Book of the month

摘要

Sealink was synonymous with ferry travel around the British Isles. Sealink and Beyond looks back at this famous business from 1969, through privatisation and hostile takeover, until 1995 when the name was quietly dropped, and must be the best Sealink book ever written. Providing a full operational history, the book places Sealink in the context of an era of rapid change. From the after effects of Beeching to the Irish troubles, the Falklands War and Thatcherite privatisation, the Sealink story was heavily shaped by political, economic and social considerations. In this outstanding 256-page hardback book, well produced, researched and written, the authors have made extensive use of the archive material about Sealink and found considerable never before seen material. This includes information about the formation of the company, the design ethos of the ships, the brand identity and the takeover. Interesting details are included about the privatisation of Sealink and how the many bidders were whittled down to the last one. Other aspects of the company which are explored include marketing, the experience of the passenger, port operations and cruises. With the former Sealink fleet now dispersed around the globe, the authors have tracked the surviving ships and collated an up to date illustrated fleet list. The book benefits from a large number of fine pictures, many of which are in colour.