Great American Naval Battles [Hardcover]

Jack Sweetman (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1998

In this collection of essays a distinguished team of naval historians examines nineteen of the most important battles fought by American naval forces. Edited and introduced by retired Naval Academy professor Jack Sweetman, the volume includes battles from the War of Independence, the War of 1812, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War II, and the postwar period. Based on the latest scholarship and written to both educate and entertain, each of the essays provides a scene-setting overview of the strategic situation at the time of the action, a description of the battle itself, and an examination of its significance. Biographical profiles of American commanders illustrate the critical influence of leadership in combat.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Winner of the 1998 John Lyman Book Award for U.S. Naval History, sponsored by the North American Society for Oceanic History.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 560 pages
• Publisher: Naval Institute Press (November 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557507945
• ISBN-13: 978-1557507945
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,219,379 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars ONE OF ONLY A FEW DISAPPOINTMENTS I HAVE HAD IN 'THE NAVAL INSTITUTE PRESS', July 26, 2006

By 

Heather L. Parisi "Robert and Heather Parisi" (St. Augustine, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Great American Naval Battles (Hardcover)

IN A NUTSHELL:

Edited by Jack Sweetman with individual contributing authors for each battle. Includes a seperate chapter for each American battle from the 'Revolutionary', '1812', and 'Civil Wars'.

WHY ONLY THREE STARS?

The text is rather opinion laden and lacks the immediacy and vital epic details that these types of historic testimonies require and usually contain. Instead, alot of political ramblings that somehow influenced the battle, most evident and to some extent appropriate in the chapter titled, 'Pearl Harbor'. However, even in the 'Pearl Harbor' chapter I found myself skipping ahead to see if the actual events on December 7, 1941 were ever described. In fact, they were, but it was really insufficient for this type of book. Not one chapter meet my expectations, but I will look elsewhere for the chronicles I still seek.

In a word --- BORING -- and I find this topic incredibly interesting, but not within this volume.

IF YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN AMERICAN NAVAL ENGAGEMENTS CONSIDER READING;
'THE HISTORICAL ATLAS OF THE U.S. NAVY', by Craig L. Symonds, Published by: THE NAVAL INSTITUTE PRESS