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Product Description
Product Description
This new book, a tie-in to a major BBC TV series presented by Dan Snow, is written by one of the nation's foremost naval historians, and tells the story of how the Royal Navy shaped the politics, culture and economy of Britain, leaving its imprint on everything from our landscape, to our democracy and even our very identity. At its peak, it became the driving force behind the spread of a system of values which would change the world forever. And then it lost it all. In "Empire of the Seas", Brian Lavery re-injects the romance into Britain's seafaring past. He discusses the hidden human stories behind the celebrated sea-battles and also provides a warts-and-all expose of the darker chapters in the Navy's past, including its role in slavery and the spread of disease. The book is illustrated with a superlative collection of artworks and photographs from the National Maritime Museum, the Royal Naval Museum and private collections.
About the Author
Brain Lavery is one of Britain's leading naval historians and a prolific author. He was, until recently, Curator of Naval History at The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, and is a renowned expert on the sailing navy.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
47 of 48 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
When it comes to publishing a book, any book!, colour and paper quality cost money. This particular product has 272 pages of top quality paper with colour images on almost every single page. To enable the potential buyer to visualise the work, it is almost A4 size and about one inch thick. In short, this is an awful lot of book for £20 - even more so when one studies the content.
Produced to accompany a forthcoming BBC TV series presented by Dan Snow, this work is written by Brian Lavery whose reputation and list of credits are as outstanding as they come. As Curator Emeritus of no less an institution than the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, this author brings the highest possible standing to the subject. Having said that, I did pause when I came across those areas which I happened to know in sufficient detail in order to check the facts presented. Not only did I find no errors, but on two occasions my own knowledge was corrected! Such is the quality of the research, the detail and the presentation it all unites into a result on which you can rely.
Having said all that, there is so much more to this book than just a collection of Naval facts supported by excellent images. In addition, it must be said that the book also stands well on its own - in that you do not have to watch that forthcoming TV series in order to obtain maximum benefit from this product.
Dan Snow is the son of long-time British TV presenter Peter Snow and previously joined forces with his father to co-present such programmes as the excellent series "Battlefield Tour." My own personal view is that Dan is now ready for his own series and this opportunity will provide him with his own defining moment as he comes of age as a presenter in his own right. Just some private thoughts as I wish him well.
As far as the actual content is concerned; The reader is taken from the defeat of the Spanish Armada right through to WW1 - as seen through British naval ships, men, development and tactics and all, as I say, lavishly illustrated with images of the best possible quality. It is the components of this book which were the very ingredients that shaped a nation and an Empire on which the sun never set.
Finally, I am delighted the BBC have allowed Conway to reproduce this book. These publishers have an equally high reputation in the field of maritime books and, all things considered, everything here combines to produce the best possible product of the highest achievable standards on all fronts - "and" at a most reasonable price.
NM
Produced to accompany a forthcoming BBC TV series presented by Dan Snow, this work is written by Brian Lavery whose reputation and list of credits are as outstanding as they come. As Curator Emeritus of no less an institution than the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, this author brings the highest possible standing to the subject. Having said that, I did pause when I came across those areas which I happened to know in sufficient detail in order to check the facts presented. Not only did I find no errors, but on two occasions my own knowledge was corrected! Such is the quality of the research, the detail and the presentation it all unites into a result on which you can rely.
Having said all that, there is so much more to this book than just a collection of Naval facts supported by excellent images. In addition, it must be said that the book also stands well on its own - in that you do not have to watch that forthcoming TV series in order to obtain maximum benefit from this product.
Dan Snow is the son of long-time British TV presenter Peter Snow and previously joined forces with his father to co-present such programmes as the excellent series "Battlefield Tour." My own personal view is that Dan is now ready for his own series and this opportunity will provide him with his own defining moment as he comes of age as a presenter in his own right. Just some private thoughts as I wish him well.
As far as the actual content is concerned; The reader is taken from the defeat of the Spanish Armada right through to WW1 - as seen through British naval ships, men, development and tactics and all, as I say, lavishly illustrated with images of the best possible quality. It is the components of this book which were the very ingredients that shaped a nation and an Empire on which the sun never set.
Finally, I am delighted the BBC have allowed Conway to reproduce this book. These publishers have an equally high reputation in the field of maritime books and, all things considered, everything here combines to produce the best possible product of the highest achievable standards on all fronts - "and" at a most reasonable price.
NM
18 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I usually find that, having bought and read a book, the later TV production turns out to be nothing like the book. In this case, I got hold of a copy of the book after seeing part of the TV series, presented by Dan Snow and am delighted that, because of the way it is presented, the book is an excellent addition to the series.
Evidently, to set out our naval supremecy over the generations would take a work much more detailed than this and, although I didn't pay the full price (shame), now that I have a copy I could say that £20 is well spent. The quality is superb, the information sufficiently absorbing so that landlubbers like me can put together just how our fleets, be they military or merchantmen, came to the prominence they did - quite often because of defeats suffered at the hands of the enemy (French and Dutch and Spanish). For me, the most telling aspect of this excellent account, is just how big a part our naval supremcy played in building Britain into the super-power it became - right up to the First World War. Thankfully, although our enthusiasm for a huge naval entity had dwindled after 1918, we still managed to come through the next great conflict.
If you're watching the series, buy this book if you can. It's a great 'extra' and once the series has finished, there'll be plenty in it to rekindle the daring deeds some of our great admirals took allowing our captains of industry to capitalize on their successes and to bring us where we are today. Brilliant.
Evidently, to set out our naval supremecy over the generations would take a work much more detailed than this and, although I didn't pay the full price (shame), now that I have a copy I could say that £20 is well spent. The quality is superb, the information sufficiently absorbing so that landlubbers like me can put together just how our fleets, be they military or merchantmen, came to the prominence they did - quite often because of defeats suffered at the hands of the enemy (French and Dutch and Spanish). For me, the most telling aspect of this excellent account, is just how big a part our naval supremcy played in building Britain into the super-power it became - right up to the First World War. Thankfully, although our enthusiasm for a huge naval entity had dwindled after 1918, we still managed to come through the next great conflict.
If you're watching the series, buy this book if you can. It's a great 'extra' and once the series has finished, there'll be plenty in it to rekindle the daring deeds some of our great admirals took allowing our captains of industry to capitalize on their successes and to bring us where we are today. Brilliant.
13 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
A useful synopsis of the growth and development of the Royal Navy and its predecessors over more than a thosand years. The limited size of the book means that it cannot go into much detail, but it is very readable (like all Brian Lavery's works) and encourages the reader to read and investigate further.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent
The TV series was, as expected from the BBC, brilliant and the book does tie-in very well. Very good value especially if you are a history buff like me.
Published 1 month ago by Michael C. Holliday
navy and empire
This interesting book, which accompaned the BBC series of the same name, deals with the development of the navy from the time of the Armada in the 1580s to the end of the first... Read more
Published 23 months ago by G. I. Forbes
Rule Brittannia
Great book, in depth but still easy to read. Everyone with an interest in the British Navy should read this.
Published 23 months ago by Stephen G. Bell
Story catch-up
missed part of the TV series so have bought the book to catch up. Looking forward to reading it
Published on 16 Mar 2010 by Mrs. G. E. Newsham
Empire of the seas
I am delighted with the book and the service I received with my Order for it.
Published on 27 Feb 2010 by E. Knowles
'Popular' Naval History
Not very much about the empire and a odd view of the Royal Navy. Certainly not up to the standard or depth of Lavery's previous books. Read more
Published on 13 Feb 2010 by Mr. Ian Ford
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