Up Country

Amazon.com

In Up Country, Nelson DeMille cannily revives the army career of Chief Warrant Officer Paul Brenner, the cynical, hardworking Criminal Investigation Division man who was forcibly retired after solving the high-profile killing in The General's Daughter. Brenner's called back to investigate the murder of a young army lieutenant by his captain. The catch is, the crime took place during the heat of the Tet Offensive, and the only living witness was a North Vietnamese soldier who described the incident in a 30-year-old letter that has only recently come to light. Soon Brenner, a Vietnam vet, is on an ostensible nostalgia tour of his old stomping grounds. The trip immediately turns dangerous as he heads "up country" to search for the letter writer, accompanied by a gorgeous American businesswoman, who's hiding more than even the smartest CID officer could imagine.

DeMille, who saw his own tour of duty in Vietnam (and even found a letter on a dead Vietnamese soldier), intersperses historical facts and chilling political possibilities with enough local color to provide some serious flashbacks for his fellow veterans. To non-vets the book may seem very long, but the payoff at the end is worth a couple hundred extra pages. --Barrie Trinkle

Book Description

In Up Country, Nelson DeMille cannily revives the army career ofChief Warrant Officer Paul Brenner, the cynical, hardworking CriminalInvestigation Division man who was forcibly retired after solving the high-profile killing in The General'sDaughter. Brenner's called back to investigate the murder of a youngarmy lieutenant by his captain. The catch is, the crime took place during theheat of the Tet Offensive, and the only living witness was a North Vietnamesesoldier who described the incident in a 30-year-old letter that has onlyrecently come to light. Soon Brenner, a Vietnam vet, is on an ostensiblenostalgia tour of his old stomping grounds. The trip immediately turns dangerousas he heads "up country" to search for the letter writer, accompanied by agorgeous American businesswoman, who's hiding more than even the smartest CIDofficer could imagine. DeMille, who saw his own tour of duty in Vietnam (and even found a letter on adead Vietnamese soldier), intersperses historical facts and chilling politicalpossibilities with enough local color to provide some serious flashbacks for hisfellow veterans. To non-vets the book may seem very long, but the payoff at theend is worth a couple hundred extra pages. --Barrie Trinkle

Download Description

The last thing Paul Brenner wanted to do was to return to work for the Army's Criminal Investigative Division, an organization that thanked him for his many years of dedicated service by forcing him into early retirement. But when his former boss calls in a career's worth of favors, Paul finds himself investigating a murder that took place in Vietnam thirty years before. Now, returning to a time and place that still haunts him, Paul is swept up in the battle of his life as he struggles to find justice.

Customer Reviews:

Strong narrative accompanied by deep meaning.......2007-08-06

Up Country is the first novel I have read by Nelson DeMille, and it is a very strong first impression. As the son of a man who served in Vietnam, I have always held a fascination with that particular war, but yet I feel like I have never really understood much about it. As DeMille was a lieutenant in Vietname, he not only writes this novel with a strong, suspenseful narrative, but he also finds plenty of appropriate moments throughout the novel to speak to the reader about the experiences of those who served in Vietnam, and how their lives were affected.

The novel follows former army investigator Paul Brenner. He is called by his former boss to go to Vietnam to investigate a murder that took place there in 1968. The murder involved the killing of a lieutenant by the captain of the same company, and it was witnessed by a wounded North Vietnamese soldier, who proceeded to write a letter to his family about the incident. When an American soldier gets a hold of the letter, it eventually finds its way to the American government. As Paul's investigation moves closer to its resolution, he realizes how much this murder means to the American government, and starts to wonder if he is in over his head.

While there are some slight lulls in the middle of the novel, and some of the dialog between Brenner and his female companion seems a little pedestrian, the novel overall is a solid read that not only provides a good mystery, but can also provide some deeper meaning if the reader happened to be a Vietnam vet.

BACK TO NAM.......2007-07-10

Two difficult things to take in: 393 reviews, and 40 some people only grudgingly allowed the book 1 star.

With all the reviews here all I will say is this book has the same characters somewhat as The General's Daughter, and though it is not a sequel the two books fit together well in continuance. The author served in Viet Nam and returned there for a visit prior to writing the book. Closure, well I don't know, but I am glad he revisited and wrote the book.

Finally, after 7 years this book still reads well and for me was an enjoyable read.

Semper Fi.

Good.......2007-06-22

This is a long book with very little action considering it's length. Paul Brenner a retired military police officer is sent on a mission in Vietnam (present day). He is to find a north Vietnamse man who witnessed a murder 30 years ago. Sounds simple? Well Paul takes us on a tour of Vietnam before we meet the man he is searching for. Along the way Paul talks about his experiences in Vietnam and provides lots of historical information. Great Stuff!! I was in Vietnam in the early 90s and did not know about a particular indigeneous people that played a role in this novel. The development of tourism after America resumed diplomatic relations with Vietnam is a amazing. Susan Weber the love interest in the novel provides insight on why some people become expatriots in far off places.

Most of the book deals with Paul and Susan touring Vietnam and then going up north to find the witness to a crime. They know where the man is but, it seems to take them a long time to get to their destination.
I listened to this on casset with Scott Brick as the narrator.
Brick is wonderful. This is a great audio book for the car because when at times I drifted off I didn't miss much action just descriptions of events, places , and feelings. I would recommend this novel to anyone interested in Vietnam

Too Stars.......2007-05-21

So the U.S. Army sends an immature and wise-cracking, retired 50-something Vietnam vet back to Vietnam for a dangerous secret mission in a totalitarian police state. In the former Saigon, he teams up with a with a beautiful Harvard MBA twenty years his junior, who falls madly in love with the aforementioned sarcastic jerk over dinner. I don't buy it. Neither should you. The author seems to be living out a mid-life crisis in this yawner. The book is TOO long, and the characters are too incessantly sarcastic and witty. The witticisms get old. Furthermore, the protagonist gets way too sassy with innumerable Vietnamese officials, and never gets jailed or deported. It's amazing! No, it's all just way too unlikely. Too insufferably "John Wayne." Instead of this silly book, read Philip Caputo's Vietnam memoir "A Rumor of War," which is profound and brilliant.

excellent.......2007-05-18

witty. funny. serious. satirical.
yes, i did skip over some dreaded dialogue.
overall, nelson deMille is always a good read!!

