Customer Reviews

Forests and Sea Power: The Timber Problem of the Royal Navy, 1652-1862 (Classics of Naval Literature)

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I read this study for a military history course at the University of Michigan in 1979. My professor, John Shy, considered it then to be the most outstanding single work on the economics of wooden navies in the sailing era. I bought the book used years ago and am now very glad I did. I note with amazement that Amazon offers a used copy for $242. I would desire that this work be returned to publication, especially in eformat for Kindles and Nooks.

I read Albion's study in preparation for writing a graduate school paper on the role of timber and naval stores in the economy of colonial America. While my research goals were not identical with Albion's purposes for writing, the information he included was very helpful. Albion used a clear writing style, and his chapters were organized in a logical way. Some important information was repeated when it supported points he made in more than one chapter; therefore, a person who reads the chapters out of order, or who does not read the entire book, will still be able to follow his logic. I also appreciated the specific and anecdotal information he included; it helped me to better understand an industry about which I knew very little.

Normally I would not include a source with a copyright from the 1920s in a bibliography; but I did not find many sources that dealt with this topic in any detail. Naturally, more recent research has cast doubt on some of the author's conclusions. However, Timothy Bean's introductory essay in the 2000 edition points out where Albion's conclusions have, and have not, survived the test of time. Bean also explains the role of Albion's writing in the history of research into the British navy and naval theory.

Due to the specific nature of this study, Albion's book is probably not for the casual reader. However, for someone who wants insight into the topic, I would recommend including Forests and Sea Power on one's reading list.