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THE OCEAN’S LAST GREYHOUND The Unfinished Saga of the SS United States Ben Jacobs She was the first American ship in a century to win the famous Blue Riband for the fastest transatlantic crossing.  With a top speed of 43 knots, the sleek and luxurious United States was the only American cruise ship that joined the ranks of the great ships of the 20th century:  the Mauritania, the Queen Mary, the  Normandie, the Ille de France and the Queen Elizabeth.  Commissioned in 1953, the United States was the most popular American liner ever made, hosting the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Judy Garland, Cary Grant, Marlon Brando, and many other celebrities.       Today she sits at an unused pier in Philadelphia, all but completely stripped of her fixtures, only her swift lines and raked funnels testifying to her remarkable career.  The Ocean’s Last Greyhound is the full story of the United States, from her conception to her abandonment to her possible revival by Norwegian Cruise Lines, told with all the drama and flair appropriate to this great ship.  Ben Jacobs is a marine enthusiast and long-time admirer of the United States.  He lives in Philadelphia.  $24.95 Hardcover History / Nautical 192 pages 6 x 9 40 black & white photographs ISBN: 978-1-58080-151-5