The Golden Century: Classic Motor Yachts, 1830-1930

Rating:
Summary: GREAT PICTURES, GREAT OPINIONS!
Review: It's funny, but contrary to the adjacent review, I found the author's opinions of classic yacht design to be right on target, and I learned an incredible amount of historical information. Did we read the same book? Through the text (and amazing images!) I learned a great deal about the evolution of yacht design. Fascinating as well were the many "sidebars" offering a wealth of information on yacht designers, builders, and even a quote from Mark Twain! The biographies of the yacht owners also drew me in, and helped make their yachts come alive. Where did the author find all this information?
And while the adjacent reviewer also didn't like the author's personal history with yachts (a wholly separate section), I found this helpful. When I read about the author's experience aboard the derelict PANZOLA (page 242), for example, my heart was in my throat! And ALONDRA! The author plainly loves classic yachts, and I enjoyed learning the underpinnings of this passion.
The adjacent reviewer and I agree on one thing: The images are incredible. The author states that most were never published. All are beautifully presented in duotone, and a great many will take your breath away. I can't imagine the research required to find so many images. The lively text draws the reader in and makes the evocative images, and the era they represent, come alive in a way that would not have been possible in a dry, academic exercise.
Moreover, the "Timeline" and "Sources" at the end of the book make this an excellent research tool.

Rating:
Summary: GREAT PICTURES, GREAT OPINIONS!
Review: It's funny, but contrary to the adjacent review, I found the author's opinions of classic yacht design to be right on target, and I learned an incredible amount of historical information. Did we read the same book? Through the text (and amazing images!) I learned a great deal about the evolution of yacht design. Fascinating as well were the many "sidebars" offering a wealth of information on yacht designers, builders, and even a quote from Mark Twain! The biographies of the yacht owners also drew me in, and helped make their yachts come alive. Where did the author find all this information?
And while the adjacent reviewer also didn't like the author's personal history with yachts (a wholly separate section), I found this helpful. When I read about the author's experience aboard the derelict PANZOLA (page 242), for example, my heart was in my throat! And ALONDRA! The author plainly loves classic yachts, and I enjoyed learning the underpinnings of this passion.
The adjacent reviewer and I agree on one thing: The images are incredible. The author states that most were never published. All are beautifully presented in duotone, and a great many will take your breath away. I can't imagine the research required to find so many images. The lively text draws the reader in and makes the evocative images, and the era they represent, come alive in a way that would not have been possible in a dry, academic exercise.
Moreover, the "Timeline" and "Sources" at the end of the book make this an excellent research tool.

Rating:
Summary: It¿s all great - Worth 6 Stars!
Review: Ross MacTaggart's delightful book is an exuberant look at the wonderful yachts of that era. The author's enthusiasm and love for his subject are evident throughout. He offers us a window into that era and into the backgrounds and personalities of the people who were the patrons of the arts that created these yachts. And objects of art they were indeed -- the drawings done by hand have a character that is lost in today's CAD presentations and the resulting vessels had an elegance about them that is missing in today's yachts (that often look like they were styled to look like running shoes). Pore over the photos and drawings. Read the text -- it sounds just like the author is engaged in a conversation with you -- and take a guided tour into another time. I hope that this book will both inspire people to restore these yachts and build more like them. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series of these books that Ross MacTaggart is writing!

Rating:
Summary: Seeing the best at their best
Review: Ross Mactaggert's volume on the yachts of "The Golden Century" holds an important place within maritime works. This book begins to fill a gap often overlooked in works about yachting. It also continues to be the benchmark for quality of photographs. Browse any book store today and the newest publications still cannot challenge this book's impact. Not only are the illustrations glorious, but most have not been seen before. Mactaggert continues to get the question "where did you find these pictures?". The photos serve to speak for the ample research into the circumstances surrrounding the creation of these magnificent vessels by their often excentric owners. This book is about LIFE - life aboard a floating palace, built to impress guests and competitors, and provide the ultimate in comfort and luxury for the self-proclamed deserving owner. Mactaggert's personal asides reflect the same enthusiam for yachting that must have inspired these weathy barons to spend their fortunes on building these grand vessels. Mactaggert links us to this high life of a century past, a worthy research effort presented in a style befitting the subject. A must-have.

