Atlantic

"Variably genial, cautionary, lyrical, admonitory, terrifying, horrifying and inspiring…A lifetime of thought, travel, reading, imagination and memory inform this affecting account." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Blending history and anecdote, geography and reminiscence, science and exposition, New York Times bestselling author Simon Winchester tells the breathtaking saga of the Atlantic Ocean in a masterful work of narrative nonfiction. A gifted storyteller and consummate historian, Winchester sets the great blue seas epic narrative against the backdrop of mankinds history of exploration and intellectual evolution, telling not only the story of an ocean, but the story of civilization. Fans of Winchesters Krakatoa, The Man Who Loved China, and The Professor and the Madman will love this masterful, penetrating, and resonant tale of humanity finding its way across the ocean of history.

How did a sea once seen as an impassable barrier become the cradle of Western civilization?

A Biography of an Ocean: Follow the Atlantic from its violent geological birth millions of years ago, through its vibrant middle age, to its predicted eventual demise. Maritime History: Discover the human story—from exploration and trade to piracy and warfare—told through the unique framework of Shakespeare’s Seven Ages of Man. Science and Storytelling: Journey with Winchester as he blends personal anecdote from his own sea voyages with deep scientific and historical research. The Story of Civilization: Understand how this single body of water became the fulcrum for the modern world, connecting continents and shaping empires.