The building of a wooden ship in 1870 becomes a New England vision of purpose, skill and strength. This intimate and detailed book begins with the need for a new whaling vessel, follows its design and lofting, and moves in time with the massively powerful interlocking structure of the hull with the adroit workmen who deftly ply their trades in succession: sawyers cutting hackmatack knees, adzmen shaping double-sawn ribs, dubbers and plankers bonding the white oak planks to the skeleton with trunnels, the work of caulkers, joiners, riggers . . . Jan Adkins shares his obvious fascination and attention to detail in these clear, lyric drawings and in a well-crafted narrative.