Rating:
Summary: Seeing the best at their best
Review: Ross Mactaggert's volume on the yachts of "The Golden Century" holds an important place within maritime works. This book begins to fill a gap often overlooked in works about yachting. It also continues to be the benchmark for quality of photographs. Browse any book store today and the newest publications still cannot challenge this book's impact. Not only are the illustrations glorious, but most have not been seen before. Mactaggert continues to get the question "where did you find these pictures?". The photos serve to speak for the ample research into the circumstances surrrounding the creation of these magnificent vessels by their often excentric owners. This book is about LIFE - life aboard a floating palace, built to impress guests and competitors, and provide the ultimate in comfort and luxury for the self-proclamed deserving owner. Mactaggert's personal asides reflect the same enthusiam for yachting that must have inspired these weathy barons to spend their fortunes on building these grand vessels. Mactaggert links us to this high life of a century past, a worthy research effort presented in a style befitting the subject. A must-have.

Rating:
Summary: Seeing the best at their best
Review: Ross Mactaggert's volume on the yachts of "The Golden Century" holds an important place within maritime works. This book begins to fill a gap often overlooked in works about yachting. It also continues to be the benchmark for quality of photographs. Browse any book store today and the newest publications still cannot challenge this book's impact. Not only are the illustrations glorious, but most have not been seen before. Mactaggert continues to get the question "where did you find these pictures?". The photos serve to speak for the ample research into the circumstances surrrounding the creation of these magnificent vessels by their often excentric owners. This book is about LIFE - life aboard a floating palace, built to impress guests and competitors, and provide the ultimate in comfort and luxury for the self-proclamed deserving owner. Mactaggert's personal asides reflect the same enthusiam for yachting that must have inspired these weathy barons to spend their fortunes on building these grand vessels. Mactaggert links us to this high life of a century past, a worthy research effort presented in a style befitting the subject. A must-have.

Rating:
Summary: Great Pictures, too opinionated.
Review: The collection of old photos is wonderful and worth buying the book just for them. However I expected more historical information, and I was put off by the authors need to insert his personal opinion about the original design of the ships that was contrary to the original designers. It was clear he did not understand the motivation of the period designers. I also had no interest in the author's personal history.

Rating:
Summary: Great Pictures, Well Written
Review: There is no doubt the images are the backbone of this work and this alone makes it a must for all yacht lovers. There just aren't many published photos of classic power yachts and this one is loaded with exterior and rarely seen interior shots. Although, the real bonus is the way in which the author presents these images with a mix of history, design critiques and personal experiences making this much more than a basic picture book. The text flows from beginning to end, but it's the personal experiences that show the reader the foundation of the authors interest in the subject. I enjoyed this work tremendously and browse through it frequently, learning something new each time.

Rating:
Summary: Great Pictures, Well Written
Review: There is no doubt the images are the backbone of this work and this alone makes it a must for all yacht lovers. There just aren't many published photos of classic power yachts and this one is loaded with exterior and rarely seen interior shots. Although, the real bonus is the way in which the author presents these images with a mix of history, design critiques and personal experiences making this much more than a basic picture book. The text flows from beginning to end, but it's the personal experiences that show the reader the foundation of the authors interest in the subject. I enjoyed this work tremendously and browse through it frequently, learning something new each time.

Rating:
Summary: A landmark study
Review: There's no denying that there are some opinions in this book, but whereas every yacht is in sum a testimony of great ambition and initiative, this book, and most certainly the following volumes, are the same. It's certainly a labour of love and as earlier mentioned it offers a plethora of beautiful detailed photographs, technical drawings and details to satisfy even the most professional of readers. The author's personal journey makes this publication more digestible in the sense that if differ from the standard encyclopaedic role of earlier books on the subject, and thus are accessible to more readers. This series will, without question, be the most important work in this field of marine architecture available. Worth every penny!