Crossing on Time: Steam Engines, Fast Ships, and a Journey to the New World

The narrative follows the evolution of steamships, from early experiments with steam power to the sleek, record-breaking vessels that revolutionized transatlantic travel. David Macaulay blends his detailed illustrations with clear explanations of the engineering breakthroughs that made faster crossings possible, while recounting the stories of the innovators and passengers who risked everything for a new life. Macaulay also retraces his own passage to the New World, tying personal experience to the larger history of ocean voyaging. By the end, readers see how the relentless quest for speed and reliability transformed the seas and shaped modern immigration.