Book Review: QE2 A photographic Journey
QE2
A photographic Journey
Chris Frame and Rachelle Cross.
A commemorative photographic tribute to the most famous ocean liner of our time.
This updated paper back edition published in 2013 of QE2: A Photographic Journey takes the reader on a voyage of appreciation of the best-known and most-loved ocean liner.
In the forward to this book, Ocean Liner doyen, Bill Miller writes, “Personally, I believe there can never be enough books … or commemoration of the QE2”. So it is that soon after opening this book we are indeed embarking on a photographic journey to QE2, one well illustrated and finely laid out.
I remember, as a Southampton lad, the QE2 making her first appearance as the latest Cunard liner. An upstart with her stark while and black funnel, and her introduction marred by turbine trouble. It was a difficult start for a ship that became vastly popular as the years rolled on, becoming the longest serving flagship of the Cunard fleet.
QE2 A Photographic Journey takes us through the each major public room with colour photographs and historical commentary, offers a detailed and well researched view of the cherished ship, right up until her sale in 2008 to Dubai world. Chris Frame and Rachelle Cross are clearly enthusiastic fans and were frequent travelers onboard QE2, and with this book have made a worthwhile contribution to QE2 lore. The book has over 200 colour photographs with commentary and amusing anecdotes from Commodore R. W. Warwick, and Commodore Rynd and an ‘afterword’ from Captain McNaught – the ship’s last master.
The authors have a useful website relating to QE2, QM2, QV and historic liners: at www.chriscunard.com
QE2 A Photographic Journey is Available from all good bookshops, www.qe2book.com, www.thehistorypress.co.uk
By Martin Cox
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Thank you Martin for such a complimentary review.
We are both very glad you enjoyed the book.
QE2 was the ship that started this journey for us, and remains to this day our favourite ship.
Let’s hope she soon receives a retirement befitting her history, heritage and significance!
Chris.
What is the present status of QE 2 at Dubai ??
She’s still stuck at the dry dock.
Love this book. Have both original hard cover and the new updated version!
I don’t believe that she is actually ‘stuck’ at the dry dock. It is that after several years of inactivity (even though she has been maintained)there appears to be more work to be done on the ship than originally anticipated. Also, this is work that can be undertaken there at Dubai that won’t need to be done in the Far East. The final design work for her conversion has not yet been completed so there is no need for her to sail away to a ship yard to sit idly at a costly berth waiting for this to be finished before the work can begin when she can remain in Dubai at minimal charge to her owners.
Poor QE2 – the book is a lasting reminder though!
It’s a great book.
Clive, you sound remarkably (almost verbatim) like a press release from the current operators.
Well, I’ve not seen any press release, so that fact is coincidental.
Not being a QE2 fan there is no reason for me to be following any issue of press releases. I just know what I know and those “Oh poor QE2′ type postings just don’t cut it with me.
She is there and she is intact. Things could have been different; she could have been cut into several pieces so that she could have been enlarged into a static hotel that kind of resembled the QE2. Then “Oh poor QE2” would have been justified.