These jobs went first to the widows of men who’d worked for the shipping line–a form of old-time paternalistic benevolence that the women had no choice but to embrace. This book is mostly about the women on the liner’s staff–conductresses, stewardesses, nurses, stenographers–and even one or two women who became ship’s engineers or officers. One of the perks of ocean liner travel was a dedicated staff who “lived” to make the voyage more enjoyable for the upper classes and safer and healthier for the lower classes. The arrival of such a ship in New York would be covered in the press and, later, in the newsreels. All courted celebrity endorsements as well. They also tried to one-up each other with greater luxuries on board, in terms of decoration, entertainment, and cuisine.

The great liners of England, Germany, and France were constantly trying to beat each other’s best speeds across the Atlantic. Commercial air travel did start during this period, but it was financially out-of-reach to most travelers.

In the 20th Century, until World War II, (and to some extent after the war, too) the great ocean liners were the only way to travel to-fro Europe and America. Add to it that it was an audio and I was out of audios–well it just arrived at the perfect moment as well as being an interesting topic.Įmbed from Getty Images Some of the world’s largest ocean liners moored in New York Harbour from front to back, the Ile de France, the Normandie, the Queen Mary, the Aquitania, the Rex and the Monarch of Bermuda. Social history is a favorite topic of mine, as is the liberation of women, so this book checked all the right boxes. Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of the audio version of this book.

Sian evans maiden voyages