Editor and author Smith (humanities, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy), in conjunction with the National Maritime Historical Society, provides a well-organized and insightful collection of documents relating to American maritime history between the end of the Civil War and into the present. The preface notes that the field of American history has suffered neglect because there has been no textbook or standardized curricular resource. The purpose of this book is to fill that void and provide a useful, interesting, and portable collection of documents that accurately reflects American maritime history and historically significant themes. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)