The Trafalgar Companion: The Complete Guide to History's Most Famous Sea Battle and the Life of Admiral Lord Nelson

Average customer rating:

Magnificent book
Tremendous value
A GREAT book on Nelson's Navy
Fantastic coverage of Trafalgar..
A Must Have

The Trafalgar Companion: The Complete Guide to History's Most Famous Sea Battle and the Life of Admiral Lord Nelson
Mark Adkin
Manufacturer: Aurum Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Naval | Military | History | Subjects | Books

The Waterloo Companion: The Complete Guide to History's Most Famous Land Battle
The Ships of Trafalgar: The British, French And Spanish Fleets, 21 October 1805
Nelson's Trafalgar: The Battle That Changed the World
The Battle: A New History of Waterloo
British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793-1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates

ASIN: 1845130189

Book Description

To mark the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar, fought in October 1805, comes The Trafalgar Companion, a lavishly illustrated volume that surpasses, in both scale and authority, anything ever published on this historic naval battle.

Customer Reviews:

Magnificent book.......2007-04-02

It's one of the best books of that type I've ever read, too much details, but not boring, explains everything and gives you a full idea about how the seamnship of that period, strategy life at seas and of course of the battle of Trafalgar. I would reccomend it without any hesitation.
Probably the title of the book isn't so attractive as it's the book itself.

Tremendous value.......2006-03-15

What a book! This book is huge and contains just about everything you would want to know about the people, the ships and the battles. I was really impressed to see the hour by hour description of the battle and the detailed descriptions of the ships appearance as well as its statistics.
I have no hesitation in recommending this book.

A GREAT book on Nelson's Navy.......2006-01-19

The Trafalgar Companion is probably the best reference book on the Royal Navy in the time of the Napoleonic Wars. It has about 550 pages of small type and is jam packed with information. However, it is much more than its title suggests.

This book could probably be divided into three main parts: the life of Nelson, the Trafalgar campaign, and the background of the Royal Navy. There are nine sections, each with subsections and most with an epilogue. The epilogues comprise the first part, as they describe some aspect of Nelson's life or career. If one wanted to read only about Nelson, one could jump to the end of each chapter and read a very good biography of Nelson. The epilogues include his early life and career, the battles of St Vincent, the Nile, Copenhagen; his stay at Naples, Emma, and a few others. The reader really comes to know a great deal about Nelson. The second section, the background of the Royal Navy, gives the reader about 150 pages on topics such as ship construction and classification, seamanship, navigation, officers, seamen, marines, uniforms, gunnery, tactics, and many others. This section alone is invaluable to understanding the Royal Navy. The third section is about the Trafalgar campaign. The subsections include British and French naval strategy, the fleets, command, opening moves, the battle itself (about 60 pages), and the aftermath of the battle.

So, what makes this such a great book? The topics have all been discussed in tons of other books. Well, first, this book is like an encyclopedia--it brings everything together under one roof. If you want Nelson, you got 'im. If you're reading Hornblower, Ramage, Kydd, or Aubrey and you need some background info on some topic, it's here. However, this book is more than an encyclopedia. If you have several hours to spend on a great story--the battle itself--you've got a great read in front of you. Second, in addition to the text, this book is filled with hundreds of illustrations, diagrams, lists, quotes, maps, paintings, and drawings. For example, the section on fleet comparison devotes a page to each ship from both fleets. The pages include a drawing of a ship, its rating, number and type of guns, number and type of crew (i.e. naval, infantry, marine), a biography of its commander, what the ship did during and after the battle, and, for the British, a list of all its officer--all the way down to the purser! In the section on guns, gunnery, and tactics, there are eight fabulous color illustrations, each covering two pages. The first is a cross section of the Victory with all the rooms labeled. The ship looks like a mini city. Then there are top-view illustrations of each deck. Not only are the guns and other parts of the ship labeled, but also where crew members would have been assigned. I didn't know that a marine was assigned to each gun on the ship. In some cases even known personalities can be placed in certain areas on deck. There is even a page showing the number and arrangement of lanterns to indicate signals in the presence of the enemy! I particularly like the 19 maps in the battle section. The reader can follow the movements and firing of the ships throughout the battle. There are so many topics and all are treated exhaustively.

I could go on and on giving examples of the breadth and depth of this book. Besides the information, the color illustrations and quality of paper make this book visually pleasing. I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone interested in the Royal Navy in the Napoleonic Wars. It's worth every penny you'll pay for it-you won't need anything else.

Fantastic coverage of Trafalgar.........2006-01-07

The Trafalgar Companion by Mark Adkin looked very much like his Waterloo Companion that he wrote earlier. The book covers three subject matters. First is the Trafalgar campaign and battle. Second is the biographical overview of Horatio Lord Nelson and finally the third coverage deals with anatomy of navies and ships of this period although the Royal Navy get most of the coverage. Each three subjects are spread apart into sections and interlocked with the overall coverage of the topic. There are also many side bars notes that inserts interesting trivial if not important information regarding the subject matter at hand.

The book proves to be well written, well researched and easy to read. There are over 200 illustrations that covers everything from battle scenes, diagrams, tactical maps, drawings, ship equipments and so on. There are several pages of a great cross section from the top down on HMS Victory (deck by deck) which showed the ship in battle readiness and show the positions of each crew member by position and officers. There's also a full page coverage on each British, French and Spanish ships involved in the battle as well as history of some of its officers. I can write considerably more on all the great stuff that this book contains.

It pretty obvious that the author went all out to provide one of the most complete coverage of Trafalgar campaign and battle within a single volume. Each of the subject matter appears to be well written and researched. Nelson's biography may not be as detail or indepth as some of the full scale biographies but the coverage proves to be impressive and insightful. All of Nelson's previous battles are in the this book and well covered. While not as detail as Brian Lavery's book, Nelson's Navy, the study of the Royal Navy in this book should satisfied almost anyone. The coverage of the campaign and battle of Trafalgar proves to be complete and highly detailed, helped by charts and maps that gives a clear understanding of the subject at hand.

There is also a short but detail coverage of post-Trafalgar period, fate of the ships, officers and burial of Nelson. Interesting tidbits that can only enchance the reading experience.

In conclusion, while there are books out there who may do a better job covering just the battle or just Nelson or just the details of wooden navy, I believed no book does a superior job in putting all three together and making it work. The 555 pages of this book is crammed with information that can only benefit the reader to the utmost. Its well worth the price you pay.

A Must Have.......2006-01-03

This is one of the most outstanding books on the subject of Trafalgar, Nelson and the sailing navy I have come across. The small details are brought vividly to life in a way that makes interesting reading. The artwork in this book is specially commissioned for the book and is therefore technically accurate. This differs from other books on this subject that use art from around the time with foot notes explaining the technical inaccuracies in the pictures. The life of Nelson is covered in detail and is tied in with explaining life in the navy of the time interspersed with stories of individuals of various ranks and what their life was like. Personal stories, where available, are included to bring the whole picture to life. The artwork along with all the maps and diagrams is in full colour making everything easily understandable.

