Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Conway Maritime Press Ltd (1998), Edition: First Edition, Hardcover, 320 pages
Description
Patrick O'Brien provides the forward to this edition of the most successful Conway Maritime title. This book is the perfect guide to Nelson's Navy for all those with an interest in the workings of the great fleet. The book is eminently readable and is the first single-volume work to cover in such depth this vast and complex subject. Written by one of the world's leading authorities on the sailing navy the book contains considerable original research to give a clear and authentic picture of the Senior Service as a whole. With a foreword by one of the most successful maritime fiction authors of the current age, the book is also of interest to all those with enthusiasm for the literature based on the Nelsonic-era.
User reviews
LibraryThing member JoolzMac
First published in 1989 and reprinted many times since, 'Nelson's Navy' is a comprehensive overview of Britain's navy during the 'classic' period of the Napoleonic wars. Just about all bases are covered from the organisation of the entire navy to running a sick bay, together with an outline of the
The reader is treated to an excellent grounding in all subjects from intricate details such as the construction of a Coles-Bentinck chain pump to wider issues like behaviour in victory or defeat. Of course, the scope of such a book precludes extended discourse on any individual aspect, but is more than adequate for most readers, though I would like to have seen a 'further reading' section for those who wish to explore in more depth.
Lavery is an acknowledged expert in this field. His narrative is, as always, authoritative yet easily assimilated, and accompanied by a wealth of monochrome illustrations throughout: maps, photos, charts, diagrams, plans, lists and drawings, nearly all of which are taken from contemporary sources [well, not the photos .... obviously!] to provide an essential ingredient of this fascinating book.
As the great Patrick O'Brian writes in his foreword "... anyone who has read and digested the work will have a more than ordinarily sound knowledge of Nelson's Navy". High praise indeed and well justified.
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relevant wars for background context. If there is anything omitted then I can't think what it could be!The reader is treated to an excellent grounding in all subjects from intricate details such as the construction of a Coles-Bentinck chain pump to wider issues like behaviour in victory or defeat. Of course, the scope of such a book precludes extended discourse on any individual aspect, but is more than adequate for most readers, though I would like to have seen a 'further reading' section for those who wish to explore in more depth.
Lavery is an acknowledged expert in this field. His narrative is, as always, authoritative yet easily assimilated, and accompanied by a wealth of monochrome illustrations throughout: maps, photos, charts, diagrams, plans, lists and drawings, nearly all of which are taken from contemporary sources [well, not the photos .... obviously!] to provide an essential ingredient of this fascinating book.
As the great Patrick O'Brian writes in his foreword "... anyone who has read and digested the work will have a more than ordinarily sound knowledge of Nelson's Navy". High praise indeed and well justified.
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Language
Physical description
320 p.
ISBN
0851775217 / 9780851775210
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