Rope

“Like all good books about technology, then, ‘Rope’ is ultimately about human beings at their best and worst.” – The New York Times Book Review“We all live in a worldwide web of rope, string, line, thread–call it what you will. The ties that bind us are everywhere. In this fascinating and accessible account, Tim Queeney unravels the sinuous, fifty-thousand-year old history of a material that even today is vastly more ubiquitous and important than we have ever thought to consider.” –LINCOLN PAINE, author of The Sea and Civilization: A Maritime History of the World “I must admit, when I saw Tim’s book with three hundred pages on rope, I was skeptical anyone could make this subject even marginally interesting for this many pages! I should have known better. Tim has woven together a fascinating blend of history and technology, leading us from the pyramids of ancient Egypt to the wonders of modern synthetic fibers stronger than steel. Every chapter is loaded with arcane information delivered in an engaging style. It’s a great read, all three hundred pages of it!” –NIGEL CALDER, author of Boatowner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual and Marine Diesel Engines

“Fascinating object history that spans from prehistoric times to the near future … highly recommended.”- Library Journal (starred review)

“Queeney demonstrates that a seemingly prosaic subject is anything but. Tying our planet together with cordage, he surveys the history of rope … The next time readers hold a length of rope in their hands, it will be with heightened respect and admiration … Not simply a history of rope, but of the coils of whole peoples.” - Kirkus Reviews

”[Queeney’s] enthusiasm for the subject and wry wit are evident throughout. A good addition to the growing body of work which describes the history of ordinary objects.”–Booklist

Tim Queeney is the editor of Ocean Navigator, a magazine for offshore voyagers. Tim’s work has appeared in Professional Mariner, American History, and Aviation History. He has had short stories published in the crime anthology Landfall, Best New England Crime Stories 2018 and in the speculative anthology A Land Without Mirrors. Tim lives in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, with his wife and a rescue dog, Frankie. A life-long sailor, he teaches celestial navigation, radar navigation, and coastal piloting ashore – where he tied plenty of knots and handled many a rope.