Average customer rating:

Outstanding - A Must Read!!
Nelson is the Master
Much Much More than the title implies
Read Kenneth Roberts for the novels on this topic
A History

Benedict Arnold's Navy
James L. Nelson
Manufacturer: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Naval | Military | History | Subjects | Books

General | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Through a Howling Wilderness: Benedict Arnold's March to Quebec, 1775
Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring
George Washington and Benedict Arnold: A Tale of Two Patriots
Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy
Thieves of Mercy : A Novel of the Civil War at Sea

ASIN: 0071468064

Book Description

An epic story of one man’s devotion to the American cause

In October 1776, four years before Benedict Arnold’s treasonous attempt to hand control of the Hudson River to the British, his patch-work fleet on Lake Champlain was all that stood between British forces and a swift end to the American rebellion.

Benedict Arnold’s Navy is the dramatic chronicle of that desperate battle and of the extraordinary events that occurred on the American Revolution’s critical northern front. Written with captivating narrative vitality, this landmark book shows how Benedict Arnold’s fearless leadership against staggering odds in a northern wilderness secured for America the independence that he would later try to betray.

Praise for James L. Nelson:

"James Nelson is a master both of his period and of the English language."
--Patrick O'Brian, author of Master and Commander

"James L. Nelson tells this story with clarity and literary skill and with such ease and order that the reader feels he is attending a dissertation on history given by a consummate lecturer."
--Ron Berthel, Associated Press, on Reign of Iron: The Story of the First Battling Ironclads, winner of the American Library Association’s 2004 Award for Best Military History

"It is, by far, the best Civil War novel I’ve read; reeking of battle, duty, heroism and tragedy. It’s a triumph of imagination and good, taut writing . . . "
--Bernard Cornwell on Glory in the Name, winner of the W. Y. Boyd Literary Award

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding - A Must Read!!.......2007-08-12

This outstanding narrative documents the Battle of Valcour island but it is much more. My 9 year old recently asked about Benedict Arnold and I replied with the standard dogma of "Arnold the traitor". This book has caused me to revise that narrow view. Benedict Arnold was one of the greatest military commanders of his day. Had he remained true to the Cause, history would have remembered Arnold in the same breath as George Washington. I was amazed by Arnold's heroic determination to defend and establish the American ideal - even as the Continental Congress seemed determined to let the dream slip away. Congrats to James L. Nelson for an outstanding book that is a must read for Revolutionary era fans!!

Nelson is the Master.......2007-08-11

I met James Nelson two years ago at a book signing at Colonial Williamsburg. I purchased one of his books on that occasion and have since read everything he has written to date. He is a master weaver of stories and a master historian. His work is refreshing and spellbiinding. I heartily recommend Benedict Arnold's Navy. It offers an eye-opening look at the Revolutionary War era from both land and sea (or lake, as the case may be).

Much Much More than the title implies.......2007-06-14

I had the pleasure of purchasing the book from the author while taking part in the 225th Yorktown Reenactment last year. I thought the these of the book was interesting and unique. As a result, i felt it should be worth adding to my collection. What i got, was much more than I could have ever hoped.

The book provides one of the best and detailed accounts of the initial taking of Fort Ticonderoga by Arnold and Allen. The book details the make up of the men that were present and not just centering on the leaders themselves.

The work goes into detail regarding the invasion of Canada in 1775, the portion on the western attack may be the best and most in debth coverage ever given. While the book is not the first to cover Arnold's march to Quebec, it may be one of the first to so detail the other half of the invasion and the fights that took place there.

In the end, the book does cover the retreat from Canada and the building of the Navies on the lake. The detailed descriptions of the ships involved was very well worth the read.

The great dramatic detail in the work gives you the feel of reading a novel, but for the notes detailing the sources betraying it as a non-fiction book. Of course, this simply means that a work of non-fiction can be every bit as exciting as a work of fiction...that is what sets Nelson a part.

If you are greatly interested in filling your shelf with an easy read that would give you plenty of information on a part of the war most histories forget (1776 outside of Washington v Howe) this is the book to do it. Buy the book, read the book and keep it. This will be the main source on the subject matter for years to come.

Read Kenneth Roberts for the novels on this topic.......2007-05-17

Anyone who wants to read classics on Arnolds exploits during this period should read Kenneth Roberts' Arundel and Rabble in Arms.

A History.......2007-05-15

Unlike many other novels by James L. Nelson, "Benedict Arnold's Navy" is truly a history, not an historical novel. It seems well written but lacks the excitement of his other novels.

Average customer rating:

Worth it for the Pictures and Painting Alone

The Army

Manufacturer: Universe
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Pictorials | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Military Science | History | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

U.S. Army: A Complete History
Air Force (U.S. Military Series)
United States Army Scrapbook (Military Scrapbook Series)
Navy
The Marines

ASIN: 0883631016
Release Date: 2001-09-18

Book Description

In 1775, determined and angry colonists took up arms against a common foe, and their battle cries signaled the birth of the United States Army. The Army has been forged in the fires of revolution, tested on continental battlefields, battered at the shores of Normandy, and hardened on the sands of the Persian Gulf. From its first stand at Lexington, the Army has always had a non-negotiable contract with the American people to fight and win the nation's wars.

Now, over 225 years after the founding of the Continental Army, the spirit and essence of the United States Army is celebrated for the first time in a definitive, magnificently illustrated, large format book published with the Army Historical Foundation.

Written by an outstanding team, The Army has over 350 pages of riveting and informative text and stories of the Army experience. Essays on U.S. Army history and today's soldiers focus not only on the tanks, helicopters, vehicles, and weapons, but especially on the people that make it all work. The thoughtful incorporation of full-color and vintage photography, portraits, recruiting posters, and historically inspired paintings complements the text while adding the excitement that only spectacular illustrations can bring to a book.

This book enables the history of America's Army to be cherished permanently in a handsome package that every soldier will be proud to own and--with its unique medallion-inlaid cover--to display. This book will be read again and again by past and present soldiers, their families and friends, and the countless others that have been inspired by the exploits of the United States Army.

Customer Reviews:

Worth it for the Pictures and Painting Alone.......2001-12-30

As an active duty Captain I was given this book by my father who is an Army Colonel. A great tabletop/bookshelf book with a history of the army which is enlightening, particulary the many photos and captions. The history in the chapters themselves is somewhat simplistic and "politically correct." Some of the Army's less glorious moments are conviently written out or glossed over or sanatized rather than dealt with in a forthright manner - i.e. the Indian wars, Civil War (southern generals are pictured but not discussed in depth), Bonus Marchers, etc. This doesn't take away from it being an excellent primer on the Army, its history, organization, values, and goals.

The many included paintings from Don Stivers, Rick Reeves, Mort Kunstler really make this edition shine. I think nearly every US Army Stivers print has made it into this edition. If you love military art this is a great value.

