- Hardcover: 326 pages
- Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd (15 Sep 1995)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0850523451
- ISBN-13: 978-0850523454
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 16.4 x 1.2 cm
-
Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
796,539 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #28 in Books > History > North America > War Of Independence
| ||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Amazon.co.uk Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Synopsis
This book tells how at the height of the American War of Independence the British seized a tiny Caribbean island called St. Eustatius, or properly, Statia. A free port under the Dutch flag, Statia had achieved notoriety and for the British, an intolerable nuisance value for its thriving trade in arms and ammunition for Washington's armies. It was sufficient cause for war with the Dutch and a combined force under Admiral Sir George Brydges Rodney and General Sir John Vaughan proceeded against the Dutch possessions in the Caribbean. None of these islands were defended, but what Rodney called the "glorious capture" of St. Eustatius on 3rd February 1781 became, in fact, his Nemesis. Chronically debt-ridden and harassed by his creditors, Rodney discovered St. Eustatius to be an El Dorado of goods and money valued at three million pounds. He was, of course, tempted: in effect, he had walked into an unattended bank with its safe doors unlocked. Given the demons in his background, there is no surprise in his fall or in his subsequent ruin by the avalanche of lawsuits arising from that adventure. All of which is broadly known: but it is by no means the whole story.The fascination of historians for the towering figure of Rodney has caused them to focus on his career and influence in the theatre of naval operations and the small print of the St. Eustatius affair has so far remained unexplored. Thus, we read in other accounts of Rodney's peremptory deportations of the island's traders but if we want to know who they were or anything of what really took place in Statia after the Admiral and the compliant Vaughan set foot on that soil we must do our own homework. Similarly, we find only scattered references to the role of the army: yet the drama of the occupation, the dark personality of the commanding officer of the garrison, Lieutenant Colonel James Cockburn and the influences which drove him to his own dishonour are equally part of this story. To present it, the author has gathered hitherto unpublished material in which the "glorious capture" is revealed for what it actually was: a naval and military fiasco and the most bizarre thieves' picnic of the century.
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organise and find favourite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Reviews
|
There are no customer reviews yet on Amazon U.K.
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3.0 out of 5 stars (1 customer review)
3.0 out of 5 stars
THE GOLDEN ROCK, 21 July 2010
By sumo - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Golden Rock: An Episode of the American War of Independence, 1775-1783 (Hardcover)
THE BOOK HAS REALLY GREAT CONTENT. ALL SORTS OF LITLE KNOWN FACTS CONCERNING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. HOWEVER,,,IT IS VERY POORLY WRITTEN,VERY HARD TO FOLLOW,A DIFFICULT READ.I CAN RECOMEND IT FOR THE STUDENT OF AMERICAN-BRITISH HISTORY. NOT FOR THE CASUAL READER.
A GOOD WRITER (I.E. MITCHNER) COULD WEAVE A FACINATING HISTORICAL-FICTION STORY WITH THE CONTENT OF THIS BOOK.
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > History > Countries & Regions > Central America & Caribbean > 1500-1800
- Books > History > Military History > Armed Forces > Naval Forces
- Books > History > Military History > Wars, Battles & Campaigns
- Books > History > North America > War Of Independence
- Books > Society, Politics & Philosophy > Warfare & Defence > War & Defence Operations
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
