Selected Product:
| Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy
Paperback
Author: Ian W. Toll
Publisher: W. W. Norton
Release Date: 2008-03-03
ISBN-10: 039333032X
ISBN-13: 9780393330328
List Price: $16.95
Average Customer Rating:
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"A fluent, intelligent history...give[s] the reader a feel for the human quirks and harsh demands of life at sea."—New York Times Book Review
Before the ink was dry on the U.S. Constitution, the establishment of a permanent military became the most divisive issue facing the new government. The founders—particularly Jefferson, Madison, and Adams—debated fiercely. Would a standing army be the thin end of dictatorship? Would a navy protect from pirates or drain the treasury and provoke hostility? Britain alone had hundreds of powerful warships.
From the decision to build six heavy frigates, through the cliff-hanger campaign against Tripoli, to the war that shook the world in 1812, Ian W. Toll tells this grand tale with the political insight of Founding Brothers and the narrative flair of Patrick O'Brian. 16 pages of illustrations.
Excellent!
| Customer Rating: | | This is truly a must read. While I am not in the field of naval history, it is an area of keen interest for me. This book was very well written with the perfect balance of detail and prose; it provides all the benefits of a top shelf history text and all the entertainment of a good war novel. I couldn't put it down! |
Us Navy
| Customer Rating:  | A helpful little book that sheds some light om the foundation of the US navy. I recommend it!
/Torbjörn Jerlerup |
Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy
| Customer Rating: | | The information in this book has been covered by many...but rarely if ever so clearly and informatively. This is a terrific review for anyone interested in American naval history. |
Immersive, even for a land lubber
| Customer Rating: | | It appears that some of the reviewers are well versed in the subject, but for someone who has decent knowledge of early American history but zero education on the military, like me, this book delivers a readable, rich characterization of the time. My father in law is a retired US Navy officer, so I felt like I owe him the courtesy of reading this book.I can barely sail a milk carton, but was still fascinated by the detailed, jargon-filled battle scenes. This book is approachable, well researched, and an excellent example of historical writing. |
With a Little Editing, Could Have Been a Five
| Customer Rating: | This is really the history of the US Navy from the end of the Revolution to the end of the 'War of 1812'. It's the story of the growth of a service dealing with a niggardly Congress and trying to get 'respect' of the rest of the world. The new US was considered an upstart by the strongest navy in the world (His Britannic Majesties) and an anomaly to the Barbary Pirates of North Africa.
Toll has done a monumental job in reading through the Navy Archives of both the US and Britain, and many of the newspapers of the contemporary times. He has developed new details as to the character of the early men who ran the Navy and commanded its' ships. He does his best when describing battles and the problems of getting Congress to understand the usefulness of a 'deep water' fleet. He suffers when he over- describes the provisioning and outfitting of the ships and the recruiting of sailors.
Reading some pages was like looking at a list from a Chandler's shop and should have been put in notes. Some of the quotes are overly long and not completely relevant to the theme he is elaborating. He is best when he gives us the 'rest of the story' on some of the people who pass through tangentially but are important to the story. All in all a good presentation (just not a great one).
Zeb Kantrowitz |
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