Author Johnston explores the history of maritime New England at sea and re-tells many of the stories that have given the region such a wealth of maritime lore. He delves into piracy (including Blackbeard), the fishing and whaling industries, the ships used during the Revolutionary War, and exploration by sailing ships. With anecdotes and snippets of biography, the author offers a snapshot of a colorful, adventurous period in the development of a country. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)