Page 92 - History of War - Issue 29-16

BOOK REVIEWS

Our pick of the newest military history titles waiting for you on the shelves

THE OXFORD A HISTORY OF THE ROYAL NAVY

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF

THE FIRST WORLD WAR THE SEVEN YEARS WAR

Author: Hew Strachan and others
Publisher: Oxford University Press Writer: Martin Robson Publisher: IB Tauris Price: £16.59 Released: Out now
Price: £18.99 Released: Out Now HOW THE ROYAL NAVY WAS DEVELOPED INTO AN IRRESISTIBLE WEAPON IN BRITAIN’S SUCCESSFUL BID
AN ORIGINAL HISTORY OF THE WAR THAT TO BUILD A GLOBAL EMPIRE
CHANGED THE WORLD This is one of 14 instalments in the French mast, Louis XV’s defeated forces were
National Museum of the Royal Navy’s series obliged to hand over Canada and Florida, as
The horrors of World War I are well known, etched into documenting the Senior Service’s history down well as colonial possessions in the Caribbean,
the imagination through a myriad of books, lms and the centuries, from the age of sail through West Africa and South East Asia to Britain.
plays. Refreshingly, this book does not simply revisit the to the nuclear era. As its title suggests, this The foundations of the British Empire had
commonly known timeline; it delves into its origins, the particular part of that series takes a look at a been laid and the Royal Navy was on its way
particular part of that series takes a look at a
aims of its participants and the world they left behind. very narrow corridor of time – the seven years to becoming its most powerful weapon. A vital
very narrow corridor of time – the seven years
Using maps to delineate the borders of Europe and between 1756 and 1763 – and the con ict that chapter in British naval history expertly told.
between 1756 and 1763 – and the con ict that
Africa before and after the war, Strachan colourfully dominated it.
displays how dramatically this con ict altered the The Seven Years’ War, as it rather
The Seven Years’ War, as it rather
very shape of nations as empires faded. While peace
unimaginatively got branded, in many ways
descended elsewhere following the Armistice, violence unimaginatively got branded, in many ways
shaped the world that we live in
continued to rage throughout the shattered remnants of shaped the world that we live in
today. Fought ostensibly between
the Habsburg, Romanov and Ottoman Empires. today. Fought ostensibly between
France, Austria, Saxony, Sweden and
Propaganda issued during the war helps to unearth France, Austria, Saxony, Sweden and
Russia on one side, and Prussia,
the feelings and fears of citizens and leaders alike, while Russia on one side, and Prussia,
Hanover and Britain on the other,
intimate photographs from the front line illustrate life in Hanover and Britain on the other,
what started off as a European
the trenches in raw detail. what started off as a European
punch up, soon escalated into the
Expert contributors add their individual insights, punch up, soon escalated into the
examining subjects such as the economic and military rst global con ict.
rst global con ict.
mobilisations behind the Entente and Central powers. Although it had been sparked by
Although it had been sparked by
However, perhaps the most intriguing element of a the Austrians trying to win back land
the Austrians trying to win back land
war that left no life untouched was the struggle each it had previously lost to Prussia in
it had previously lost to Prussia in
belligerent encountered when attempting to express present-day Poland, it soon became
present-day Poland, it soon became
themselves in its aftermath. a colossal battle between Britain and
a colossal battle between Britain and
War literature did eventually follow, Ernst Jünger’s France for control of both India and
France for control of both India and
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Storm Of Steel amongst the most famous. But it wasn’t North America. The victor was always
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North America. The victor was always
until the late-1920s that the going to be the one who owned the
until the late-1920s that the
going to be the one who owned the
likes of Hemingway
likes of Hemingway ocean’s highways and this struggle is
ocean’s highways and this struggle is
and Sassoon
and Sassoon what’s at the heart of author Martin
what’s at the heart of author Martin
emerged, alongside
emerged, alongside
Robson’s dramatic, accessible
the release of
the release of Robson’s dramatic, accessible
introduction to the Royal Navy’s role
classic lms such
classic lms such introduction to the Royal Navy’s role
a as All Quiet On The s in this.
In doing so, Robson demonstrates
W In doing so, Robson demonstrates
Western Front and estern Front
how greater decisiveness both
RC Sheriff’s play how greater decisiveness both
RC Sheriff’s play
politically and militarily gave Britain
’
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Journey’s End. politically and militarily gave Britain
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the edge in the war on the waves.
This elegant, the edge in the war on the waves.
By the time the last British
superbly compiled
superbly compiled By the time the last British
cannonball had taken down its nal
book concludes by
book concludes by cannonball had taken down its nal
studying how World
studying how World
War II altered the
War II altered the “IT SOON BECAME
recollection of its
recollection of its
predecessor, before
predecessor, before A COLOSSAL BATTLE
looking at how we
looking at how we
remember the fallen
remember the fallen
soldiers today.
soldiers today. BETWEEN BRITAIN AND
FRANCE FOR CONTROL”
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