sion went both ways, as the builders and operators of the giant steam-powered machines struggled to keep the popu lar interest by presenting ever larger and faster vessels. Burgess emphasizes the role of the pressure to keep public interest in daring behavior on the part of ship captains, which sometimes led to disaster. Tragedies, like JOHN GALLUZZO the sinking of the Titanic, became the subHanover, Massachusetts ject of debate in the press and formed the pulpit as social observers tried to determine Engines ofEmpire: Steamships and the the role of God in the successes and failures Victorian Imagination by Douglas R. of the machines built to overcome natureBurgess Jr. (Stanford University Press, Stan- the product of God. ford, CA, 2016, 342pp, illus, notes, biblio, Burgess also investigates the reflection index, ISBN 978-0-8047-9806-8; $35hc) of social castes in the steam-powered land The main title, Engines ofEmpire, sug- transportation system (i.e. trains), but maingests a practical study of engines, but it is tains his attention on how this plays out on the secondary title, Steamships and the Vic- oceangoing, river, and coastal ships. He torian Imagination, that defines the eso- takes a close look at the scenario where these teric work by Douglas R. Burgess Jr. His modern modes of transportation brought work is not easily defined because it cross- people to the large public exhibitions, such es so many disciplinary lines: art, science, as the Crystal Palace Exhibition of 1851, psychology, philosophy, history, religion, which exposed them to marvels in science politics, sociology, economics, manage- and mechanics, transforming the way they ment, marketing, advertising, geography, thought about their world and their place literature (both prose and poetry), and in it. Those from the lower classes anticiengineering. His writing is nothing short pated rubbing shoulders with the rich and of genius. Burgess is an artist who adorns powerful on their travels to these exhibihis canvas with words. tions, but management strove to separate Burgess does not confine his investiga- them within tight confines. Burgess examtion to the building and operation of ocean- ines the ramifications of this shared, but going steamships from the beginning of separated, existence on the confines of rails steam-powered vessels, but also analyzes and water transport, and, as the narrative the impact of steam-driven riverboats, es- progresses, there is less about steam engines pecially on the Mississippi River, and the and more about people: how they were commuter ferries operating along the separated by class, how the classes interNortheast Corridor. His main focus is on acted with one another, and how those the response of society to these techno- within the classes interacted with one anlogical marvels, and draws on a wide vari- other. ety of sources-editorials, speeches, memSteam and civilization combined to oirs, diary entries, and sermons-to flesh enhance imperialism by reducing the time our the human reaction to the launching required to deliver news, administrators, of mammoth vessels powered by steam, supplies, soldiers, settlers, and whatever else then the largest man-made, self-propelled was needed to expand and maintain an objects on the planet. He examines the empire spread thou sands of miles around individual and societal responses to works- the globe. of-man pitted against the power of nature, No review, abbreviated or extended, and especially the conflict that emerges can do justice to this work that offers deep when the machines seem to be winning the insights into technology and society. Anybattle. one interested in ships and their impact on The spectacle of huge steam-powered civilization will find in Engines ofEmpire a ships impressed a public that responded by study worthy of their time and attention. lionizing the machines and, later, the enDAVID 0. WHITTEN, PHD gineers responsible for them . The impresAuburn, Alabama
was barely enough room for a dog to turn around, let alone a schooner). It's in Coburn's story that we again see Semones's strength as an author. She finds the true character of the historic personalities who shaped the communities of coastal California, and succinctly and effectively interprets them for our reading pleasure.
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Based on the free ASMA video documentary (naval-war-of-1812-ill ustrated.org), th is book tells the exciting story of the formative years of the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Revenue Cutter Service. Available in print, Audible.com and Kindle at Amazon.com ALL NET PROCEEDS FROM SALES OFTHE BOOKS GO TOASMA
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SEA HISTORY 160, AUTUMN 2017