The Last Gentleman-Of-War: The Raider Exploits of the Cruiser Emden (Bluejacket Books) [Paperback]

R. K. Lochner (Author), Thea Lindauer (Translator), Harry Lindauer (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2002 | Series: Bluejacket Books

Based on German, French, and English sources, this World War I saga of the German cruiser Emden provides a colorful portrait of a lost era of naval warfare and a lasting tribute to a legendary merchant raider. Though dauntless in pursuit of enemy ships, the Emden treated captured crews with great courtesy and is remembered today as the last man-of-war that adhered to a chivalric code of conduct. The bold and gallant raids against Allied merchant ships in the Indian Ocean earned the Emden the admiration of friend and foe alike. In a single raid it sank a Russian cruiser and destroyed a French torpedo boat and all told is credited with capturing or sinking nineteen merchant ships. Emden cleverly eluded Allied warships until its spectacular career was cut short in 1914 during a fierce engagement with an Australian cruiser off the Cocos Islands. Even the British lamented Emden's demise with a popular newspaper praising the captain as a courageous and resourceful man and predicting the ship to live on in history. This account of the ship's high-seas adventures will fascinate readers of all ages.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: US Naval Institute Press (October 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557505381
• ISBN-13: 978-1557505385
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,732,121 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An absorbing account of men and their ship., December 4, 2004

By 

Ned Middleton (British professional underwater photo-journalist & author) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Last Gentleman-Of-War: The Raider Exploits of the Cruiser Emden (Bluejacket Books) (Paperback)

The wreck of the German WW1 Cruiser SMS Emden is still found perched on top of the rocks exactly where she ran aground off North Keeling Island in 1914. What was not destroyed by enemy action, Japanese salvage in the 1950's and almost a century of pounding by the elements, still bears a remarkable resemblance to a once great ship and is a lasting testament to her once gallant crew.

Under the command of one of the most chivalrous men ever to wear a uniform, this ship went in pursuit of enemy merchant vessels and was amongst the most successful ever to do so. In one raid she sank a Russian cruiser and French torpedo boat after simply steaming into a British port and opening fire.

Such were the exploits of this ship and of the way in which her captain and crew conducted themselves, any person of any nationality would like to think that the personnel in their own navy were capable of emulating such fine behaviour - both in success and defeat, as was displayed in this particularly fine example.

The book itself is well laid out with an interesting selection of historic photographs and maps. Altogether, there is much here for those with a casual interest in the subject as well as the serious historian. Furthermore, the book itself is a very good read.

NM.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great read, September 13, 2009

By 

Weesel "TJ" (Balmer, MD) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Last Gentleman-Of-War: The Raider Exploits of the Cruiser Emden (Bluejacket Books) (Paperback)

This is a translation from German,so some of the terminology is odd. For example, the descrition of the great wind caused by exploding shells... probably a better translation is 'concussion.' Minor stuff, but it can make you back up and say: Huh? The really interesting part of this is that it expands upon the classic "Last Cruise of the Emden." Read together, one could feel as if one were almost aboard the ship. This has to be a classic sea story of the finest type. A noble enemy confounding the pursuers and sometimes only just barely. The tragedy of people who were actually friends having to hunt each other in the name of misguided politics is laid bare. This book goes into detail over the treatment of the EMDEN's crew after the battle and some surprises emerge. Fregatten Kapitan von Muller was an honorable foe; as he passed thru the prisoner of war system, one would think he were Blackbeard. The politics of the German bureaucrats vis-a-vis the combatants is also an eyeopener. Lot to love Lieutenant von Muecke's appraisal of the former and the results on the latter.

Excellent read, but do get both books for a fuller, more-balanced picture.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reads like a Novel, July 4, 2008

By 

L. Veid "Chronic Reader" (Beckley, WV USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Last Gentleman-Of-War: The Raider Exploits of the Cruiser Emden (Bluejacket Books) (Paperback)

If a novelist tried to sell this book to a publisher, it would be rejected as too melodramatic. I had encountered snippits of information about the Emden and her commander before I read this book, but I didn't know the half of it. The author does a good job of illuminating Captain von Muller, a thinking officer who kept his eyes on the ultimate goal and allowed his humanity to guide his actions. Operating alone, he managed to drive the Royal Navy to distraction and had an influence all out of proportion to his actual deeds. The adventures of Emden's first officer and his party after the ship was lost is an extended adventure in itself.