The War for All the Oceans

As he did with his much lauded Nelson’s Trafalgar , Roy Adkins (now writing with wife Lesley) again thrusts readers into the perils and thrills of early-nineteenth-century warfare. From its very first page, this is an adventure story—a superb account of the naval war that lasted from Napoleon’s seizure of power in 1798 to the War of 1812 with the United States. Providing a ringside seat to the decisive battles, as well as detailed and vivid portraits of sailors and commanders, press-gangs, prostitutes, and spies, The War for All the Oceans is “a rollicking, patriotic account of the Napoleonic wars that will go down well with Master and Commander fans” ( The Telegraph ).