This book covers a huge subject (let's be honest the Atlantic is a rather large subject after all) yet Winchester doesn't let this intimidate either him or the reader as he takes the reader on a journey through the epic history of the Atlantic and it's relationship to man, and man's relationship to it. Winchester's passion for the Atlantic and his respect for this epic ocean and its history comes through brilliantly and infects the reader from the first page and sticks with you until the very end and beyond. The writing itself is superb, utterly readable and thoroughly engrossing and is supported by maps and illustrations that bring the story to life. Despite covering a massive span both of time and distance, Winchester doesn't lose the reader and keeps things coherent and together by using one of the most well known (and surprisingly apt) poems ever written with All The World's A Stage bringing a sense of the familiar to proceedings that could otherwise be too strange/big/unfamiliar. Overall this is a fantastic read whether you're a landlubber or a salty sea-dog.