Steven Ujifusa

From Simon & Schuster:

In the tradition of David McCullough’s grand histories, the sweeping story of one man’s quest to build the fastest, finest ocean liner in history—set against the politics, culture, and enterprise of twentieth century America.

Taking readers back to a golden age, when America’s industrial might, innovative ambition, and maritime dynamism were unmatched, Steven Ujifusa’s groundbreaking debut sheds light on a forgotten genius and the sleek vision to which he gave birth.

William Francis Gibbs was an American original, on par with John Roebling of the Brooklyn Bridge and Frank Lloyd Wright of Fallingwater. Forced to drop out of Harvard following his family’s sudden financial ruin, he overcame debilitating shyness and lack of formal training to become the visionary creator of some of the finest ships in history. He spent forty years dreaming of the ship that became his post-World War II masterpiece, the S.S. United States— a cutting-edge ocean liner whose hull and engine room designs were classified top secret. Capable of carrying 2,000 passengers at the record-breaking clip of 35.59 knots, she could be transformed into a troopship capable of delivering 14,000 soldiers over 10,000 miles without refueling. In telling the story of this iconic vessel that delivered people from all walks of life across the Atlantic for almost two decades, Ujifusa captures a perfect storm of man and machine, when one innovator’s dream stamped its mark on an era. A Man and His Ship is a first-rate work of history that heralds the arrival of an exciting new talent.

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Advance praise for A Man and His Ship:

“A Man and His Ship, a hugely entertaining re-creation of the age of the ocean liner, will leave older readers nostalgic, younger readers envious, and all of them engrossed in the drama of William Francis Gibbs as he fights to build the greatest ship of them all, the S.S. United States. The Cunard Line once boasted that ‘getting there is half the fun.’Now Steven Ujifusa has given us the other half.” —A. J. Langguth, author of Driven West

“A marvelous narrative of America’s premier naval architect .” —Barrett Tillman, author of Enterprise