Amazon.com

It's an unlikely beginning to what became a momentous, history-changing history fair project. Eleven-year-old Hunter Scott was watching Jaws one day when he first heard about the World War II sinking of the USS Indianapolis. Intrigued, he investigated further, and discovered a shocking, heartbreaking story behind what should have been a tale of heroism and patriotism. Torpedoed by a Japanese submarine, the Indianapolis went down in minutes, taking more than 800 sailors with it. Several hundred survived, but only after spending days in the open sea with sharks diminishing their numbers hourly. This is only the beginning of the tragedy, however. In an effort to make an example of the ship's captain, and in order to deflect blame from itself, the U.S. Navy unfairly court-martialed the captain, painfully changing the lives of all the men involved.

Basing much of his text on young Hunter Scott's research, author Pete Nelson does a fine job of presenting this story through the eyes of many of the survivors. Old and new photos allow readers to know many of the men of the ship, and personal accounts reveal the horrors of those days in the ocean--and later in the courtroom. A bittersweet ending will leave the reader pensive and deeply moved. (Ages 12 and older) --Emilie Coulter

Book Description

Just after midnight on July 30, 1945, the USS Indianapolis was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. The ship sank in 14 minutes. More than 1,000 men were thrown into shark-infested waters. Those who survived the fiery sinking—some injured, many without life jackets—struggled to stay afloat in shark-infested waters as they waited for rescue. But the United States Navy did not even know they were missing. The Navy needed a scapegoat for this disaster. So it court-martialed the captain for “hazarding” his ship. The survivors of the Indianapolis knew that their captain was not to blame. For 50 years they worked to clear his name, even after his untimely death. But the navy would not budge—until an 11-year-old boy named Hunter Scott entered the picture. His history fair project on the Indianapolis soon became a crusade to restore the captain’s good name and the honor of the men who served under him.

Download Description

Hunter Scott, an 11-year-old boy in Pensacola, Florida, was watching the movie Jaws, listening to Captain Quint tell the story of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis at the end of World War II. "Eleven hundred men went into the water. Very first light, the sharks come cruising. . . ." Hunter had a simple question: Was this a true story?

The story of the USS Indianapolis, the worst naval disaster in American history, is indeed true. So is the story of the shameful court-martial of the ship's captain, shameful because the loss of the ship was not his fault, and the Navy knew it. Hunter Scott became the catalyst for the survivors' efforts to clear their captain's name and set the record straight. This is the story of the ship, her brave sailors, their wronged captain, and a young man's crusade to right an old injustice.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent book!!.......2007-03-13

If you want to give your students an inspiration to do more for others than for themselves, give them this book. Scott Hunter's work was important and I appreciate this author's choice to write the book for the left for dead navy soldiers.

Left For Dead was a fantasic read.......2007-03-08

This book was great. I absolutely loved it. I didn't give it full marks because the beginning was very slow. The excitement didn't come until the ship sank. After that it was great. I would recommend this book to everyone.
This book takes place mainly in the Pacific Ocean. The time is from 1945 to 2001. It ranges from the ship sinking to Hunter trying to fix the captain's name. There are two story lines in the book. (One is Hunter and the other is the crew) There were a lot of important events. Of course one of the most important was the sinking. Also when the captain was court-martialed it was huge.
There were a lot of conflicts in the book. Many of them happened in the water. For instance many men thought they saw a fantasy island. They would want to take a group of people and swim to it. The problem was that the others didn't see it, so they didn't want to leave the group. Sometimes physical fights would break out over weather or not to go. Eventually to solve the issue one guy would just swim out and see. (Of course they wouldn't find the island) some of them were attacked by sharks, while swimming away, and died.
Over all this book was great!!!

Interesting Read. Enjoyable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1.......2006-05-31

From start to finish I enjoyed much of this novel. THere were times when i didn't understand all of the fancy language of the navy and ships, but it was a great read.
THis novel is based on the story of the U.S.S. Indianapolis. THis ship sinks during the world war and everyone points their fingers at the captain. But a young boy chooses to aid this man who has been accused of this nonsense.
This book is very interesting and every page had more detail and suspense that made it a great read. Usually I can't sit through
an entire book but i got through this one. I reccomend it toaanyone interested in suspense and tension. THis book is for you.

Book Review.......2006-04-26

Ben Olejniczak
English 9 PIB
4-22-06
Rosie Book Review

"A Simple Review of Injustice"

The novel, Left For Dead by Pete Nelson and Hunter Scott, is quite an interesting piece of work. The book is about the story of the USS Indianapolis disaster, possibly the worst the Navy has ever seen. The story is centered around the injustice that was directed towards the ship's captain. Captain McVay was court marshaled because of his so-called inability to get out of the situation the USS Indianapolis faced. Hunter Scott, a boy who saw the movie, Jaws, became skeptical. He went on a journey to prove that Captain McVay was innocent. Does Scott prove that McVay is in fact innocent? Or does his efforts fail him? Read this novel and the ending will astonish even the worst skeptics.
Quotes in Left for Dead show the reader that this book is worth reading. First, in the Preface, Hunter Scott says, "I am trying to honor a group of veterans to whom honor is everything." Hunter says here that he is going to great heights as well as disadvantages to fight for Captain McVay. Hunter has a mission and nothing is going to stop him from doing what he thinks is right. He is trying to make up for all the sacrifices those men faced in order for our freedom to be in stone forever. Suspense is prominent in this novel. Here, before chapter seven, a quote from Herman Melville, a man from Moby Dick, is stated. It reads, "Any man unaccustomed to such sights, to have looked over her side that night, would have almost thought the whole round sea was one huge cheese, and those sharks the maggots in it." Here, foreshadowing of the accident is given. This is important because it gives a sense of suspense to the reader. The horrific disaster is shown in a nutshell from this little quote. Toward the end of Left For Dead, Pete Nelson writes, "Three hundred and seventeen survived the sinking of the Indianapolis, which meant that there were 317 different stories to be told afterward." Pete Nelson is saying here that this story is a classic. All of the survivors would not have stories to tell if it was not an experience of a lifetime. Just another reason to read Left for Dead.
Left For Dead has its ups and downs. I really enjoyed the history behind the USS Indianapolis. I learned many new things from this novel and there is plenty of knowledge to share! Also, I love how Pete Nelson implemented a story theme to the novel. It was not just a documentary; it was a story that included documentary material. However, there were some downsides to this novel. I did not like the fact that it jumped around from story to information often. It would have been better if the novel would have one way or another; either all storyline or either all documentary. As you can see, Left For Dead is a great novel and I would recommend it to anyone if they are interested in history regarding the Navy or even American history.

