The definitive biography of the world's most important body of water - the Atlantic.

Born 190 million years ago, the Atlantic Ocean was viewed by ancient mariners with a mixture of awe, terror and amazement. Today, we cross 'the pond' with little thought, this vast sea perceived by most as no more than a passageway between the Earth's continents.

In this dazzling biography Simon Winchester brings the Atlantic back to life, charting the ocean's existence up until its eventual extinction, millions of years in the future. As he travels around its edges and across its expanse, he reveals its most captivating stories - the age of exploration; the colonization of the Americas; the rise and fall of the slave trade; and history's great naval battles - resulting in an irresistible blend of gripping history, fascinating science and exhilarating reportage.

'Illuminating... [A] wonderful, encyclopedic book, pinpointing key moments in the narrative of an entire ocean and our relationship to it. From start to finish an enthralling book' Sunday Times