"In the nineteenth century, as civilization grappled with the increase in production prompted by the Industrial Revolution, control of the maritime trade routes of the North Atlantic promised great wealth to those who could successfully navigate its waters.".

"In Atlantic Kingdom, maritime historian John A. Butler pays tribute to the American mariners and businessmen who challenged Cunard, the giant English company that initially monopolized shipping on the North Atlantic. In vivid prose, Butler chronicles larger-than-life men, such as Cornelius Vanderbilt, P. T. Barnum, Edward Knight Collins, Enoch Train, and Samuel Samuels, who battled like mythical gods for control of the high seas.

He describes in compelling detail the wrecked ships, the loss of human lives, and the squandered fortunes that resulted from the costly struggle for economic supremacy upon the seas." "Atlantic Kingdom is the story of the pioneering and tenacious people who took tremendous risks in the face of overwhelming odds. It allows readers to experience all the romance, tragedy, and adventure that characterized the golden era of sail and steam."--BOOK JACKET.