Carved figureheads were used on British warships over the centuries, often portraying ships' names in vogue in the Navy, and the intricate designs would be submitted to the Admiralty for approval. Portsmouth Royal Naval Museum holds the largest figurehead collection on public display, and in existence. This sumptuously illustrated book is a collaborative effort between a retired admiral and an artist, and provides not only a guide to the collection but also examines the context of each ship's life and the background of the carver who created the figurehead. Information is provided on the ships’ operational history and battle honors, and includes detail on HMS Victory and the Napoleonic wars.

David Pulvertaft is a retired admiral who first became interested in warship figureheads during his long naval career. He began collaborating with Kevin Dean on the project under the suggestion of the Portsmouth Royal Naval Museum. Kevin Dean is a Southsea-based artist/illustrator who had developed a fascination with the form of the carvings and who had independently created several watercolors of them before collaborating on this book.