The raising of the Mary Rose has made her one of the most famous ships in history but what was she actually like in her heyday? This book, based around letters from her days of active service, brings her story vividly to life. The letters, most of which have not been published before, give an extended flavour of what it was like to serve on her, or to be involved with her supply and maintenance, between her launch in 1511 and that fateful day in 1545. Most of them were written aboard the ship by the commanding admirals and many details are revealed about her day-to-day operation at sea and the various engagements with which she was involved. Also included are the main contemporary accounts of the sinking, one of which records a conversation with one of the few survivors.This book is published for the 20th anniversary of the raising of this splendid ship, and illustrated with artefacts recovered from the wreck site, which in many cases can be linked to the documents here printed.