When the leaders of the French Revolution executed Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette in 1793; they sent a chilling message to the hereditary ruling orders in Europe. Believing that monarchy anywhere presented a threat to democratic rule in France; the leaders of the revolution declared war on European aristocracies; including those of Great Britain. For more than twenty years thereafter; France and England waged a protracted war that ended in British victory. In Titan; William R. Nester offers a deeply informed and thoroughly fascinating narrative of how England accomplished this remarkable feat. Between 1789 and 1815; British leaders devised; funded; and led seven coalitions against the revolutionary and Napoleonic governments of France. In each enterprise; statesmen and generals searched for order amid a complex welter of bureaucratic; political; economic; psychological; technological; and international forces. Nester combines biographies of great men—the likes of William Pitt; Horatio Nelson; and Arthur Wellesley—with an explanation of the critical decisions they made in Britain’s struggle for power and his own keen analysis of the forces that operated beyond their control. Their efforts would eventually crush France and Napoleon and establish a system of European power relations that prevented a world war for nearly a century. The interplay of individuals and events; the importance of conjunctures and contingency; the significance of Britain's island character and resources: all come into play in Nester's exploration of the art of British military diplomacy. The result is a comprehensive and insightful account of the endeavors of statesmen and generals to master the art of power in a complex battle for empire.
#1633999 in Books University of Oklahoma Press 2005-08-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .69 x 6.00l; .90 #File Name: 0806137363304 pages
Review
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Sound Research and Good HistoryBy T. ShieldsI like a good history along with the authors attempt at interpretation. Even if I might disagree with the interpretion I certain don't fault this book for lack of solid research - quite readable too. The "border wars" where N and S were mixed has been the least developed history about the CW. Far more interesting that the troop movements during a major battle imho.2 of 3 people found the following review helpful. I have always wondered the number of civilian and total ...By James Ray GriffithI have always wondered the number of civilian and total casualtynumbers for the Civil War. This book moves the total number of military dead to a more realistic figure if 750;000 to 780;000 but still leaves unclear the number of civilian deaths. It does make clear the savage nature of the war particularly in the upper and western south.2 of 4 people found the following review helpful. must readBy jab40Awesome read ; great read. I really enjoyed this book.
