The Command of the Ocean: A Naval History of Britain, 1649­-1815

About this book

An Economist Best Book of 2004: "Destined to remain the reference on the subject for the coming generations."U.S. Naval Institute The Command of the Ocean describes with unprecedented authority and scholarship the rise of Britain to naval greatness and the central place of the Navy and naval activity in the life of the nation and government. Based on the authors own research in a dozen languages over more than a decade it describes not just battles voyages and cruises but also how the Navy was manned supplied fed and above all how it was financed and directed. N. A. M. Rodger provides convincing reassessments of such famous figures as Pepys Hawke Howe and St. Vincent. The very particular and distinct qualities of Nelson and Collingwood are illuminatingly contrasted and the world of officers and men who make up the originals of Jack Aubrey and Horatio Hornblower is brilliantly brought to life. Rodgers comparative view of other naviesFrench Dutch Spanish and Americanallows him to make a fresh assessment of the qualities of the British. 24 pages of illustrations