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

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

by N.A.M. Rodger (Author) "The English Commonwealth which executed its former king Charles I on 30 January 1649 was in principle a republic governed by a sovereign Parliament, but..." (more)
4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Hardcover: 976 pages
  • Publisher: Allen Lane; 11th impression edition (7 Oct 2004)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0713994118
  • ISBN-13: 978-0713994117
  • Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 16.6 x 6 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 89,477 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Product Description

Amazon.co.uk
NAM Rodger’s The Command of the Ocean, the second part of his naval history trilogy that began with The Safeguard of the Sea, describes Britain’s rise to naval greatness during the period 1649-1815 when she finally gained sovereignty of the seas around the British Isles. It ably demonstrates the importance of naval history to the life of government and the nation; links naval history with political, social, economic, diplomatic, administrative, medical and religious history and charts the naval histories of Britain’s enemies and neighbors including France, Holland, Spain, Denmark and the United States.

Have no doubt, this is a brilliant piece of scholarship, cleverly organized and wonderfully written. Given the promising subject matter of naval warfare to work with it is not surprising that an historian with literary flair can produce a gripping narrative. Perhaps what is surprising is that half the book is devoted to the seemingly mundane background of naval history--how the Navy was managed, financed, directed, and supplied with materials, how the men were fed and so on--rather than the showy foreground, yet it remains a deeply engrossing read throughout. The secret of Rodger’s success is not just down to the cracking narrative and fine scholarship but partly to the way he has organized his material. The main body of the book is arranged into four parallel streams: policy, strategy and naval operations; finance, administration and logistics; social history; and finally the tools of sea-power, ships and weapons. These four themes are broken up into thirty six relatively small chapters each covering a certain time span. Constructing the book in this way has certain practical advantages for the reader. Most importantly, separating the key themes and alternating between them keeps the narrative fresh and interesting while giving the reader the best chance of taking on board the who, what, where, when, how and why of things without losing either the sense of continuity or one’s bearings. Over 100 pages of information are left outside the main body of the text: the front of the book contains several maps, a useful chart listing dates, battles and the names of the ships involved while the back contains an English glossary, a general chronology and appendixes on ships, fleets, rates of pay, Admirals and officials, manpower and naval finance. Rodger’s choice of structure along with his great story-telling abilities means we can assimilate the maximum amount of information with a minimal degree of effort while being thoroughly entertained along the way. On the whole The Command of the Ocean is one those rare specimens that will simultaneously stimulate the specialist and greatly please the general reader. --Larry Brown

Paul Kennedy, The Sunday Times
'nothing written during the past century, perhaps ever, approaches Rodger’s ambitious and masterly three-volume Naval History of Britain'

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First Sentence
The English Commonwealth which executed its former king Charles I on 30 January 1649 was in principle a republic governed by a sovereign Parliament, but the Parliament was the 'Rump' remaining of the Long Parliament (originally elected in 1640) after Colonel Thomas Pride's troops had purged it of all remaining opponents of military rule in December. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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The Command of the Ocean: A Naval History of Britain, 1649-1815
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Customer Reviews

8 Reviews
5 star:
 (7)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.9 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant at sea, but also good all round, 30 Dec 2006
This is a brilliant book to read for anyone, whether they are a professional historian, or just as a passing fancy.

It highlights not just the military side of the period, but also the social and political aspects of it, portraying the personalities of the period with the utmost accuracy. There are also some fundamental points made in this book which although complex, are explained so well that they will improve any readers understanding of the period.
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40 of 45 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The Senior Service succinctly chronicalled, barnacles and al, 3 Nov 2004
By A Customer
If your curiosity about the Royal Navy was whetted by the Command and Conquer film then this excellent account, prepared in what seems a labour of love, should prove the fact belittles the fiction. How women and even entire families served in Nelson's Navy is brought to light by careful examination of naval records.How crews were more like foreign legions than just sons of England and how risk was seen a positive thing to allow common men to rise above their station. An excellent read!
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Something stops this from being 5 stars for me..., 12 May 2008
By J. Duducu (Ruislip) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
First things first, it's all here! Maybe that's a problem, whether you want to know about recruitment systems, pay, battles or ship design it's all in this book. They are all discussed in great depth and length. This book "does exactly what it says on the tin" (to quote an advert) and if it's British and floated during this period it's discussed in this doorstop of a book. The research is first class and the explanations are always lucid.

My other nagging concern is this is the pinnacle of the greatest maritime power the world has ever seen. Epic battles, great exploration, larger than life characters- it should be fun, exciting, breathless. Instead, while the style isn't turgid, it lacks the zest and narrative style needed to suck the reader into the moment Nelson is shot or the battle at Quiberon bay.

The more I think about it, the more I think that that's the issue. The style is too consistent, discussing the evolution of the ships of the line is important but it shouldn't be written the same way as era defining battles on the sea where great empires clash for world supremacy.

So this is a very well researched book and if you want to know everything about this period then this is the book for you but be warned that while it can make the dry areas interesting the same style can make the interesting areas a bit dry.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Well written and dispells many myths
I picked up this book in Portsmouth after having realised I knew next to nothing about the true history of the Navy (apart from Nelson). Read more
Published 18 months ago by G. WILLIAMS

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!
Superbly researched and very well written book concerning possibly the most important period in the development of the British nation. Read more
Published 24 months ago by Doctor Syn

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine absorbing book
This is one of the most absorbing history books I have read. The author covers not only naval operations but the politics, the financing, the organisation the social backgound and... Read more
Published on 2 Mar 2007 by Mr. John B. Macmillan

5.0 out of 5 stars This is not a pub quiz book
NAM Roger has continued the excellent work he started with his first volume. This is an excellent book, well referenced and remarkably readable. Read more
Published on 19 Aug 2006 by N. D. Jervis

5.0 out of 5 stars The Command of Naval History
I am not an historian but I found this meticulously researched book very readable. It puts the Naval history in its context and is written in a clear and enjoyable style. Read more
Published on 4 Oct 2005 by Martin Fuller

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