15 March 2019
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In conjunction with The National Museum, this massive and astonishing book – over 800 A4 pages – tells the story of 500 years of the Royal Navy, organised day by day for a year.
Author: LAWRIE PHILLIPS
Reviewed by: Duncan Evans
In conjunction with The National Museum, this massive and astonishing book – over 800 A4 pages – tells the story of 500 years of the Royal Navy, organised day by day for a year. This is an expanded fifth edition, with both a foreword (by the First Sea Lord) and a preface (by the chairman of the National Museum of the Royal Navy) before the introduction and acknowledgements. And then we’re off, 1 January, with the very first entry, a small note from 1586, when Sir Francis Drake captured San Domingo. I’d like to have known more of this but most entries are terse, with the occasional one benefitting from a box out that goes into more detail. Other highlights from 1 January, include the sinking of the HMS Formidable by German torpedo, in 1915.
There are photos throughout but one disappointment is that they are all mono, though colour would probably have made the cost prohibitive. As it is, the £60 cost is good value.
Also, if you are looking for information about a specific era, this date format makes it hard to find. However, it’s the wealth of small facts, spread throughout 500 years of history, that make this a treat for the naval enthusiast.
• The History Press
• 856 pages • Hardback • £60
As reviewed in The Armourer March 2019
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