Giants of the Sea: A Portrait of the Animal World

"Giants of the Sea - Creatures of Fascination" is not confined to large creatures such as Whales and Sharks - although they are included. In this book, Andrew Cleave uses the word Giant just as one might describe Shakespeare as a giant of literature. It is a large, coffee table book packed with one of the most outstanding collections of colour photographs ever assembled into a single book. The introduction takes us back to the early years of fishing, whaling and exploration at sea. It includes semi-mythical encounters with Whales, Giant Squid and other sea serpents as it describes the experiences and folklore of yesterday. Unlike the remainder of the book, the text here is printed in very large letters which is unnecessary. Nevertheless, it is an interesting start to what now becomes an enthralling journey through the seas of the world. A quick glance at the contents page reveals exactly what we are in for with chapters headed; The Coral Reef, Whales & Dolphins, Sea Mammals, Sharks, Skates & Rays, Giant Fish and finally Marine Turtles. Each of these sections is hugely informative and will give any reader a wider understanding of the sea's creatures. I was particularly pleased to see an objective and educational overview of the Shark - especially the Great White Shark, without all the hysteria that always seems to attract any discussion of this specific topic. Altogether, a first rate book. NM