I couldn't put the book down.......2006-03-15

This book was recommended to me by a friend as a must read. After buying the book from Amazon, I couldn't put it down. The stories of the men who were left at sea and the struggle by the young man so many years later to restore the honor of the caption falsely accused is well written in this short book and should be on everyone's must read list.

Average customer rating:

Gives A Good Overall Picture of World War II in Europe.
A Must read for any history student
GI General is good, but as a memoir not history
Engaging, self-effacing account
Great Military History makes you proud to be an American

A Soldier's Story (Modern Library War)
Omar N. Bradley
Manufacturer: Modern Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Military & Spies | Professionals & Academics | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

War As I Knew It
Crusade in Europe
Patton: A Genius for War
Patton: Ordeal and Triumph
The Rommel Papers (Da Capo Paperback)

ASIN: 0375754210
Release Date: 1999-05-04

Book Description

D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge, the liberation of Paris, the relentless drive through Germany toward Allied victory--Omar Bradley, the "GI General," was there for every major engagement in the European theater. A Soldier's Story is the behind-the-scenes eyewitness account of the war that shaped our century: the tremendous manpower at work, the unprecedented stakes, the snafus that almost led to defeat, the larger-than-life personalities and brilliant generals (Patton, Eisenhower, Montgomery) who masterminded it all. One of the two books on which the movie Patton was based, A Soldier's Story is a compelling and vivid memoir from the greatest military tactician of our time.

The books in the Modern Library War series have been chosen by series editor Caleb Carr according to the significance of their subject matter, their contribution to the field of military history, and their literary merit.

Customer Reviews:

Gives A Good Overall Picture of World War II in Europe........2007-06-11

General Bradley gives us the reasons and the inside look at interactions between a commanding general and his subordinate commanders. There are plenty of issues such as logistics, strategy, and management of the battlefield that are detailed in this book. We get a bird's eye view of the strategy. Reasons are given for moving Terry Allen and Theodore Roosevelt Jr. from the command of the 1st Infantry Division to the halting of Patton from closing the Falaise Gap. In addition to this, there is plenty of anecdotes and thoughts on the leadership and characteristcs of his subordinate generals like General Hodges and General Patton. General Bradley does not spend too much time reflecting on the losses and tragedies of the war. He moves fairly quickly on the actions of the U.S. Army.

For the most part, General Bradley tends to be as objective as he can until he deals with Field Marshal Montgomery. Bradley does not hide his irritation towards Field Marshal Montgomery, who is pictured as a commander who is somewhat coddled by General Eisenhower. Field Marshal Montgomery does not seem to be a team player in the Allied command structure. Bradley gives us hints at Montgomery's selfish nature in his descriptions of the Field Marshal.

The impressive aspect of this book is General Bradley's sharp attention to details. He seems to have his handle from everything from logistics to personnel to the frontline situation.

There is plenty of discussion of the different levels of command and the units. This is balanced with numerous maps and diagrams. There are also charts on the content of a U.S. Field Army, Infantry Division, and Armored Division. These maps and diagrams help out those who are not so familiar with basic military unit sizes.

The book would be fine for both the experienced military historian or someone who is a beginner reader of World War II in the European Theater.

A Must read for any history student.......2007-05-31

This is one of the finest historical accounts ever written. There is
little room for boredom here. I have seen the movie "Patton" many
times, and while it is one of the best war films of all time, it is
always interesting to learn more about one of the key components behind
it. General Bradley takes the reader through each phase of the war,
explaining the fundamentals of each stage, as if we were right there
at that moment in time. I highly recommend this book to any serious
student of American History.

GI General is good, but as a memoir not history.......2006-05-23

A well written account of high command in the Med and Eurpoe during the Second World War, but biased towards the writer. This book serves better as memoir because of the way Bradley puts his his version of events.

The battle of the Falaise gap and the Ardennes offensive are points to consider. Bradley lauds the pedestrian Courtney Hodges but derides Patton who admittedly had his faults and for his actions was treated accordingly.

Engaging, self-effacing account.......2005-12-22

Engaging and lucid account of military actions in which Bradley was involved during WWII which basically means most of the American effort in North Africa after the battle at Kasserine Pass, the invasion of Sicily, and the main American effort in France and Germany. There are enough maps to supplement the text and enough anecdotal material to offset the fairly technical account of how the US forces under his command fared. Bradley has the ability to make the reader feel quite intelligent but really, the military matters are very well presented. An aside, viewers of the film Patton will find much familiar material here as this book clearly provided source material for the film and Bradley worked on the film as technical advisor. As an understanding of a general's point of view of the American way of war at such a critical time, the book is invaluable and illuminating.

Great Military History makes you proud to be an American.......2005-03-01

I have rarely enjoyed a book so much. It is thoroughly engrossing, illuminating us to so many aspects of the European Theater, many of the great men of the war, and general command principles.

Bradley recounts, in some detail, battle by battle the move through Africa, Sicily, France and Germany. His account seems straightforward and humble, tackling failures of Monty (including Market Garden) Patton, and even himself in his failure to anticipate the Ardennes Offensive that led to the Battle of the Bulge.

His accounts of interactions with great men of the era such as Eisenhower, Monty, and Patton are worthwhile, but what I found fascinating were the figures new to me such as Hodges, Middleton, Ridgeway, Heubner, Gerow, Devers, and even Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. The hard-charging, do your duty feeling that was evident in this book makes me proud to be an American. It is simply amazing to see that men such as Eisenhower and Bradley moved from relative obscurity as colonels to leaders of enormous armies in some of the most important battles of history in a period of only 5 or 6 years.

An added plus are the motivational and management lessons learned from Bradley.

One suggestion: While the book is filled with helpful maps, search for WW2 Battlefield maps online and print them for reference. Keep them with you when you read Bradley's accounts. They will make following the detail of movement much easier.

Average customer rating:

Poor knowledge of detail
just a great historical book about an impossible mission
Great History of the Doolittle Raid
The First Heroes is a must read
Not researched but well embellished

The First Heroes
Craig Nelson
Manufacturer: Viking Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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I Could Never Be So Lucky Again
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
Eddie Rickenbacker: An American Hero in the 20th Century
Billy Mitchell: Crusader for Air Power (Midland Books: No. 180)
The Doolittle Raid 1942: America's first strike back at Japan (Campaign)

ASIN: 0670030872
Release Date: 2002-09-26

Book Description

The Doolittle Raiders, as they became known, were a squadron of eighty scarcely trained young men led by the famous daredevil aviator Jimmy Doolittle. Their mission-the daring World War II bombing raid of Tokyo and other cities in April 1942-was successful until Japanese spies forced most of the squadron to crash-land in enemy-occupied China, where pilots were ferried underground across the country to safety. One plane landed in the Soviet port of Vladivostok, where the crew was eventually smuggled out of the country through Persia. Others were captured by the Japanese, confined to years of imprisonment and torture. The fact that 90 percent of the men involved came home alive was little short of a miracle.

