France/Norway: France's Last Liner/Norway's First Mega Cruise Ship
*Starred Review* Like mammals, which wrested the world from the dinosaurs, the jet plane quickly became the most popular and economical way to cross the Atlantic during the 1960s, leading to a decline in bookings on ocean liners. Into this transitional world, the French Line nevertheless launched the magnificent France in 1960; at the time, it was the longest passenger ship in the world and certainly one of the most elegant of the classic Atlantic-crossing queens. But the economic times in which the France lived took their toll on the ship�s livelihood, and a dozen years after it entered service, the great ship was withdrawn, never to grace the waves between Europe and New York again. Fortunately, it was not yet confined to the scrap heap. A few years after retirement, the France was converted into the cruise ship Norway to live a few years more, although not in the same royal state. Maxtone-Graham, an expert on passenger-ship history and author of the seminal The Only Way to Cross (1972), here documents, with considerable authority and passion, the story of the France/Norway from inception and design to eventual scrapping at an Indian port. The illustrations in this lovely oversize book are plentiful and gorgeous, all contributing to a vibrant, informative book that all ship lovers, travelers, and students of social history will greatly appreciate. --Brad Hooper