Perilous Fight; America's Intrepid War with Britain on the High Seas, 1812-1815

Budiansky, Stephen

ISBN 10: 0307270696 / ISBN 13: 9780307270696

Editore: Alfred A. Knopf, New York, N.Y., 2010

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xvi, 422, [6] pages. Includes listing of eight black and white Maps and Diagrams, Prologue, Notes, Bibliography, and Index. Also contains 11 pages of color images of ships, American captains, and British admirals. Stephen Budiansky is an American writer, historian, and biographer. He is also the author of a number of scholarly publications about the history of cryptography, military and intelligence history. Budiansky joined the staff of the science journal Nature as Washington correspondent and later served as its Washington editor. In 1985-86 he was a Congressional Fellow at the U.S. Congress Office of Technology Assessment, where he co-authored a study of advanced conventional weapons technologies as a means for reducing NATO's reliance on nuclear deterrence. In 1986 Budiansky joined the staff of U.S. News & World Report, where he worked for twelve years in a variety of writing and editing positions, covering science and national security issues. He ultimately served as the magazine's deputy editor, the No. 3 editorial position. Since 1998 Budiansky has been a full-time author and free-lance contributor to publications including the Atlantic Monthly, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Economist. His writing has focused on intellectual biography and military history. From 2007 to 2008 he was the editor of World War II magazine, where he oversaw a complete redesign and brought in well-known writers and historians to contribute to the publication. He is also a member of the editorial board of Cryptologia, the scholarly journal of codes and codebreaking. In this book, Stephen Budiansky tells the rousing story of the underdog coterie of American seamen and their visionary secretary of the navy, who combined bravery and strategic innovation to hold off the legendary royal Navy. The author vividly demonstrates that far from an indecisive Dan unnecessary conflicts historians have lon;g dismissed the war of 1812--this "forgotten war" had profound consequences that would change the course of naval warfare, America's place in the world, and the rules of international conflict forever. Above all, the war of 1812 would be the making of the United States Navy. After the war, Americans would never again doubt that their might, respect, and very survival depended upon a permanent and professional navy. Derived from a Kirkus review: This early entry in the likely flood of books on the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 focuses on the naval action. Journalist and military historian Budiansky notes that 1812 has as good a claim as any American war to the title "the forgotten war"-understandably, considering that it was at best a draw for the United States. In Jefferson's administration, the government wasn't sure it needed a navy at all; only the Barbary pirates seemed to justify keeping a few warships. Attitudes changed when Britain, embroiled in its war against Napoleon, began raiding American ships for sailors. A British ban on American merchants trading with France also gave the U.S. a casus belli. Britain's refusal to concede these points resulted in open conflict, during which America was effectively forced to invent a navy from bare bones. American sailors gave a good account of themselves in the early going. But William Jones, recruited to serve as Secretary of the Navy, recognized that single-ship duels were a losing strategy and issued orders to concentrate on commerce raiding. Consequently, for the majority of the war, American privateers and commerce raiders preyed on British ships, from the Pacific whaling grounds to the Irish Sea. Budiansky gives a solid account of all major naval actions and a fine picture of the personalities of the key figures-especially the proud American captains William Bainbridge, Stephen Decatur and Isaac Hull, and their British counterparts. The author also looks at the fate of American prisoners of war and at the larger political issues behind the war. The Treaty of Ghent brought the wa.

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Dati bibliografici

• Titolo: Perilous Fight; America's Intrepid War with Britain on the High Seas, 1812-1815
• Editore: Alfred A. Knopf, New York, N.Y.
• Data di pubblicazione: 2010
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 0307270696
• ISBN 13: 9780307270696
• Rilegatura: Hardcover
• Disegnatore: Dave Merrill (Maps)
• Edizione: Book Club Edition.
• Condizione: Very good
• Condizione della sovraccoperta: Very good
• Cataloghi dei venditori:
  • U.S. Navy
  • War of 1812

Descrizione articolo

Riassunto

In Perilous Fight, Stephen Budiansky tells the rousing story of the underdog coterie of American seamen and their visionary secretary of the navy, who combined bravery and strategic innovation to hold off the legendary Royal Navy.

Budiansky vividly demonstrates that far from an indecisive and unnecessary conflict—as historians have long dismissed the War of 1812—this “forgotten war” had profound consequences that would change the course of naval warfare, America’s place in the world, and the rules of international conflict forever. Never again would the great powers challenge the young republic’s sovereignty in the aftermath of the stunning performance of America’s navy and privateersmen in sea battles that ranged across half the globe. Their brilliant hit-and-run tactics against a far mightier foe would pioneer concepts of “asymmetric warfare” that would characterize the insurgency warfare of later centuries.

Above all, the War of 1812 would be the making of the United States Navy. Even as the war began, the nation was bitterly divided over whether it should have a navy at all: Jeffersonian Republicans denounced the idea as a dangerous expansion of government power, while Federalists insisted that America could never protect its burgeoning seagoing commerce or command respect without a strong naval force. After the war, Americans would never again doubt that their might, respect, and very survival depended upon a permanent and professional navy.

Drawing extensively on diaries, letters, and personal accounts from both sides, Budiansky re-creates the riveting encounters at sea in bloody clashes of cannonfire and swordplay; the intimate hopes and fears of vainglorious captains and young seamen in search of adventure; and the behind-the-scenes political intrigue and maneuvering in Washington and London. Throughout, Perilous Fight proves itself a gripping and essential work of American naval history.

Informazioni sull'autore

Stephen Budiansky is a military historian and journalist. His writings have appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Men’s Journal, MHQ, Civil War Times, and many other publications. His previous books include The Bloody Shirt, Her Majesty’s Spymaster, Air Power, and Battle of Wits. He lives in Leesburg, Virginia.

www.budiansky.com