Extensively researched, including interviews with twenty of the twenty-seven remaining survivors, The First Heroes vividly recreates America's first great victory of World War II. Craig Nelson follows the Doolittle Raiders from their secret training on a Florida airfield to their tense days in transit across the Pacific to the bombing itself and finally to their courageous accounts of survival against astonishing odds. This story of America's striking back at its enemies after a vicious surprise attack will resonate widely with the general public today and is sure to appeal to all readers of Tom Brokaw's The Greatest Generation.

Customer Reviews:

Poor knowledge of detail.......2007-08-30

I really, really wanted to like this book. I'd just finished Hornfischer's outstanding "Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors" and wanted some more inspirational reading. I'm about half finished listening to this book in its MP3 version, and have noted the following:
1) the author has no - and I repeat no - required knowledge of the US Navy. There are many, many small, factual errors that are really annoying - referring to the HMS Repulse as a "cruiser", describing the Japanese torpedoes as "two feet long", etc, etc. Anyone with even a basic knowledge of the US Navy in WW2 should have been given an opportunity to preview this book before publication.
2) Overuse of military jargon - bombs referred to as "cabbages", torpedoes as "eels" by such a rank amateur was just too much.
3) this really doesn't apply to the book itself, but the reader on the MP3 version had no idea regarding correct pronunciation of naval terms - (en-sine, indeed.)
I find that when there are so many factual errors in an area that I'm familiar with, I have a tough time accepting the new - often interesting on its face - data that an author brings up. It's too bad that such a terrific topic couldn't have been treated more professionally. I read "Thirty Seconds over Tokyo" as a kid and really was looking for some new information. I blame the editors completely for this second rate attempt.

just a great historical book about an impossible mission.......2007-01-22

This book is wonderful! Gives a sense of the courage needed after pearl harbor and how it was met by young americans. Harrowing!
I can't recommend it any more than A MUST READ. I have sent many to soldiers and friends!

Great History of the Doolittle Raid.......2006-07-23

Here's a compelling and well told history of the daring Doolittle Raid of 1942. Nelson does a good job recounting America's first offensive action against Japan in WWII.

More of a morale booster for America and a psychological defeat for the Japenese, the raid did little actual damage. It did however prove to the world that the Japanese were vulnerable.

This story of the daring men who went on what amounted to a suicide mission is riveting. Nelson takes us through the training for the ultra secret mission, to the actual raid itself, and the following crash landings in China.

Nelson does a very good job of placing these events in the overall context of WWII and follows the fates of all involved up to the present. A little slow at first, The First Heroes rewards persistence. Recommended for anyone interested in WWII.

The First Heroes is a must read.......2006-03-23

The First Heroes by Craig Nelson is a must read for anyone who is interested in history, especially World War Two. It is the story of America's finest pilots getting their first vengeance after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. The task seemed impossible: fly bombers off of an aircraft carrier in the Pacific, drop bombs over Tokyo and somehow land in China. The mission didn't go as planned. Only one plane made it to Allied soil and the other 15 crashed in Japanese occupied China, but not before dropping their payload over Japan. It was a daring move but it paid off in the end. The book is full of first hand accounts which bring a sixty year old story back to the present times. It was so good that I read it in about two weeks. It had me from the first page. Instead of focusing on just one main character, Craig Nelson tells the stories of all 100 men involved, giving this unique event many different angles. I only read non fiction books and this one read like a work of fiction, with lots of suspense and surprises at every turn. It shows human suffering and how humans can overcome physical and mental suffering if they have the will to do so. I was also amazed at how the Japanese treated their prisoners of war. They had little respect for anyone who was not their own, something that the western world has a hard time fully understanding. This is a must read for anyone interested in the aviation of the Second World War. Craig nelson weaves an intriguing story.

Not researched but well embellished.......2006-03-04

I was only able to read as far as page 146 before I was turned off by the author's lack of knowlege of the subject. For instance, on the page mentioned above he quotes Lt Joyce as saying "my rear gunner was firing." He did record the fact that the tail guns had been removed and replaced by broom sticks. Where was his editor? Other reviewers have also pointed out other glaring errors committed all before page 146 such as diesel engins, "Billys", and B's taxiing, and so on. The first half of the book left much to be desired, I will not read the rest of the book.

Average customer rating:

A prelude for things to come
He's Done It Again
DeMille's best? Maybe.
Simply DeMille's Best!
What a GREAT story!!

Word of Honor
Nelson DeMille
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Talbot Odyssey
By the Rivers of Babylon
Cathedral
The Gold Coast
Spencerville

ASIN: 044651280X

Download Description

He is a good man, a brilliant corporate executive, an honest, handsome family man admired by men and desired by women. But a lifetime ago Ben Tyson was a lieutenant in Vietnam. There the men under his command committed a murderous atrocity--and together swore never to tell the world what they had done. Now the press, army justice, and the events he tried to forget have caught up with Ben Tyson. His family, his career, and his personal sense of honor hang in the balance. And only one woman can reveal the truth of his past--and set him free.

Customer Reviews:

A prelude for things to come.......2007-09-17

I would have liked this book more if I read it before the invention of John and Susan Sutter and, even more obviously, Paul Brenner and John Corey. It is clear that Ben Tyson was the seed for each of the male characters and he is like a wild cross of all three. His blood was as blue as Sutter's, his wit and honor are all Brenner, and the rest is all Corey. Marcy is certainly the first stab as Susan Sutter, who I regard as the finest character Demille ever wrote.

That said, it should not detract from a unique and disturbing story. Like many early Demille works, it takes its time painting detailed character portraits and it allows the scenery to breathe. Unfortunately for me, I read the first 200 pages in the winter before finally finishing the last 500+ in the summer. Like some other readers, I had a hard time staying with this one, but was thrilled when I did pick it back up. I back-read a lot and it wasn't tough to remember who was who.

Some parts of the book were long-winded and maybe unnecessary, but it all worked in the end. Ditto some characters like Chet Brown, Col Levin, even Sister Teresa. Lots of loose ends, imo. As a person born in the year this took place, I won't pretend to understand a Vietnam vet's mind. I do challenge some of the reaches Demille took as far as Tyson's unwillingness to open up to his family about his role in the massacre. I also wonder why he'd want to bring that upon himself when he was given an out by Major Harper. A lot of it seemed contrived, but it made for a good character and story, hence the "fiction" tag that accompanies the book. ;-)

If there was a disappointment, it was that it took its time for 737 pages only to end in an instant inside of a couple paragraphs. I almost think Demille was up against a deadline and was told to end it already. The end was frantic, especially with regard to his family situation, and then the screen goes to black. I'd have liked a few more pages to see some things out. The storytelling was uneven in spots, especially when it involved him and his wife. One minute they are close and sticking together, the next they are apart, then together, etc... not a lot of explanation around the changes, either. Still, there was enough to keep you occupied.

