About the Author

N. A. M. Rodger is professor of naval history at Exeter University and a fellow of the British Academy. He is the author of The Wooden World and the highly acclaimed volumes of his naval history of Britain, The Safeguard of the Sea and The Command of the Ocean. He lives in England.

Reviews

"As Mr. Rodger demonstrates on almost every page, if you do not understand the importance of British maritime history, you can never fully understand Britain."
*The Economist*

"Rodger illuminates the world of Nelson and Hardy and its portrayal by C. F. Forrester in the Hornblower novels and Patrick O’Brian in the Aubrey and Maturin cycle . . . to understand the Royal Navy at its peak, Rodger’s account is indispensable"
*Washington Post Book World*

"As Mr. Rodger demonstrates on almost every page, if you do not understand the importance of British maritime history, you can never fully understand Britain." -- The Economist
"Rodger illuminates the world of Nelson and Hardy and its portrayal by C. F. Forrester in the Hornblower novels and Patrick O'Brian in the Aubrey and Maturin cycle . . . to understand the Royal Navy at its peak, Rodger's account is indispensable" -- Washington Post Book World

Rodger (naval history, Exeter Univ.; The Safeguard of the Sea: A Naval History of Britain, 660-1649) presents the second of his three planned volumes on British naval history, a remarkable effort to put naval affairs back into the history of Britain. Rodger's first volume received accolades as the first part of a massive effort that, when completed, will present a comprehensive account of the history and traditions of the British Royal Navy for the first time in over a century. In Volume 2, Rodger again combines high academic scholarship with a lively narrative that explains how the political and social history of Britain has been inextricably intertwined with the strengths and weaknesses of her sea power. The book begins with the execution of Charles I in 1649 and ends with Napoleon's surrender to the Royal Navy in July 1815. Rodger shares his convincing reassessments of such famous figures as Pepys, Hawke, Howe, and St. Vincent, contrasts the qualities of Nelson and Collingwood, and describes the world of other distinct characters, including Jack Aubrey and Horatio Hornblower. Rodger's deep, impressive, research integrates numerous unpublished theses and dissertations, as well as an abundance of other published sources, cited in the 200 pages of reference notes and bibliography. This awesome second volume, alone or as part of its eventual three-volume set, is an essential addition to British history collections in all academic libraries and special libraries focusing on naval history. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 12/04.]-Dale Farris, Groves, TX Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.