Being an island nation, the United Kingdom has an extensive network of regular ferry services employing a wide spectrum of craft types and sizes. From large short-sea ferries maintaining open sea route links to continental Europe and Ireland, to numerous inter-island ferries providing all-year-round access to and between offshore communities, these vessels are an intrinsic part of our maritime history. In the sheltered waters of the coasts and river estuaries, ferries provide the means to reach inaccessible locations, avoiding long, circuitous road routes, while closer to the major cities they operate rapid and frequent schedules for commuter traffic. In the summer months, many of these craft offer pleasure trips or mini-cruises but there are also dedicated ferry-type excursion vessels working the coasts and rivers as well as some of the inland lakes. This excellent new book concentrates on a period of great transition in ferry shipping, from the 1950s to the early 1970s. It was a time that witnessed the emergence of roll-on roll-off and roll-through capabilities for accompanied vehicles, recognising the explosion in private car ownership as well as the growth of road haulage. It also saw the crucial development and introduction of novel new marine craft: hydrofoils, hovercraft and surface effect vehicles. With an arresting array of vibrant colour photographs, the majority of which have never seen before, Ferries and Pleasure Steamers: A Colour Portfolio provides a delightful snapshot of the ferry scene of almost half a century ago.