This enthusiastically reviewed, scrupulously researched and prize-winning book, which was a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week, chronicles a resonant episode of Victorian history. It is the tale of the agitation led by Samuel Plimsoll MP, 'The Sailor's Friend', and by his wife Eliza, who worked together to defend sailors against nefarious practices including overloading and the use of unseaworthy 'coffin-ships'. The backlash of libel cases and vilification almost ruined Plimsoll, but his drive and passion made him feverishly popular with the public; he was the subject of plays, novels, street ballads and music hall songs. With the demonstrative support of the nation, he faced down his enemies, came close to ousting Disraeli's government and achieved lasting safety measures for merchant sailors, including the load line that bears his name. Nicolette Jones throws light on a cross-section of Victorian society and tells the story of an epic legal, social, and political battle for justice, which is still an inspiring example of how the altruism and courage of determined individuals can make the world a better place.

'Excellent . . . Nicolette Jones charts [Plimsoll's] course with skill, insight and elegance' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH '[Jones] is sure-footed, never allowing her empathy with her subject to blind her to his failings. Her comprehensive biography ... will be the first port of call for all future researchers' SUNDAY TIMES 'Expertly tracked' OBSERVER 'Jones clearly loves her subject ... Her set-pieces mix sensitivity and narrative gusto. Dickens ... would have delighted in this story' Jonathan Keates 'Fascinating . . . Jones's witty, immaculately researched account of a great campaign is the ideal deckchair book' INDEPENDENT 'Its entirely fitting that his story should be brought to life so vividly by this well-researched and entertaining book' EVENING HERALD 'The author brings the Plimsolls' times to life, showing great empathy with the Victorian working man and the miserable lot of the common sailor at sea.' THE TIMES 'An exhaustively researched and lively account of political activism' SUNDAY TIMES 'Jones is an effective communicator of Plimsoll's passion and her book will endear itself even to those ignorant of shipping' OBSERVER 'A fascinating piece of social history.' SUNDAY HERALD 'Splendid and meticulously researched.' GUARDIAN 'Elegantly written, THE PLIMPSOLL SENSATION is a testament to the might of public opinion and the conviction of a passionate man.' ECONOMIST 'This is an excellent addition that the genre of popular history which sets out to tackle a single theme and ends by illuminating an age.' HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW

Educated at Oxford and Yale, Nicolette Jones is a journalist who has freelanced for the arts pages of all the British broadsheets and writes a column for The Bookseller. She regularly chairs book festivals and appears on radio and TV. She was one of the judges for the 2003 Orange Prize.