The book reviews late nineteenth-century advances in merchant steamship design and construction, surveying the transition from wood to iron and mild steel, structural innovations such as cellular bottoms and cast-steel fittings, and evolving practices in ballast and hull subdivision. Chapters examine propulsion and machinery developments that increased speed and fuel economy, boiler and draught improvements, and reductions in engine weight. Safety and passenger comfort are treated through watertight subdivision, double bottoms, life-saving appliances, ventilation, and electric lighting. A chapter outlines scientific progress in naval architecture and design methods. Appendices provide descriptions of prominent shipyards, statistics of production, and portraits with biographical notes of influential figures in the industry.