Queen of the Lakes (Great Lakes Books Series)

By: Mark L. Thompson

Narrated by: Bill Nevitt

This book is an account of ships that have borne the name Queen of the Lakes, an honorary title indicating that, at the time of its launching, a ship is the longest on the Great Lakes. In one of the most comprehensive books ever written on the maritime history of the lakes, Mark Thompson presents a vignette of each of the dozens of ships that have held the title, chronicling the dates the ship sailed, its dimensions, the derivation of its name, its role in the economic development of the region, and its sailing history. Through the stories of the individual ships, Thompson also describes the growth of ship design on the Great Lakes and the changing nature of the shipping industry on the lakes.

The launching of the fist ship on Lake Ontario in 1678 - the diminutive Frontenac, a small, two-masted vessel of only about 10 tons and no more than 40 or 45 feet long - set in motion an evolutionary process that has continued for more than 300 years. That ship is the direct ancestor of all the ships that ever have operated on the Great Lakes, from the Str. Onoko, launched in February 1882 and the first ship to bear the name Queen of the Lakes, to the Str. W. D. Rees, which held its title only for a few weeks, to the Tregurtha, the longest ship on the lakes in 1981.

Although the ships on the Great Lakes may be surpassed in size and efficiency by many of the modern ocean freighters, Thompson notes that the ships now sailing on the great freshwater seas of North America have achieved a level of operating mastery that is unrivaled anywhere in the world, considering the inherent limitations of the Great Lakes system.

This audiobook is published by University Press Audiobooks.

©1994 Wayne State University Press (P)2018 Redwood Audiobooks

Details galore, interesting history!

The author must have done a lot of research in order to provide all of the detailed facts provided in this book. The history of the ships that sail the Great Lakes is quite intriguing and not one that is often talked about but that has played a big part in the development of industry in both the countries that they border. The book is brought to life by the reading of the narrator, who is very enjoyable to listen to.. A must-read for anyone who is looking for a different aspect of history.to explore.

Queen of the Lakes

Like another reviewer mentioned, I thought that this book was about the ship The Edmund Fitzgerald. While this ship is featured in the book, it is not the main focus.

If you are interested in the history of big freighter ships and their impact on the Great Lakes region, this is a well researched book with a ton of details. I will admit that I listened to the book at a fairly fast speed because of the amount of facts and figures contained therein. It is well-written and well-composed and the author definitely knows this field well. The subject matter could have come across as very dull and boring, but the author keeps it interesting.

The narrator, Bill Nevitt, does a great job with what could have a very dry subject. I was given the chance to listen to the audiobook version of this book by the narrator/author/publisher and chose to review it.

Thompson made this subject fascinating!

I liked the personal touches included in this story. Stories of the men who served were intertwined with the history of the commercial hauling fleet on the Great Lakes. We not only learned about the ships but also how their creators, crews and public thought about them.
I found myself really caring about those grand ships.

a great history book

a very good history book about the ships named Queen of the Lakes I did enjoy dinner at your very much the book was very informative it was told like a story and it was very interesting and very well written
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review

GREAT Lakes

For those of us who grew up on or around the Great Lakes one memory we all share is that of the truly unique freighters that ply their waters. With that in mind, yes, this book has a somewhat narrow focus, but while it may not be for everyone, it is essential for that group of “freighter fans” who know them on sight yet may not know their stories.

With an attention to detail, Mark L. Thompson tells the stories of the largest of these ships – the “Queens of the Lakes” – from drawing board to demise. Not overwhelming with detail but just enough to capture the size and scope of these haulers, with Thompson’s text and Bill Nevitt’s narration you can almost picture them plying the waters of the Great Lakes once again.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

good history

Other than a few truly horrible mispronunciations of local names, it was very well read. The guy seriously could not pronounce cuyahoga. It was distracting

So much to learn from this

This is the first book I’ve read/listened to by this author and I would listen to another.
What a fantastic accumulation of knowledge, presented in a great format.

This is the first book I’ve listened to by this narrator ( Bill Nevitt ) and I would listen to another. He read this content well and did great keeping my interest.

There are no explicit sex scenes, excessive violence or swearing.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this unbiased review.
Please feel free to comment on whether you found my review helpful.

Great History

Queen of the Lakes (Great Lakes Books Series) - Great history jam packed with interesting facts. Very interesting and informative about the development of the Great Lakes.
I was given a free copy of this audiobook at my own request, and voluntarily leave this review.

QUEEN OF THE GREAT LAKES

ANOTHER UNIQUE TELLING OF THE HISTORY OF THE GREAT LAKES, BILL NEVITT DID A WONDERFUL JOB WITH THE NARRATION!

Fantastic read/listen!

My first read/listen from author Mark L. Thompson was not my typical read. A non-fiction work detailing the Great lakes largest shipping vessels. Highly detailed & well-written, this book may not be for everyone but I found it enjoyable. Bill Nevitt’s narration made the almost 13 book pass quickly. Nevitt 's voice is reminiscent of NFL Films Steve Sabol and adds richness & depth to the reading! I was given an Audible copy of this book & am voluntarily reviewing it. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).