Cardiff has a long and momentous maritime history. This richly researched volume delves into the maritime past of Cardiff and Penarth, providing a comprehensive account from the first stirrings of seaborne trade and the cargoes of wool, hides and butter, to the ever-present threat of piracy, and from the rapid development linked to the export of iron and the later trade in coal, to the changes wrought by the effects of the two world wars, and the developments in types of vessels over the years. This beautifully illustrated history will appeal to local historians and shipping enthusiasts around the world. John Richards has an MA from Cambridge and a Ph. D. from the University of Wales. He has previously written two books: "Wales on the Western Front for University of Wales Press," and a history of Cotrell Park, Vale of Glamorgan.