I learned a lot about the history of ocean liners, and even more about social history - changes in the opportunities of women to work, and the women who first started working on the ships. It was also interesting seeing the stark contrast between the upper deck rich and the immigrants. This was a good and informative book.

Tried to enjoy this book but it just wasn’t for me. Not sure if it was the writing style but I couldn’t connect with it.

This was a very interesting read. I liked how the book was structured and the individual stories of women were fascinating and touching.

For Women's History Month, I picked up Maiden Voyages, a social history of women on ocean liners. This book tells the history of how women worked and traveled on ocean liners. Working on ocean liners was an ideal job for single or widowed women, offering them a chance at independence and financial freedom, along with a chance to see more of the world. The book contains interesting facts about women and the boats they worked on. Of course, there is a section about the Titanic. We also learn about Violet Jessop, who spent 40 years working as a stewardess on ocean liners.

The author also dives into how the ocean liner experience differed amongst women of various social classes.

These narratives were a revelation to me, shedding light on a facet of history that I had previously known very little about. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to those intrigued by the intersection of history and travel.

This book provides entertaining stories of women who worked aboard glorious ocean liners as well as the celebrity women who often traveled on them. There were many notable historic people who enjoyed the freedom of travel on the open seas. This was an ideal job for single or widowed women as it provided economic freedom and socialization. The evolution of these ocean liners provided safety as well as luxury akin to a traveling hotel. Safety of course was a major concern after the tragedy of the Titantic hitting an iceberg in 1912. Of course, even the fanciest vessels are breeding grounds for disease given the close quarters of the guests isolated out at sea. One woman in particular, Violet Jessop, stands out as being a stewardess for 42 years on the sea. It is also noted that she survived several tragic ship sinkings, such ass the Titanic, Lusitania, and Britannic. She was deemed the "Unsinkable Stewardess."

There were many interesting people and their ancestry who migrated to the United States via these grand vessels. Charles Dickens and his wife were noted travelers as well as a family that would create a real estate empire in New York. Mary Anne MacLeod travelled to Transylvania, New York with her sister Catherine "Kate" Ann Reid. She had a daughter Annie out of wed lock before marrying in New York to George Reid, a butler from Scotland. Mary Anne met and married Frederick Christ Trump, who was a German property developer running a company with his mother Elizabeth. Although he was 7 years older than Mary Anne, they bore several children: first child Maryanne, Fred Jr, Elizabeth, Donald John and Robert.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and St Martin’s Press. My voluntary review is my honest and unbiased opinion.

Maiden Voyages

by Siân Evans

Under the overarching umbrella of History, the nonfiction book Maiden Voyages has two basic spokes—Women’s History and Nautical History. Author Siân Evans goes back to the beginnings of women’s affiliation with sea transportation which was mainly being the daughter or wife of a seaman. With a lot of research, she drives down to the first instances of women serving on ships and shows the progression of their work and social status as ships take on passengers in addition to cargo. Women book spaces to transport themselves across the ocean in uncomfortable circumstances. Gradually the concept of comfort on an ocean liner takes root and grows. More women begin to travel, and more women are hired to take care of their needs.

Most of this book focuses on the glory days of ocean liners between the two World Wars through the transition from transportation to holiday destination. Incorporated into the telling are stories about the lowliest women workers through the glamour stars who not only enjoy the trips, but use them as opportunities to see and be seen. The ship becomes a backdrop for those who have achieved or want to achieve fame and fortune.

The two World Wars affected all women in taking on jobs formerly held by men as the West saw a change in cultural expectations and increased rights for women. From a hazardous work environment for less pay than men received to breaking barriers and excelling in their chosen fields, women are the heroes of this book.

I liked Maiden Voyages, but I did not find it to be a page turner. Although it was told linearly as history progressed, there was some repetition as the author reminds the reader of facts as many of the personages’ roles continued through various eras of nautical travel. I learned a lot about the Golden Era of passenger ships, and I especially appreciated the many quotes from those actually involved. Primary sources authenticate Evans’ descriptions and conclusions. As the author researched the story of her great-great uncle, Cunard Chief Officer Stephen Grow of the Aquitania, this book emerged. It is told from a British perspective. History buffs, particularly those interested in Women’s Studies and Nautical History, will find Maiden Voyages very informative.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 4/5

Category: History, Nonfiction

Publication: August 10, 2021—St. Martin’s Press

Memorable Lines:

The transatlantic ship not only provided a form of transport across the globe, it was also both the practical means and the symbol of opportunity, of new beginnings and fresh starts. From “third class” to “top deck,” from desperate women escaping financial hardship to wealthy international sophisticates hoping for romance and adventure, every transatlantic liner of this post-war era was freighted with hope.

There was a real symbiosis between Hollywood, the heart of the movie industry, which acted as a “dream factory” in the inter-war years, and the ocean liner, which on every voyage carried people full of hope and aspirations.

…working on the big ships became even more attractive as a career option for young men and women. The opportunity to leave behind the bomb sites and rubble, the poorly stocked shops, the dull and restricted food and the dismal British weather for the neon-lit, brilliantly colored, smartly dressed and culturally vibrant cities of the USA and Canada had never seemed so appealing to the restless young.

