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Story: The voyage out

Reading at sea

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Reading at sea

In the days of sailing ships, passengers brought their own books with them. The ships of the post-war years, like the Ruahine, generally had well-stocked libraries, and reading was a popular pastime.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, P&O Nedloyd Collection

Reference: Eph-D-SHIP-1950s-01-1

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

John Wilson, The voyage out – 20th-century steamers, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/ephemera/2603/reading-at-sea (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by John Wilson, published 4 March 2009.