Status
Available
Publication
St. Martin's Press (2021), Edition: First Edition, 368 pages
Description
During the early twentieth century, transatlantic travel was the province of the great ocean liners. It was an extraordinary undertaking made by many women, whose lives were transformed by their journeys between the Old World and the New. Some traveled for leisure, some for work; others to reinvent themselves or find new opportunities. They were celebrities, migrants and millionaires, refugees, aristocrats and crew members whose stories have mostly remained untold--until now. Maiden Voyages is a fascinating portrait of these women as they crossed the Atlantic. The ocean liner was a microcosm of contemporary society, divided by class: from the luxury of the upper deck, playground for the rich and famous, to the cramped conditions of steerage or third class travel. In first class you'll meet A-listers like Marlene Dietrich, Wallis Simpson, and Josephine Baker; the second class carried a new generation of professional and independent women, like pioneering interior designer Sibyl Colefax. Down in steerage, you'll follow the journey of e migre Maria Riffelmacher as she escapes poverty in Europe. Bustling between decks is a crew of female workers, including Violet "The Unsinkable Stewardess" Jessop, who survived the Titanic disaster.Entertaining and informative, Maiden Voyages captures the golden age of ocean liners through the stories of the women whose transatlantic journeys changed the shape of society on both sides of the globe.… (more)
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User reviews
LibraryThing member drmaf
Interesting book about the largely unknown story of women in the golden age of transatlantic liners. Starting in the 19th century with the very first steam passenger vessels, through the burgeoning Edwardian era, the horrors of WWI, the glamourous inter-war years, WWII and on up to the end of
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transatlantic ocean travel in the jet age, it covers both female passengers and female crew, the latter stories tending to be far more interesting. Violet Jessop, 'the Unsinkable", who survived 3 sinkings, including the Titanic, Edith Sowerbutts, who began as a "conductress" chaperoning single ladies immigrating to the New World and graduated to popular and much-loved stewardess, and Victoria Drummond, first woman to qualify as a marine engineer, and who won fame keeping her ship' s engines running while under attack from German aircraft are the stars of the book, and their stories are told in vivid detail. Very interesting highlight on a previously neglected are of marine travel, well worth reading. Show Less
LibraryThing member jetangen4571
20th-century, Atlantic ocean, passenger-ships, historical-places-events, historical research, history-and-culture, nonfiction, women, WW1, WW2, post WW1, post WW2, memoirs*****
This book is a history geek's dream!
The detailed research through archives and personal records and correspondence of some
Luxury shipping is detailed from the beginning of the 20th century. These same ships and many of the women were also in service during each of the world wars, including the ill fated Kindertransports. It is interesting to note that the Queen Mary was not only the best in luxury, but as of 1927 had a Jewish prayer room and also a rabbi to keep kosher in the kitchen.
Another geeky tidbit is that the Aquitania made 580 crossings in 40 years and was the only Trans Atlantic liner to have served in both world wars putting on 3 million miles and transporting 1.2 million passengers.
Fantastic book for geeks like me!
I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. Thank you!
This book is a history geek's dream!
The detailed research through archives and personal records and correspondence of some
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of the women who worked as stewardesses and more for the Cunard and White Star lines is beyond impressive. As advertised, there are many stories of individual women who needed to go to sea to support those at home, including one woman who served on the Titanic, Lusitania, and another torpedoed ship! There are selected notes about well known women of the era between the wars such as Josephine Baker and Nancy Astor and mentions of film stars Rudolph Valentino, Johnny Weissmuller, and Douglas Fairbanks.Luxury shipping is detailed from the beginning of the 20th century. These same ships and many of the women were also in service during each of the world wars, including the ill fated Kindertransports. It is interesting to note that the Queen Mary was not only the best in luxury, but as of 1927 had a Jewish prayer room and also a rabbi to keep kosher in the kitchen.
Another geeky tidbit is that the Aquitania made 580 crossings in 40 years and was the only Trans Atlantic liner to have served in both world wars putting on 3 million miles and transporting 1.2 million passengers.
