The book primarily covers1840 through 1860, which was the height of the clipper ship era. The first chapters deal with how tea became a very popular in both the United States and the UK. As a result the need for speed was essential because certain teas did have a shelf life for taste, so the cargo had to be transported quickly. These chapters also deal with how the clipper ship design came into being. The later chapters deal with the ships themselves, the speed records, the types of tea and other cargo carried, and the life of the crews while on these vessels. The last chapters deal with the end of the clippers, mainly due to steam powered vessels that were not depended on the wind for movement. I was surprised to learn that the clipper ship era was so short.