This text tells the story of the ” Queen Mary”, once the world`s largest & fastest ocean liner. Put into service in 1936, she soon captured the imagination of the public on both sides of the Atlantic, & came to represent the spirit of an era that was characterized by elegance & style. With her speed & stateliness, the new liner provided a tangible symbol of the end of the Depression, making her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York a source of great national pride. Her Art Deco interiors were renowned for their craftsmanship & attention to detail, with everything from carpets to doorknobs specially designed by the best artists & craftsmen of the period. Contemporary with New York`s finest Deco hotels & office blocks, such as the Chrysler Building, the ” Queen Mary” provides a floating example of the streamlined style. During World War II, the luxury liner went on to perform service as a troop carrier, where her quickness allowed her to elude the U-boat captains intent on collecting the bounty that Hitler offered for her destruction, & earned the ship the title of ”the Grey Ghost”. Weighing over 81, 000 tons & spanning over 1000 feet in length, the ” Queen Mary`s” might & power remained equally impressive in times of war & peace.