Fantastic book for geeks like me!
I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. Thank you!
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LibraryThing member TheQuietReader
As travel across the Atlantic becomes more common, the comfort of women travelers must be arranged. Thus, a new avenue of employment arises for intrepid women willing to take it on. From celebrities to stewardesses, including The Unsinkable Stewardess who survives multiple sinkings, this book sheds
I've never been overly interested in the history of ocean travel, but the subject of this book caught my attention immediately. It was fascinating to read examples of the different lives of women who crossed the ocean. There were stewardesses, who began as maids and worked their way up. Celebrities who made multiple crossings for their careers and had favorite ships. I especially enjoyed the descriptions of the luxury ships with their staircases and such for dramatic entrances.
At times, the narrative feels like it goes off on tangents explaining certain details but will bring it back to the main point. There are a few phrases the author seems to especially like, such as when referring to those who have "a portable typewriter and an outgoing personality."
Overall, it was an interesting read. Those who are interested in ocean travel or simply have an interest in an avenue of women's work that allowed them more freedom will enjoy this book.
I was invited to download a free copy from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.
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light on a unique part of human history.I've never been overly interested in the history of ocean travel, but the subject of this book caught my attention immediately. It was fascinating to read examples of the different lives of women who crossed the ocean. There were stewardesses, who began as maids and worked their way up. Celebrities who made multiple crossings for their careers and had favorite ships. I especially enjoyed the descriptions of the luxury ships with their staircases and such for dramatic entrances.
At times, the narrative feels like it goes off on tangents explaining certain details but will bring it back to the main point. There are a few phrases the author seems to especially like, such as when referring to those who have "a portable typewriter and an outgoing personality."
Overall, it was an interesting read. Those who are interested in ocean travel or simply have an interest in an avenue of women's work that allowed them more freedom will enjoy this book.
I was invited to download a free copy from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.
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LibraryThing member GrandmaCootie
What a nice non-fiction change from psychological thrillers and cozy mysteries. Maiden Voyages delivers as promised: it is most definitely an engaging and anecdotal social history detailing the lives of women traveling as wealthy guests, women looking to make new lives for themselves, and women
The narrative jumps from anecdote to anecdote, but that just adds to the charm of the stories. Author Sian Evans keeps a clear timeline going, returning to wrap up stories of women previously introduced so we aren’t left wondering, “What happened to her?” The book is full of history, but it’s not dry like a history book can be. It’s easy to read, moves along smoothly, and is a very enjoyable way to spend a couple of days. I already knew some of the facts presented (it’s history, after all) but I learned a lot of interesting tidbits. A variety of women passengers as well as those working on board are profiled. The strict lines of society and how they were not to be crossed are apparent. The dedication, bravery, and heroism of many of the women employed and the constraints they had to work under are highlighted. And we are also teased with a bit of scandal about some of the passengers.
Maiden Voyages is well-written, well-researched, informative and entertaining. Author Sian Evans has done a brilliant job bringing this unique type of travel by these wonderful women to life. It was a fascinating period in history and makes for a great read. I read a digital copy but I believe I will get a copy of the hardcover book to enjoy the photos even more.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing an advance copy of Maiden Voyages via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I loved it and recommend it without hesitation. All opinions are my own.
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employed as staff on magnificent ocean liners traveling between Europe and North America during the Golden Age of ocean liner travel. The narrative jumps from anecdote to anecdote, but that just adds to the charm of the stories. Author Sian Evans keeps a clear timeline going, returning to wrap up stories of women previously introduced so we aren’t left wondering, “What happened to her?” The book is full of history, but it’s not dry like a history book can be. It’s easy to read, moves along smoothly, and is a very enjoyable way to spend a couple of days. I already knew some of the facts presented (it’s history, after all) but I learned a lot of interesting tidbits. A variety of women passengers as well as those working on board are profiled. The strict lines of society and how they were not to be crossed are apparent. The dedication, bravery, and heroism of many of the women employed and the constraints they had to work under are highlighted. And we are also teased with a bit of scandal about some of the passengers.
