • Vol. 6 has imprint: [Kings Point, N.Y. : American Merchant Marine Museum, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, 1983]
  • Some ill. on lining papers.
  • Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
  • LCCN: 72085207
  • Dewey class no.: 387.2/43
  • Type of material: Book
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