91 color plates 14 x 15 * Lavishly illustrated with large-scale, color artwork * Detailed narrative of the rise and fall of sailing ships * Covers more than 500 years of maritime history This special, large format, magnificently illustrated book is a lavish panorama of some of the most elegant ships ever built and an essential addition to literature on this captivating subject. Historic Sail features wonderful color artwork by Joseph Wheatley and accompanying text by leading naval historian Stephen Howarth. The vessels covered include: Portuguese carracks; Venetian merchantmen; Spanish galleys and galleons; Elizabethan warships; European ships of the line; and the sleek frigates, yachts and clippers of the nineteenth century. Joseph Wheatley has spent more than thirty years researching and illustrating the history of sailing vessels. Stephen Howarth is a leading expert on maritime history and the author of numerous books, including a biography of Nelson.