Customer Reviews

The French Navy and the Seven Years' War (France Overseas: Studies in Empire and D)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I love mysteries, whodunits, and I was gripped by this book in the same way but by the "how" rather than the "who." How did the apparently doomed French Navy survive the Seven Years' War to be a force in the American Revolution, and how did the author combine the monumental mass of information into such a coherent and compelling book? It at first looks a bit intimidating and difficult, but I was swept along by the stunning scholarship and spellbinding story. It's economically written, with not a word wasted, but all even an untutored reader needs to know is there, helpful and fascinating tidbits tucked into parentheses just when you need them. You think the world is complicated now? It truly seems simple and straightforward compared with the middle of the 18th century, but maybe if this author were to apply his military/diplomatic/political historian's tools to produce a whydunit on today's maneuvers and intrigues we'd find it far more labyrinthine than it appears.

The author of a widely acclaimed book on French involvement in the American Revolution, in his well researched new book, Jonathan Dull focuses more on the convoluted diplomacy of the Seven Years War than he does on the French navy. Dull gives good coverage of the effects of the War of Austrian Succession, and argues that Louis XV did not lack vision. Expansion into Pennsylvania was defensive, and Louis hoped for success in early peace negotiations but was instead rebuffed by the British. The British navy is covered almost as well as the French, but the author integrates diplomacy, land and naval warfare into a coherent year by year narrative of the war. India gets little attention, but the king's private efforts against Russia are, as is the vital importance of the fisheries off the coast of Canada, the retention of which allowed the French navy to rebuild after the war. Money, the politics of the Parlements, and public opinion in Britain all factor into the story. Post-war diplomacy is covered, and the effects of the war on the American Revolution are frequently mentioned. Although it does not match the author's excellent book on the American Revolution, this book is still an excellent addition to the library of anyone who appreciates and enjoys reading about the Seven Years War.

The Seven Years war was a devastating time for France and Jonathan Dull tries to explain what happened in this great addition to the literature. It is a quick read and at times gets very heavy into the statistics. The basic problem of the French is they are outgunned and towards the end of the war outmaneuvered almost everywhere. Dull does a wonderful job with clear prose of illustrating this and it is a great book for someone who wants to learn more about the Seven Years war. This is not a good intro book to the war but once you have a basic sense it is a great way to expand your knowledge. It is highly recommend for colonial students that want to learn why the colonies shaped the way they did and how the dominance of France was replaced by an empire where the sun never sets.

While purporting to be a book specifically about the French Navy during the Seven Years War, do not be fooled!! There is VERY LITTLE about the French Navy per se, but a LOT about the convoluted series of negotiations regarding the conduct of the war in Europe, and the actions and activity of the warring factions on the American frontier. While this has some interest in its own right, this is not why I bought the book! If you are looking to gain some insight into such NAVAL matters as the organisation of the French Navy, its logistics, operations, command structure, training, warships and warship designs of the period, you will be VERY disappointed!

This book is more about the colonial empire of France than it is about naval history. Great if that's your interest, but it was't mine, and it's not what I bought the book for. It is written in the dead hand style of academia, not even worth the one star the computer requires me to give it.