The Victory of Seapower: Winning the Napoleonic War, 1806-1814 (Anatomy of the Ship) [Hardcover]

Richard Woodman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1998 | Series: Anatomy of the Ship

Although Nelson’s stunning victory at Trafalgar did not immediately win the war, it gave the Royal Navy the freedom to exploit the unprecedented seapower it had achieved. The threat from the French battlefleet was never entirely eliminated, but the rigorous policy of blockading the main bases meant that Napoleon’s navy was never able to mount a significant challenge to British supremacy. Thereafter British policy was to employ its seapower, first to defend the ever-increasing trade that paid for the war-effort, and second to strike back at the dominant military power of France and its satellite states whenever the opportunity arose. Often the two strategies were closely linked, as in the gradual takeover of the French Caribbean colonies and the elimination of Dutch power in the East Indies. The Navy also fought all around the periphery of Europe, and although not every amphibious operation was as successful as the 1807 assault on Copenhagen, the naval aspect was usually executed with skill and aplomb. Even Wellington admitted that the Navy’s support won him the Peninsular War. The period 1806-1814 witnessed continual naval warfare--against the Danes, the Russians, the Turks, and ultimately the Americans, as well as the French and their Dutch and Italian allies--and the ultimate defeat of Napoleon; this volume describes the naval aspect of that defeat in vivid detail.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

RICHARD WOODMAN has recently retired after a career at sea as an officer, first with the Blue Funnel and Glen Lines, and later with Trinity House, the prestigious and time-honored service responsible for lighthouses, seamarks and navigational aids around the coasts of the British Isles. He became its Deputy Marine Superintendent in 1991 and in 1992 was promoted Captain. He began writing at sea, and has some two dozen novels to his credit, including the Nathaniel Drinkwater series, for which he has immersed himself in the history and culture of the 1793-1815 period in which they are set. He is also the author of numerous non-fiction works, including a prize-winning history of Trinity House. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Chatham Publishing; 1St Edition edition (August 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1861760388
• ISBN-13: 978-1861760388
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 9.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,189,639 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A look at Victory of Seapower, June 26, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Victory of Seapower: Winning the Napoleonic War, 1806-1814 (Anatomy of the Ship) (Hardcover)

A nicely detailed account of the Napoleonic Wars. This book details the strategies of different Admirals used to attain victory. It discusses some of the different vessels used during the war. Almost every page at least has one picture on it. The book covers several battles fought during the war. It also gives details on the life of some the men (Officers mostly) who fought in the war. Presents a view of the politics of the nations involved. While most of the book discussed the Bristish, French and Spanish, the final chapters covered other nations not directly involved in the war.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great concept, April 11, 2007

By 

John F. Redwine (Dallas, Texas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Victory of Seapower: Winning the Napoleonic War 1806-1814 (Paperback)

This whole series of illustrated histories is excellent and this is the best volume of those I have read so far. The short, concise explanations of events along with numerous contemporary illustrations help you to understand the ships and event of the period. I would highly recommend this book and the series in general.

4.0 out of 5 stars Very nice book, great way to fill knowledge gaps, February 27, 2009

By 

D. Wilson "Paparx" (South East VA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Victory of Seapower: Winning the Napoleonic War 1806-1814 (Paperback)

This is not a stand alone book in teaching the genre of British naval history but for someone already enamored the detail of the engagements is well protrayed and rivetting. Really liked it, I would buy again.