Gathered from museums and private collections, the hundreds of images here are a reminder of a time when sailing was central to the life and growth of New England. Including paintings and photographs of vessels built, owned, or commanded by New England men, these illustrations will fascinate anyone who imagines harbors filled with tall ships. Some of the pieces reproduced were completed in the ports of Marseilles, Genoa, Leghorn, Trieste, Smyrna, and Hong Kong; also included is the oldest known painting of a New England vessel, the ship Bethe, of Boston, painted in 1748. An extensive introduction discusses a wide range of vessels, and there are sailors' histories, adventure stories, and tales of maritime disaster. With more than 300 illustrations, this book will appeal to both historians and casual lovers of nautical life.