John Hannavy is a well-known writer, photographer, and photographic historian. He was formerly Professor in Art & Design at the University of Bolton, and is now an independent researcher and writer focusing on Victorian and Edwardian life. He has written four previous books for Shire

The coastline of Victorian and Edwardian Britain provided beauty, entertainment and the venue for most people's holidays. But it was also a thriving centre of industry shipbuilding and fishing, plus the numerous trades associated with dockyards, coastal transport and the leisure industry. This book travels around Britain's coast clockwise from London looking at the industries that could be found at many of the cities and towns en route. Illustrated with an amazing collection of coloured postcards and other early photographs, the working coast of Britain is brought to life in all its bustling detail.