The Sailing Frigate: A History in Ship Models

Robert Gardiner, the author, is a deserved and respected authority on the history and development of the British sailing frigate. The National Maritime Museum (NMM) in Greenwich, London, from where the majority of the models photographed for this book are from, has one of the finest collections of ship models in the world (though sadly so little of their vast collection is on display as the musuem has, in recent decades, adopted a lowest-common-denominator attitude in its public exhibition spaces; gimmicks over serious informative displays, making the museum hardly worth a visit these days).Together, the author's reputation and the NMM, would suggest a book such as this would be definitive and worthy of its subject. unfortunately both have been let down by the publisher (or book designer to be specific, though probably working under tight financial constraints). The format is far too small to do justice to the photographs/subject, whilst the presentation and layout of placing photographs across two pages means that unless the reader is prepared to break the spine of the book, some detail is lost, besides which a comprehensive appreciation of models so displayed is not possible.A possibly subjective criticism is that, on some double-page spreads, the typography of the book is very much akin to children's text books than a serious historical record. This is particularly apparent where a model is used to explain detail or changes in design, creating messy caption placing often with irritating lines directing the reader to a particular part of a model.In most cases the quality of photography is outstanding, though there are one or two that appear to be under-exposed, but this is no fault of the author. The so-called detailed close-ups are again too small to do justice to the point the author is making.According to the blurb, this is the first in a series that will cover some of the NMM's vast collection of ship models. This is to be welcomed (and a very long time coming), but hopefully with a more sympathetic approach on the part of the publisher.The text is authoritative and well-written. Some of the models shown are exquisite and beautiful examples of the ship model makers art (though this is NOT a book about model making). The sailing frigate, particularly from the latter part of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, was arguably the most beautiful of all sailing warships. This book's appeal will be wide ranging in terms of those who study maritime and naval history, and ship model making (and even marine artists who will undoubtedly use this book as a reference source) . With all its faults in terms of deign and layout this book is recommended.

Robert Gardiner is justly renowned as the author of three classic books, 'The First Frigates: 9 & 12 pdr Frigates: 1748-1815' (1992); 'The Heavy Frigate: 18 pdr Frigates: 1778-1800' (1994), and 'Frigates of the Napoleonic Wars' (2000). Now he has taken advantage of developments in modern printing and publishing to produce a sumptuous guide to Frigate evolution as illustrated by surviving ship models in the National Maritime Museum collections (including several not on display today). All of the many photographs are in colour, which would have made this book prohibitively expensive not so long ago, and it is this mass of clear colour illustrations that really make this book such a joy to read. His older books are still excellent for reference, but there is no comparison between the impact and quality of the colour photos in this book and those old black and white photos. Moreover he has taken the opportunity to expand his coverage to include the post-war 'final generation' of sailing frigates, notably the work of Sepping and Symonds. Truly excellent.

this is a Christmas gift so cannot comment on what the receiver will think of it but in general it looks good.

Superb photographs and clear explanations of the development of the frigate, although I would have preferred a more chronological approach..

It was a really lovely book. It had so many illustrations. My friend loved it!!

This may seem to be quite expensive but the information is beautifully presented and offers both model makers, and naval history fans , a detailed insight into the development of this class of craft.

Brilliant overview of development of sailing frigate

Surprisingly good book, with lots of very quality pictures. Pleasure to read, any ship modelling enthusiast would be happy with it.