I always enjoy these cut away books and Stephen Biesty's are some of my favorites! My boys especially asked for this book and they love it. There are so many details to pour over that you could spend hours looking at the pictures. ( )

This is really excellently drawn and a useful reference work. While it is a picture book it is actually not suitable for children as it is straightforward and quite graphic about the brutality and horror of life at sea in the 18th century. A child with quick eyes and a good imagination will likely end up crying themselves to sleep and parents will have a really hard time explaining all the dismembered, mutilated, screaming bodies. The discussion of chamberpots, roundhouses, heads, and quarter galleries is merely useful and informative. ( )

Good visual guide for fans of Patrick O'Brian or other historical novels set in time of sailing ships. Would be nice to have closeups of some areas. ( )

This beautifully illustrated 32-page book is fun for children, and useful for students of the navies of the Napoleonic Wars. If you've ever been reading a Hornblower book or one of the Aubrey/Maturin series and wanted to see what is being described, this book can help you.

The Man-of-War presented is based on HMS Victory. As with most of Stephen Biesty's books it contains many cross-sections to show the interior and consturction of the vessel. For children, there is a "Stowaway" character that is sort of like "where's Waldo" in each picture. Children can have fun trying to find this character.

This is a great and useful book. ( )