"A fascinating historical account...A snapshot of the American Dream culminating with this country's mid-century greatness" (The Wall Street Journal) as a man endeavors to build the finest, fastest, most beautiful ocean liner in history.
The story of a great American Builder at the peak of his power, in the 1940s and 1950s, William Francis Gibbs was considered America's best naval architect. His quest to build the finest, fastest, most beautiful ocean liner of his time, the SS United States, was a topic of national fascination. When completed in 1952, the ship was hailed as a technological masterpiece at a time when "made in America" meant the best.
Gibbs was an American original, on par with John Roebling of the Brooklyn Bridge and Frank Lloyd Wright of Fallingwater. Forced to drop out of Harvard following his family's sudden financial ruin, he overcame debilitating shyness and lack of formal training to become the visionary creator of some of the finest ships in history. He spent forty years dreaming of the ship that became the SS United States. William Francis Gibbs was driven, relentless, and committed to excellence. He loved his ship, the idea of it, and the realization of it, and he devoted himself to making it the epitome of luxury travel during the triumphant post-World War II era.
Biographer Steven Ujifusa brilliantly describes the way Gibbs worked and how his vision transformed an industry. A Man and His Ship is a tale of ingenuity and enterprise, a truly remarkable journey on land and sea.
- ISBN10 1451645090
- ISBN13 9781451645095
- Publish Date 4 June 2013 (first published 10 July 2012)
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Simon & Schuster
- Format Paperback (US Trade)
- Pages 448
- Language English