1812: The Navy's War

1-197050

The name and cover suggest a study of the naval war during the War of 1812, but never judge the book by its cover. The work covers sea and land operations in a one-volume treatment of the war. The prose moves along well enough to keep you reading and the details embedded in battles and operations provide a clear picture of historical considerations and outcomes. All the big land battles are included, such as Lundy's Lane, Bladensburg, Detroit, New Orleans, and more, as well as the naval battles of the USS Constitution, President, Essex, and other famous ships. The book includes political and strategic aspects and captures the essence of various commanders and politicians -- competent and otherwise.

The atlas-style maps are old-school basic -- no battle maps with detailed topographies or plotted ship positions -- but the glossary is extensive enough. The illustration of a square-rigged ship naming all the sails can be helpful. The Index includes a considerable number of USS and HMS ships, but neglects to include land battles.

Overall, 1812 offers an excellent one-volume introduction to the War of 1812. As with any one-volume style book, the less you know about the war, the more informative the text. Yet the writing contains a nice balance between detail and development and the book should prove a springboard to delving further into particular battles and campaigns.