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A Rage for Glory: The Life of Commodore Stephen Decatur, USN

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If you're a fan of historical novels, and sometimes suspect that the heroes in those stories strain credulity, then this book will disabuse you of that fear. True, it isn't a long book--it may not weigh enough to make a sufficiently loud thud when landing on the desk of an academic (I agree with a previous review's implication that it would not be a good reference book). But it makes for a compelling read, a fascinating story that is well-grounded in its historical context.

James Tertius De Kay's book A Rage for Glory, is a great book which gives insightful inside look at the life of one of America's first Naval Heros. De Kay writes this book not for naval scholors but for the average reader who may not have any prior knowledge of teh Naval history of the Early Republic. The book is not a difficult read and will leave the reader with a better understanding of the role pirates played in the 19th century as well as the roles the U.S. Navy had in the War of 1812. The book concludes with the tradgic death of Decatur while defending his honor in a duel with another fellow naval officer. In all this book should be read by any lover of early American history or any military reader.

First, I'm a fan of military history and biographies, so my review may be slightly skewed. The book was an easy read (relatively short at 260 pages) and gives a mildly detailed account of Decatur's life and unfortunate death. I recommend this book to any service member, especially those in our Navy since besides introducing one of their greatest commanders it also presents some of the history leading to the establishment of a permanent Naval force during the early years of our nation. The only thing missing from this book are maps of the regions as they were known at the time and perhaps a tiny glossary with the definitions to the Naval/Nautical terms used.

The Marine Hymn says, "From the halls of Moctezuma to the Shores of Tripoli." I always wondered about "the shores of Tripoli" part of that Hymn. I didn't learn anything in US History classes about it nor about "the hero" of Tripoli, Steven Decatur---at least until I read this book. Exciting reading about a true American Hero who lived at the beginning of our Country. Recommended! boland7214@aol

This biography of one of our great naval heroes should inspire anyone. It is all the more relevant today because it deals with his conquest of the Barbary Pirates, whose philosophy is very similar to that which is held by many of the denizens of the same geographic area today.

We could learn some important lessons from his valiant actions and love of Country, and the bold response of Thomas Jefferson.

I tend to shy away from "biographies" of military "heroes." When one looks deeper into their history, you'll find they weren't quite as macho as they made themselves out to be. Or they were so idiosyncratic as to be of dubious merit in civilian life. I think of both Patton and MacArthur to whom both of those value judgements apply.

When you pass by the Decatur House in Washington, adjacent to the White House, you think of a guy who died there, pretty young, after a spat with another navy commodore, James Barron. One is always to reflect of Stephen's heroism; that comes with the territory.

It turns out that such behavior was true!

Decatur wasn't an academic success. So, Decatur became midshipman.

One must keep in context that, at the time of Decatur's birth, the new nation didn't want a navy. It was an expensive commodity, and many of the "founding fathers" were afraid that the military may run the country if given a blank check. But we were threatened in North Africa by the Barbary pirates, which, in essence, put Decatur on the map. He was assigned to the ship the United States, and one of his officers--and friends--was James Barron.

Barron, incidentally, was later shamed over his loss of a ship, and unsubstantiated allegations by another officer of Barron's lack of loyalty. That's what led to his distance from Commodore Decatur.
Later, when the USS Philadelphia had been taken by some of those pirates, Decatur and his crew sank the ship, despite the overwhelming odds against them. He did so with hand-to-hand combat on board the vessel, and that led to the "glory" in pursuit of which Decatur notorious, and for which the book is entitled.

That was the first of many heroic--note the lack of quotes around the word--activities of Decatur. Now, let me stress that I think luck plays into such heroics, too. But that doesn't detract that it took guts and strategy--and the ability to evoke loyalty from a crew--for Decatur to do what he did, most of which were quite successful, and earned him his laurels.

True, the book is relatively short. But unless you'd like to cover minute details of Decatur's life, many of them of dubious historical merit, it covered enough to give you a good view of the man.

Early in the text, the author covered how dueling was one of those badges of honor used particularly by navy men. Indeed, later in his career--ironically--Decatur established what I think they referred to as "Decatur' law," by which such duels were, in effect, mediated; lots of good officers would otherwise be lost over some pretty frivolous issues.

The author slides into the narrative the items that led to the eventual dual between Barron and Decatur, in which Barron was the victor. Several things happened which lead one to believe that Barron may have been wooed into the duel in the first place by another officer, Jesse Duncan Elliot. In any case, Decatur was courted adequately to the duel in which, by the terms issued by Barron, one was almost surely to die. (Keep in mind that in many a duel of the era, one or both of the dueling parties, shot their gun into the ground, thereby hurting no one, but preserving the "honor" of both.)

I was inclined to describe the duel in some detail, but that would give away too much of the book. I've already stated who was the "victor." But I'll let the reader do that.

After the duel, the author clearly summarizes what happened to the surviving parties. I was a little surprised that Decatur's wife, Susan, was so extravagant that she lost all the Decaturs had acquired including prize money, a healthy pension, etc. Barron ended his years in the navy...well, etc.

Overall, I think it's a pretty good book. Again, I don't get into 800 page details of such a guy's life, with footnotes galore, including what so-and-so claimed, and items that really don't mean much to me. The text did include just a little too much glorifying of the "founding fathers," and many lesser known figures. They were value judgements I might have been left on my own to make or not. But if you want something to put the platitudes and story of Decatur in context, and learn a few details of US and naval history, this is a pretty good book.

First, I'm a fan of military history and biographies, so my review may be slightly skewed. The book was an easy read (relatively short at 260 pages) and gives a mildly detailed account of Decatur's life and unfortunate death. I recommend this book to any service member, especially those in our Navy since besides introducing one of their greatest commanders it also presents some of the history leading to the establishment of a permanent Naval force during the early years of our nation. The only thing missing from this book are maps of the regions as they were known at the time and perhaps a tiny glossary with the definitions to the Naval/Nautical terms used.

I ordered this book without too much thought as I had read James DeKay's previous book on the British, then American, frigate Macedonian. Decatur was responsible for the Macedonian's capture so I assumed that the biography was a natural fit. Unfortunately, I was disappointed to receive such a thin, light (in many senses of the word) tome. Perhaps, I'm attracted to more scholarly endeavors but I found the book slight where I longed for depth and detail. There was little new material in the book and sometimes I thought it was just a quick rehash of notes set down for the book on the Macedonian. That it came out about the time of the ill-fated Master and Commander movie makes me think it was also rushed. One of the founders of the American Navy living in such a colorful period of history and, in many ways, being the epitome of his time, deserves better.