Titanic is the most famous ship in history and the extraordinary story of her construction and loss continues to capture the human imagination. Even before she sailed in 1912 Titanic was making headlines as the world's largest ship, symbolising the confidence and certainties of her era. Built at Harland & Wolff's massive shipyard in Belfast, Titanic took four years, and the expertise of thousands of skilled men, to complete. This new edition of Michael McCaughan's acclaimed book, The Birth of the Titanic (1998), is a visual chronicle of that superhuman achievement set against the backdrop of an age of industry, entrepreneurship and political tensions. Written and compiled by internationally recognised Titanic expert Michael McCaughan, it captures the spirit and vision of the people who built the vast leviathan and the stories of those who sailed on her, describing in detail the construction and launch of the ship as well as the disaster and its aftermath and giving fresh insights into why Titanic continues to fascinate and inspire. Using stunning contemporary photographs from the official Harland & Wolff photographic archive as well as sources such as diaries, postcards, letters and White Star publicity this definitive book from Titanic's homeland is an exciting, moving and richly illustrated account of Titanic's remarkable story. A fitting tribute to this iconic lost ship.