Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #123118 in Books
• Published on: 2007-08-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 534 pages

Review
'A drama of blazing ships and broadsides ... an enjoyable coda to Trafalgar year' John Crossland, SUNDAY TIMES 'A gripping portrayal ... packed with dramatic incidents and colourful personalities' Colin White, OBSERVER For TRAFALGAR 'Wonderful - the equal of Beevor's STALINGRAD' INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY 'This book takes us through the mammoth story of the naval struggle throughout the Napoleonic wars' EVENING HERALD

Sunday Times, John Crossland
'A drama of blazing ships and broadsides ... an enjoyable coda to
Trafalgar year'

Observer, Colin White
'A gripping portrayal ... packed with dramatic incidents and
colourful personalities'

Customer Reviews

Hornblower fans will love this!
Following the success of their first book -"Trafalgar" (published last year), Roy and Lesley Adkins - the husband and wife duo, who enjoy the unique combination of being writers, historians and archaeologists, have produced another excellent volume, which will I am sure, enjoy the same success as "Trafalgar" has and prove to be an invaluable research tool for a wide range of readers too.

This splendid title starts with the British defeat over the French at the Battle of the Nile and ends nearly twenty years later, with the famous success at the Battle of Waterloo. I believe that this period is one of the most interesting and colourful in British history and the authors skill and excellent narrative successfully brings to life vivid accounts of everyday life for the sailor at that time . From press gangs to prostitutes and prisoners of war through to the first hand accounts of the actual daring actions a sea involving lone ships through to whole fleets are covered.

For the reader who believes amphibious assaults, costal bombardments and espionage are products of the twentieth century, think again, as these events are also covered along with the famous action in which the Presidential White House was actually burned to the ground.

To add to the value of this publication, the researcher will be delighted with the two black and white photo sections featuring a total of 32 photographs, there are also 18 splendid maps -mostly from antiquarian sources including a plan of the Battle of the Nile and a massive 9 page bibliography and a detailed index.

There is no doubt that this particular volume, like the earlier publication has been well researched and will provide fascinating reading for anyone from the casual reader who normally enjoys the Hornblower style novels, through to the serious family and maritime history researcher and naval historian.:

This volume in my opinion is a must read!

A rollicking roller coaster read, with the perfect blend of action, facts and insight.
I was swept along, informed and amazed by Roy Adkins' Trafalgar; The Biography of a Battle, and looked forward to reading more. Now, with a mixture of wide research, vivid writing and a talent for finding those telling human details within the narrative of history and politics, he and Lesley Adkins unfold the wider context of Nelson's victory, set within the struggle between Britain & France to gain mastery at sea.

Napoleon's ambition to set up an empire to rival that of Alexander the Great was thwarted largely by the British Navy, causing him to exclaim "Had I been master of the sea, I should have been master of the East." On his way to India via Egypt and the Silk Road, Napoleon was robbed of his fleet by Nelson and his army repulsed from the Crusader Castle at Acre. The spirited Anglo Turkish defence being led by British naval commander, diplomat and spy, Sir Sidney Smith, with the help of French Royalists. Even when Napoleon was finally defeated on land at Waterloo it was to a British sea captain that he surrendered. This was the first `World War' won at sea and the British Navy, in attempting to prevent Revolutionary France from having an empire, was instrumental in laying the foundations for a British one.

Partially provoked by the conflict with France, Britain and America were at war 1812-15 which lead to many scenes with modern resonance. When a George ruled Britain, British forces burned the Washington White House, and the first version of The Star-Spangled Banner was written during the British bombardment of the Baltimore defences. American sailors were press-ganged into the British Navy and Dartmoor Prison held American prisoners of war. On home ground `Yankey' riflemen acted very effectively as snipers, a tactic considered beneath contempt by British forces accustomed to more `gentlemanly' rules of engagement. An illuminating incident between two British seamen and a sniper in a tree is recounted on p 422. There are so many fascinating details and inspiring stories I'm tempted to try and describe the whole book, but here's just a few things to look forward to.

The British tar who put his life at risk to give a decent burial to a French general outside the walls of Acre. An early example of reverse `spin' in which Sir Sidney Smith exposes Napoleon's contradictory messages to Muslims and Christians in Syria by making sure the recipients saw both versions of the pamphlets. The desperate personal circumstances of one of the prostitutes brought on board a British ship and just who was most at risk in Southampton, the street-walkers or the newly disembarked sailors. Washington ladies flirting with British troops to prevent them from firing the neighbouring house used as a newspaper office, and the men rather decently agreeing to the extra work of pulling it down instead. The many roles played by women in the conflict on land and sea, and how the noise of battle could act as a midwife. The repeatedly wounded French captain who had his colours nailed to the mast and fought bravely to the end. Napoleon stealing the treasure of the Knights of Malta. The British captain asked by a defeated Spaniard for a certificate confirming that he had done his best, the rather tongue-in-cheek wording of which led to the Spaniard's promotion.

Anyone who has heard and been moved by the traditional folk songs of the Napoleonic era, most especially The Banks of the Nile and Sailor's Life sung by Sandy Denny, will already have a strong connection with the personal circumstances and extremes of emotion, the bravery and resolution, the grief and despair, the pride and determination of all those "lovely Nancys" and "sweet Williams" caught up in world events. "But I'll cut off my yellow hair and I'll go along with you. I'll dress myself in uniform and I'll see Egypt too. I'll march beneath your banner while fortune it do smile, and we'll comfort one another on the Banks of the Nile." For established fans of the Adkins team this is classic, rip-roaring stuff to be ordered with confidence. And to those who think history is dull, especially naval history, prepare to be surprised and inspired - History Matters, it's about where we came from and where we are going, it's about you and me and here and now.

A riveting read
This wonderful book brings an important and fascinating part of history alive, and from the first page it draws you into a world of heroes and adventure. It is obviously meticulously researched by these serious historical writers, but will have a wide appeal well beyond those interested in naval history. It deals with the ordinary sailors as well as the officers, and also smugglers, spies, prostitutes and a whole host of characters. It is a treasure trove of battles, duels between ships, and little-known naval actions. It is full of vivid accounts, in the words of eyewitnesses that really bring the action alive.
Most books on the navy in the time of Nelson seem to stop at Trafalgar when he was killed, but this book shows that if anything Trafalgar was just the beginning. It also covers the early years of Napoleon's rise to power before Trafalgar, with Nelson chasing him across Mediterranean, missing him twice, and having to settle for destroying his fleet at the Battle of the Nile.
All in all, a riveting read. I recommend this book wholeheartedly.