A new book for a new era

Printed books are available from the SS Great Britain bookstore in Bristol, England

The great ship was the brainchild of the Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel and was launched or more correctly 'floated' in 1843 - at a ceremony where she was named 'Great Britain'. From the moment the keel was laid the Great Britain had a roller-coaster life until it met near disaster close to Cape Horn, South America's infamous southern tip.

The story of why and how this remarkable ship has been saved and restored in Bristol is told in a book written by the BBC film team who covered the epic salvage. The account has been drawn from interviews recorded daily at the time of the salvage, as well as from personal diaries, the documentary film made in 1969/1970 and a collection of original photographs.

Writers / producers: Marion and Tony Morrison

Consultant Ray Sutcliffe, FSA*, (left on the picture)

Designer David Elkington-Cole, took the group photo

The printed book is 240 x 170 mm with 84 full colour pages and colour front and back covers. The e-book has one extra page and can be read on desktop computers, tablets, and other e-devices.

At price for all pockets The first edition of the e-bookwill be released in mid - 2012 for readers worldwide. An extensive preview will be free of charge/ no cost

216 photos - 2 maps - 3 sketches drawn on the spot in 1970 notebooks - many transcripts from interviews recorded daily. Abundant interactive content in some e-versions.

Cover picture from the Marion and Tony Morrison Collection was taken when the hull, designed by Scottish born shipbuilder William Patterson was lifted from the sea in the Falkland Islands-Islas Malvinas on Sunday April 12th 1970

Rear cover is the Great Britain's original bell outside the cookhouse at the Goose Green settlement East Falkland Islands. The picture was taken in 1969 by Marion Morrison and used as the cover picture for an Observer Magazine story 'The Little Bit of Empire at the End of the World' [31-August 1969]. In 1982 Goose Green was the scene for a major battle between Argentinian and British forces

Ray, Marion and Tony were in the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) for the salvage in 1969 and in 1970. They followed the story to the UK for the triumphant return to Bristol. Ray directed the BBC Film 'The Great Iron Ship' [1970]. The salvage sequences were filmed by Tony, while Marion was reporting for The Observer Magazine, the supplement of The Observer newspaper published in London.

David a friend of Tony's since schooldays, was not involved with the salvage. He is a professional designer and began work in London with a scholarship from the world famous Kodak. The cover was designed by David's son Rupert, a graduate of Camberwell College of Art who works in Australia with an international media group.