At the beginning of the twentieth century, competition between the North Atlantic shipping lines was fierce. While Britian responded to the commercial threat posed by the growing German merchant marine, there was also rivalry between the great Cunard Line and its chief competitor. This is a pictorial celebration of the world-famous sister ships: the Olympic-class liners. A maritime expert tells the story of the sister shipsy?using previously unseen pictures, passenger diaries, and deck plans, illustrating Olympic's successful career; the premature ends of her two unfortunate sisters; and the experiences of those onboard. Designed for passenger comfort, they were intended to provide luxurious surroundings and safe, reliable service rather than record-breaking speed. Ironically, fate decreed that only Olympic would ever complete a single commercial voyage and she went on to serve for a quarter of a century in peace and war. Titanic's name would become infamous after she sank on her maiden voyage. The third sister, Britannic, saw a brief and commendable career as a hospital ship during World War I, sinking in the Aegean Sea in 1916

• Legend and reality. A progressive science ; 'Queen of the Seas' ; Olympic's maiden voyage
• A run of bad luck. The Hawke collision ; Titanic's maiden voyage
• Questions of confidence. Mutiny on the Olympic ; Back in service ; Meeting the competition
• Sisters at war. HMT Olympic ; HMHS Britannic ; A body blow ; 'Old Reliable'
• The roaring twenties. Back on track ; Rise of the tourist traveller
• A time of hardship. Yesterday's news ; End of the line
• The ocean's secrets. Britannic ; Titannic
• Appendices. I. 'Olympic' class specifications ; II. Construction chronology ; III. Cost of the 'Olympic' class