A fascinating study of the British Navy, that is copiously illustrated throughout, and complete in three volumes. Of particular note are the ship portraits by W. Fred Mitchell that include Victory, Captain, Thrush, Speedwell, Blenheim, Royal Sovereign and others (with emphasis on the Ironclad period). Many of the original artworks in this work are held by the National Maritime Museum Collection in Greenwich.
The illustrations of sailors' costumes and of personalities of the British fleet were beautifully done by the well-known artist W. Christian Symons.
The comprehensive text was undertaken by Charles Rathbone Low, who served as a Lieutenant in the Indian Navy and who wrote respected factual works, including 'The History of the Indian Navy'.