Maiden Voyages is well-written, well-researched, informative and entertaining. Author Sian Evans has done a brilliant job bringing this unique type of travel by these wonderful women to life. It was a fascinating period in history and makes for a great read. I read a digital copy but I believe I will get a copy of the hardcover book to enjoy the photos even more.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing an advance copy of Maiden Voyages via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I loved it and recommend it without hesitation. All opinions are my own.
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LibraryThing member CassiesBooksReader
Maiden Voyages by Sian Evans is Historical Nonfiction and is about travel on ocean liners by various classes of women. The lives of the people and how they evolved through the years from the 19th and 20th centuries.
Jobs on ships changed and became available according to wars, prohibition, peace
I really enjoyed reading about how lives were changed because of various opportunities offered to women at sea. I found some of the people so appealing, I would like to read more about their adventures and lives. Loved the real History.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 5 Stars
Jobs on ships changed and became available according to wars, prohibition, peace
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and especially need. The information in this book about the different ships in this era could be a book in itself.I really enjoyed reading about how lives were changed because of various opportunities offered to women at sea. I found some of the people so appealing, I would like to read more about their adventures and lives. Loved the real History.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 5 Stars
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LibraryThing member brangwinn
Basing this interesting story on diaries, letters and accounts published, not only is this a story of women who worked on ocean liners during their heyday, it is also the story of passengers like Tallulah Bankhead and Marlene Dietrich. Yes, those tantalizing tidbits about famous passengers adds to
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the story but it is the single women and widows who chose the sea life as a career which guides the account. It’s the story of these women who served aboard hospital ships during WWI and then were relegated back to the former lowly women held before the world. If you enjoy women’s history or Eric Larson’s Dead Wake, you will appreciate this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member carole888fort
Maiden Voyages by Sian Evans is an account of the women aboard ocean liners at the turn of the twentieth century and beyond. Up until that point, women aboard ship were considered back luck by the all-male sailors. The ocean liners enjoyed a great deal of popularity and facilitated the crossing of
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the Atlantic with comfort and speed. The women sailed as tourists, employees of the cruise line and there were also women looking to better their lives on a new continent. They could be found on all three levels of the liners. There were women whose fame came from wealth, the theatre and such who enjoyed the comfort and luxury of ocean travel. There were also women who worked on board, some of them spending their entire working life on the seas: they were especially needed to look after the female passengers and their children. There were also women who travelled in steerage with their children, having scraped together all of their money to pay for passage in order to find a better life. Maiden Voyages is a fascinating look at an important part of maritime history. It’s evident that Sian Evans has thoroughly researched this subject. Highly recommended. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Show Less
LibraryThing member LadyoftheLodge
This book provides reader insights into the lives of women who served and traveled on luxury ocean liners. The introduction lays the groundwork for readers, detailing the history of the role of stewardess and why women took the jobs. Narratives of individual women travelers make up the rest of the
This is an area of history that might be new to some readers, as it was for me. The book gives a glimpse into shipboard life of both passengers and those who worked on the ocean liners. It was interesting to me to compare the life aboard the ships to life aboard modern day cruise ships. I especially liked the narratives of the individual women, as they added perspective to the role of women on the ships and made the book more interesting.
I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
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book.This is an area of history that might be new to some readers, as it was for me. The book gives a glimpse into shipboard life of both passengers and those who worked on the ocean liners. It was interesting to me to compare the life aboard the ships to life aboard modern day cruise ships. I especially liked the narratives of the individual women, as they added perspective to the role of women on the ships and made the book more interesting.
I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
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LibraryThing member Virginia51
This was a fantastic audiobook talking about the women that crossed the oceans on ocean liners. This has a wonderful narrator and kept me very interested. I loved the stories that were told about these women that traveled the seas, especially the ones during the early 1900s. I received a copy of
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this audiobook from Netgalley for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will. Show Less
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
368 p.; 9.67 inches
ISBN
1250246466 / 9781250246462