The ocean and what's in it might scare me but this book about ocean liners and women working and traveling on them did not. It was really interesting and kind of makes me want to go on a cruise.

Entertaining and educational. When the luxury ships sailed, all eyes were on the men of the crews and top deck travelers. Maiden Voages tells these stories from the view of the women of all classes and how the life aboard ship would shape their lives. I found myself returning to the stories over and over and recommending this book to everyone in my reading circle. It's an excellent book that you'd never thought to read before.

I appreciate having had the chance to read this great book. I found it informative and easy to read and enjoy.
I love learning about the history of women and where they've worked. Having worked on ships this story and subject will always be relatable to me.

I can't think of a thing I dislike about history regarding ships and the people who worked on them. I appreciate the authors time it took in compiling such information for all of us to enjoy.
Thank you St. Martin's Press, NatGalley and Sian Evans for the Advanced Reader Copy.

This book was a great recap of the age of ocean liners told through the lens of the women present throughout said history. Essentially, each chapter is a mini-biography of a woman (or women) who's story represent the zeitgeist of the time. Many of these women have truly remarkable stories that are not familiar to a modern audience, so I'm glad the author is bringing them to the forefront again. The respect the author had for these women was palpable, and I appreciated the fact that the reader could tell. If you are looking for a book purely about the history of ocean liners, then this is not the book for you. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes social histories, particularly social histories focused on women who are often left out of these conversations.

"Maiden Voyages" is a fascinating and eye-opening account of women who defied convention and took to the seas, written with passion and meticulous research. Siân Evans has crafted an essential addition to maritime history literature that shines a light on the courage and resilience of these pioneering women. If you're intrigued by tales of adventure, history, and the remarkable achievements of women in a male-dominated world, this book is well worth the journey.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Interesting and informative, the stories and history Evans explores is well done and I'm glad this exists. However, there are some drawbacks where her lack of formal training in historical research puts limits on the text.

I started out with the idea that this was going to be a really interesting book. I was wrong. It moved very slowly and I got bored very quickly. I usually enjoy history, but this was too slow for me.

I liked the concept of this book. However, it did not pull me in as much as I would have liked. I would still recommend this book to historical fiction fans.

I found this book to be an enjoyable and interesting story about the many women who traveled on luxury liners when ships like the Titanic were sailing. These boats boasted beautiful scenery, top of the line accommodations, and in the lower class steerage, cramped quarters. Yet women from every financial background wanted to take a ride on these huge boats for pleasure or to escape poverty. Told by these women themselves it holds valuable information about their lives and travels. The beautiful descriptions of the first class cabins as well as the terrible conditions of the third class quarters made me take a pause to think that women did what they had to do in those days to overcome what hand they were dealt.


5 out of 5 stars



Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author/publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

This non-fiction begins with the history of ships and the history of male dominated crew changing over time. As more and more female passengers were making voyages, the need for female crew grew. I enjoyed learning a bit more about how the companies changed the approach to gain women's buy in again post Titanic sinking. Then it brings the stories of different women from different backgrounds. Some traveled for leisure, some as crew, some to reinvent themselves on the other side of Atlantic. With it, came different class levels on the ship. The life for elite was very glamorous with all the opulence on the upper level. The life on the lower level was cramped as it is explained that those passengers usually made only one way voyage for a better life on the other side of Atlantic and of course they couldn’t afford anything better. The translation of the cost of the upper class and lower class to today's money really puts this into perspective. The history of the liners and the role of women were interesting but some stories got a bit too tangential and even repetitive. It needed a bit of a stronger link between the stories but many were informative or interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and St. Martin's Press for the digital galley to review.

A fascinating and engaging historical story profiling working women in the Golden Age of ocean liner travel. Well researched and documented beautifully. 5 enthusiastic stars!

This book was fascinating with its stories of twentieth century women on transatlantic ocean liners. From the richest celebrities and millionaires in 1st class accommodations to the cramped conditions in steerage and 3rd class and all the crew who worked behind the scenes to make the voyage possible. The descriptions of all parts of the ships brought the story to life, and I loved that every part of society was representedin this book. I highly recommend this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

You think of taking a cruise and you never give it a second thought about the history of the cruise ships! This book is so interesting and informative with the history of the cruise liner and the roll that women played in it. It has been researched very well and is a great read. Thanks for such a great book!

🛳 This book is about ocean liners and the women who traveled and worked on them. Transatlantic travel opened interesting and varied opportunities for women specifically, and sometimes impacted society as a whole.

🛳 I really enjoyed this book. It is full of individual anecdotes about specific women who were travelers or employees on these ocean liners – from the rich and famous, to the women escaping bad conditions to improve their lives. The stories and backgrounds of these women were well-written and captivating. I particularly loved the stories where women were able to change their circumstances by traveling to a new continent on these ships, either by going to another country to improve their lives or working on these ships to provide for their families.

🛳 I also appreciated the discussion about the “society” of these ocean liners. There were definitely class divisions that were strictly adhered to – the luxury upper decks for the elite all the way down to steerage for the much poorer passengers.

🛳 This book immerses you in history and travel and it opens your eyes to the female experience on these ships. If you are interested in ocean liners, female history, culture, societal norms, travel, and more, then this book is a must read!

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for an eARC of this book, which I have read and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.