Atlantic: A Vast Ocean of a Million Stories

Atlantic: A Vast Ocean of a Million Stories
Simon Winchester

The epic life story of the Atlantic Ocean from the bestselling author, Simon WinchesterIn a narrative tour de force, Simon Winchester dramatises the life story of the Atlantic Ocean, from its birth in the farther recesses of geological time to its eventual extinction millions of years in the future.At the core of the book is the story of mankind's complex relationship with this immense sea, which stretches for 9,000 miles from pole to pole. The Atlantic has profoundly influenced the lives of those who have lived along its shores, from hardscrabble pioneers in windswept locations such as the Aran Islands and Newfoundland, to the inhabitants of the great port cities of Lisbon, Rio, London and New York.‘Atlantic’ brings to life key episodes in this compelling human drama - the age of exploration and the subsequent colonisation of the Americas; the flourishing of transatlantic commerce and the rise and fall of the slave trade; extraordinary tales of sea-borne emigration during the nineteenth century; and the great naval battles that have left an indelible imprint on Atlantic history.Travelling by small sailing craft, container ship and general cargo vessel, Simon Winchester will journey around the edges and across the vast expanse of the ocean to report from the places that encapsulate its most fascinating stories. It is an enthralling mixture of history, science and reportage from a master of narrative non-fiction, and the definitive account of this magnificent body of water.

ATLANTIC

A VAST OCEAN

OF A MILLION STORIES

Simon Winchester

Copyright (#ueb714ce5-b669-5010-9cf2-7aaa56cb8599)

William Collins

An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd. 1 London Bridge Street London SE1 9GF

www.harpercollins.co.uk (http://www.harpercollins.co.uk/)

First published in Great Britain by HarperPress in 2010

Copyright © Simon Winchester

Maps by Nick Springer © 2010 Springer Cartographics LLC

Simon Winchester asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Political, physical, exploration, and commerce maps on pages viii, ix, 113, and 319 were created by Nick Springer / Springer Cartographics, LLC.

Pangea and Future Pangea maps on pages 41 and 446 were created by C. R. Scotese, PALEOMAP Project (www.scotese.com (http://www.scotese.com/)) Please note that the pagination of this electronic edition does not match the edition from which it was created.

Some images were unavailable for the electronic edition

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Source ISBN: 9780007341375

Ebook Edition © MARCH 2011 ISBN: 9780007341382

Version: 2018-08-22

CONTENTS

Cover (#u424b2afe-c793-577d-9e22-39d3bc8a58d7)

Title Page (#u8b47b242-c4c9-57c1-b8bf-65d8a6653d3d)

Copyright

Dedication (#u509b8270-98e2-5ec5-a536-cc7e99d7f814)

PREFACE THE LEAVING OF LIVERPOOL

PROLOGUE THE BEGINNINGS OF ITS GOINGS ON

Chapter OneFROM THE PURPLE ISLES OF MOGADOR

Chapter TwoALL THE SHOALS AND DEEPS WITHIN

Chapter ThreeOH! THE BEAUTY AND THE MIGHT OF IT

Chapter FourHERE THE SEA OF PITY LIES

Chapter FiveTHEY THAT OCCUPY THEIR BUSINESS ON GREAT WATERS

Chapter SixCHANGE AND DECAY ALL AROUND THE SEA

Chapter SevenTHE STORM SURGE CARRIES ALL BEFORE …

EPILOGUE FALLS THE SHADOW. FADES THE SEA.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

BIBLIOGRAPHY

GLOSSARY

INDEX

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Also By Simon Winchester

About the Publisher

THIS BOOK IS FOR

Setsuko

AND IN MEMORY OF

Angus Campbell Macintyre

FIRST MATE OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN HARBOUR BOARD TUG