A very good effort with an intriguing premise, but not Demille's best, imo. The Gold Coast remains his Gold Standard for me, followed by the underrated Up Country. MOH is definitely a step above the corny John Corey action novels and is probably on par with Charm School. It is a worthwhile read that holds up 20 years after its first print.

He's Done It Again.......2007-03-09

Some of his books tend to drag to me for the first couple of hundred pages. Then once the story is set up, they take off and don't let up. I agree with other reviewers, this book had some of the greatest courtroom scenes ever written. Another excellent story Mr. Demille.

DeMille's best? Maybe........2007-02-19

Wow! You may have mixed feelings about the ending, but you'll be fascinated throughout. Tremendous courtroom dramatics.

Simply DeMille's Best!.......2006-07-06

Word of Honor is not only arguably DeMille's finest novel it may well be one of the best novels you'll ever read. It quite simply crawls into your gut, sticks to your ribs and stay with you whole as you digest the significance of its powerful message.

And it's one hell of a read!

Ben Tyson is called to disclose the actions of his platoon twenty years after the Battle of Hue in a court of military law. Intermingled with flashbacks and back stories regarding a combat incident his unit handled during an extreme instant, a stressful moment about an 'event' between 'brothers'.

The courtroom scenes in this book are quite simply brilliantly crafted.

Tyson is a tight, faceted personality possessing the wry sarcasm and humor and open intelligence that only DeMille can create. Lucky for us he doesn't shower this attention on just his main character since everyone has a compelling, vital story to tell.

How can those of us who weren't there understand such complex feeling? Yet, DeMille, makes us understand, he transports our souls with the written word unlike no other and quietly says....this was our reality.

What a GREAT story!!.......2006-06-30

I've read some of DeMille's recent work but not any of the earlier stuff...until now. A friend recommended Word of Honor to me, indicating the book contains some of the best courtroom scenes ever written. Having read the book in just about one sitting, I'd have to concur. The book is fast paced and near impossible to put down once you're into the flow of the story. The characters and setting are great, as is the dialogue throughout the book.

The book is concerned with atrocities committed in Vietnam by troops under the command of Ben Tyson, a man who's achieved success in middle age in his career, living comfortably in Long Island. When a book is released which tells the story of the atrocities, Tyson is dragged back into the Army and courtmartialed. The way the 'truth' of what really happened is revealed over the course of the book through the eyes of various participants is handled masterfully by DeMille.

I highly recommend this book!

Cry Havoc!: The Crooked Road to Civil War, 1861

Average customer rating:

Non-compelling attempt to place blame

Cry Havoc!: The Crooked Road to Civil War, 1861
Nelson Lankford
Manufacturer: Viking Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Richmond Burning: The Last Days of the Confederate Capital
This Mighty Scourge: Perspectives on the Civil War
Lincoln's Rise to the Presidency
The Road to Disunion, Volume II: Secessionists Triumphant 1854-1861
Lincoln and Chief Justice Taney: Slavery, Secession, and the President's War Powers

ASIN: 0670038210

Book Description

A compelling re-creation of the eight crucial weeks preceding the Civil War

In early March 1861, civil war loomed. By late April, Americans had begun to kill their fellow citizens. Cry Havoc! recounts in riveting detail the events that divided the states and reveals how quirks of timing, character, and place all conspired to transform the nation into a battlefield. Nelson Lankford, author of Richmond Burning, chronicles the eight critical weeks that began with LincolnÂ's inauguration through the explosion at Fort Sumter and the presidentÂ's fateful response to it. Before Fort Sumter, the balance could have tipped in favor of a peaceful resolution. This book addresses the many mighthave-beens, both familiar and lesser known. What if Lincoln had delayed the proclamation calling for troops? Could wavering Unionists in the upper South have held the line? A must read for all who wish to understand the birth of the modern United States of America, Cry Havoc! probes the fateful series of events and analyzes each of the failed possibilities that hindsight affords.

Customer Reviews:

Non-compelling attempt to place blame.......2007-02-16

This book is ultimately an unsatisfactory look at the turn of events from Lincoln's inauguration on March 4, 1861 over the next two months primarily in South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC for their impact on the impending Civil War. It is inarguable that decisions and actions within the border states, primarily Virginia and Maryland, had some ramifications on the course of the Civil War. However, far less credible is the claim that the Civil War, in some form, was not inevitable by the time Lincoln assumed office.

The author first criticizes Lincoln for the conciliatory tone of his inaugural address. Lincoln was absolutely correct in completely rejecting the claims of the Southern fire-eaters that their secession was based on rights of revolution against tyranny, when in actuality it was the merely the constitutional election of Lincoln that initiated the actions of South Carolina and then six more states. He expected, or at least hoped, that wiser people would prevail and renounce secession. It was a misreading then and now to suggest that he tacitly tolerated Southern independence.

Next is the notion that resupplying Fort Sumter in the bay of Charleston with necessities was a provocation of the South. The idea that Fort Sumter had become the property of the state of South Carolina was preposterous in Lincoln's eyes. Despite Sec of State William Seward's assurances to Southern diplomats that Fort Sumter would be abandoned, Lincoln knew that he was obligated as President to support the Fort. There was no military rationale for the South to subject Fort Sumter to a massive bombardment. To construe Lincoln's move two days after the surrender of Fort Sumter of calling up militia groups from states to defend Washington as an unnecessary and ultimate provocation of the South is truly bizarre.

Lincoln's call for militia precipitated several reactions over the next several days: the widespread jubilation in the South over the Fort Sumter episode, the marginalization and suppression of unionist sentiment in the border states - especially Virginia where secession was approved, the seizing of arms from the federal arms facility at Harpers Ferry, the attack on the Mass militia passing through to Washington and the subsequent burning of railroad bridges in Baltimore, and the seizure of ships and cannon from the Gosport Navy Yard near Norfolk. Lincoln's administration was caught flat-footed in these actions, yet his mild response doubtlessly kept Maryland from seceding.

By far the most salient short-term factor that permitted the starting of the Civil War was the completely inept and derelict actions of President James Buchanan when South Carolina seceded. Buchanan needed only to look to the actions of a man that he admired, that is, Andrew Jackson in his handling of the Nullification crisis in 1832. Jackson faced down the Calhoun-led South Carolinians who sought to ignore federal statutes. Buchanan was well aware of sentiment to secede if Lincoln was elected. He was totally unprepared militarily to prevent and suppress secession.

