This book provides a lively historical account of the pre-Dreadnought battleships of the Victorian age. It contains detailed entries for over 60 of the major battleships of the era, including the history, construction, appearance and function of each. It is beautifully illustrated by more than 175 archive and museum photographs, drawings and diagrams, shown in colour and black-and-white. It features information panels providing at-a-glance access to specifications such as the vessel's country of origin, size, weight and much more. The book opens with the history of these fascinating vessels, providing detailed personal accounts of the battles and operations in which they played a crucial role, the commanders in charge, and the people who were instrumental in the design and technical innovations of the period. Then follows a detailed and comprehensive directory of more than 60 of the major battleships of the era, providing in-depth and fascinating information about the history, construction, appearance and function of each, as well as at-a-glance information about the battleship's statistics, such as the country of origin, launch date, size, weight and performance.