2007 #File Name: B00FBBROHU560 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Great First Hand Accounts; But...By Thomas ReiterThis book is an excellent collection of first person accounts and quotes about naval warfare during the Napoleonic Wars; and includes many interesting stories and incidents that took place during the war (raids; escapes; battles; etc.). The accounts are almost exclusively from the English perspective.That said; that is about all that this book is--there is little narrative history connecting the various first person accounts; and even less analysis of the British navy's overall strategy or anything else for that matter. While the book is full of first hand accounts of thrilling British naval victories (almost always victories); the author doesn't really provide any explanation as to the reasons behind their success.As mentioned; the author does not provide much of an explanation or analysis about British naval strategy; although perhaps this is for the best; because I'm not sure how much I trust the author as a historian: at one point he claims that if the British had not been distracted by the Napoleonic Wars during its war with America (in 1812); then the US would have been quickly defeated and turned into a British colony again...Also; rather incredibly for an account of naval warfare during this period; the author does not provide a detailed account of Trafalgar; the decisive naval battle during this period. He describes the battle in a few short paragraphs and then refers readers in the footnotes to another book that he has written about Trafalgar for more information. Pretty cheeky approach and not one that would lead me to read any of this author's books in future.In summary; very good collection of first hand accounts about naval warfare during this period; but otherwise lacking in significant ways.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. The War for all the OceansBy paulI ordered this book expecting a 10;000 foot overview/ linear history of the british naval wars. It was not the overview I would have liked; but that lack was more than offset by the extensive use of first hand contemporary diary accounts. You are placed on the deck in the middle of the action. The gory details of combat reality emphasize the suffering of those who have gone before us. This will make a fantastic companion book to a dry linear naval history book.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Did they really have to forgoe Trafalgar?By CustomerOtherwise an excellent and very enjoyable book. One gets a sense of two totalitarian nations locked in combat (most of the common sailors weren't allowed off the ships that fought off Trafalgar two years later) with the result of some very high social costs for the lower class.