From a longer term perspective the administrations of Franklin Pierce and Buchanan aggravated sectional differences in their handling of such matters as the Kansas territory, seeking to purchase Cuba from Spain, and behind the scenes manipulations of the Dred Scott decision, whereby it was ruled that territories could not forbid settlers to enter with any property including slaves. The author does not note that Lincoln and the Republicans were out of power for five months after the election and had never held power. They had no insider means to bend administrative policy during that interim period.

The author's book is rather loquacious with considerable coverage of the speechmaking of selected unionists, secessionists, and political figures especially in Virginia and Maryland both before and after Fort Sumter. However, his speculation on the course of events based on whether certain actions occurred or didn't like Fort Sumter, the call-up of militias, the passage of militias through Baltimore, and the like seems strained or of minimal importance. The author is a Southerner and though his book is relatively balanced, it is seldom admitted in these types of books that the South wanted a civil war and with the election of Lincoln saw a way to orchestrate that. There is no validity in blaming Lincoln for resupplying Fort Sumter or calling for troops to defend the capital. To do otherwise would have been the height of irresponsibility as most Americans fully understand.

The book is interesting simply from the standpoint of the coverage of actions taken, despite dubious conclusions drawn.

Average customer rating:

Good basic outline
Navy life for armchair voyagers
An interesting overview
Good Crutch for us Landlubbers
Not for landlubbers...

Men-Of-War: Life in Nelson's Navy
Patrick O'Brian
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Patrick O'Brian's Navy: The Illustrated Companion to Jack Aubrey's World
21: The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey (Aubrey/Maturin Series)
The Unknown Shore
A Sea of Words, Third Edition: A Lexicon and Companion to the Complete Seafaring Tales of Patrick O'Brian
The Golden Ocean

ASIN: 0393038580

Amazon.com

Any Aubrey Maturin reader determined to learn the locations of the orlop and the mizenmast, the etiquette of epaulettes, or the range of a 32-pounder will delight in this invaluable reference companion to O'Brian's epic and series. An exploration of what daily life was like in Nelson's navy, for everyone from the captain on down to the rawest recruit. Line drawings and charts help us understand the construction and rigging of the great ships, the types and dispositions of the guns, and how they operated in battle. Contemporary drawings and cartoons illustrate aspects of naval life from the press gang to the scullery. Finally, a generous selection of full-color paintings renders the majesty and the excitement of fleet actions in the age of fighting sail.

Customer Reviews:

Good basic outline.......2006-05-05

Brief outline of main points of interest in the Royal Navy. Excellent for those who do not wish too much detail.

Navy life for armchair voyagers.......2004-03-19

Being a known Jane Austen buff, a colleague told me I ought to have a look at Patrick O'Brian's novels which cover the same period. It has often been remarked upon that Jane Austen ignored the wars taking place during her time. In fact, she did not. Key characters such as Captain Wentworth (Persuasion) and Fanny Price's brother William (Mansfield Park), were career shipmen whose merits are well-enunciated in her novels. Two of Miss (how everyone likes to call her "Miss"!) Austen's brothers were also career navymen. The Navy was all around her and she knew it but had no need, despite that famously interpreted reference to "rears and vices," to discuss Navy life or strategy.

Nevertheless, this reader is curious to know how these men lived away from the ordered, civilised life of those "three or four families" in that country village of which Austen writes and to which these men inevitably returned to marry. Here in MEN-OF-WAR: Life in Nelson's Navy, we learn about the ships, the gunnery, the lifestyle and the protocol of the 18th century British Navy which successfully defended England from an invasion led by Napoleon.

The information in this book is concise and easily comprehensible, thanks to an economical and cheerful writing style. Information is brilliantly illustrated by color photos of paintings, drawings, cartoons and models of sailing vessels.

On a final note, there is now a wave (pun intended) of interest in Patrick O'Brian as a result of the detailed film MASTERS AND COMMANDERS. The Navy lifestyle illustrated in this book is depicted in the film, to the advantage of both.

An interesting overview.......2000-06-02

This is a book of history-lite. Now that is not necessarily a bad thing in my view; far too many history books (& this comes from a History Major) are written by and for hyper-specialists. This book, however, hands you a lot of information quickly and in a relatively painless manner about the Royal Navy at the time of the Napoleonic Wars.

The book is divided more or less into topics, although some material "sloshes" over from chapter to chapter. The style is neither drily academic nor chatty -- it is not an ABC book, however, with definitions of every term. O'Brien assumes that you already know a little something about nautical terms and the warfare of the era.

If you are a historian, this is not such a good book -- you will not find enough footnotes or bibliographical material to follow through for further research. If you are merely into battles, again this book will be a disappointment; much like the Aubrey-Maturin books, this work is as much concerned (if not moreso) with minor details of daily life and the ins and outs of naval bureaucracy as it is about battle.

If you want to know something about the topic, this is a decent introduction.

Good Crutch for us Landlubbers.......2000-04-01

I cannot claim to any nautical experience, however, I do claim to be one of Patrick O'Brian's all time fans. This book has helped me understand what the ____ some of the late 18th and early 19th century nautical terms and concepts mean. So, to keep this concise, if you love Patrick O'Brian's seafaring novels (start with Master and Commander if you are uninitiated to this amazing series), but are not a sailer yourself- then this is the book for you. It is fairly short, but interesting. You will be briefed on life in the navy, parts of the ships, names and functions of sails, combat, and many other topics that can confuse.

I also know that this book would serve as an excellent source for a H.S. to college level paper/presentation on life in Nelson's navy. The length and writting style make it highly readable. Also recomended are Dean King's lexicons on Patrick O'Brian's books ("A Sea of Words"). They include several sections on the history of the era, and are very interesting, as well as including an extensive dictionary of terms, old words, places and events.

If you already know a great deal about Nelson's Navy, then this might be a little too basic.

Not for landlubbers..........2000-01-22

First off, I must say that I am a very big fan of Patrick O'Brians Aubrey/Maturin novels. It is because of them that I searched for this book. I am, as O'Brian's sailors would have it, "a daisy cutting landlubber" & the maritime terms in his books leave me lost. I hoped "Men-of-War" would help rectify this, so that I could tell a poop from a head, & a ship from a brig, but I'm still sadly confused!

Even tho "Men-of-War" is well illustrated, the captions discuss things that I still can't find in the pictures! There are diagrams of sails & decks, then the text mentions other sails (such as "studding sails") or locations on the decks that do not appear in the diagrams! Confused? You bet! About the only fact I learned from this book is that the sails could be rotated; in every other aspect I am still as "at sea" as I was before reading this.

Also, this book is very very thin. It simply isn't worth the price! (Luckily I got mine from the library!) I remain a fan of O'Brians novels, but will not look to him to clarify facts in the future...

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