 Every Man Will Do His Duty
Dean King , John B. Hattendorf (Editors)
The story of Great Britain was written in seawater, and no period was
more important than the two decades under scrutiny in Dean King's Every
Man Will Do His Duty. This is a collection of memoirs, diaries, and
accounts written by Royal Navy personnel (both English and American)
during the Napoleonic period.
The title is, of course, Admiral Lord Nelson's famous admonition to his
sailors at Trafalgar--pulses with the vividness, immediacy, and honesty
that only primary sources can supply. The book is filled with intriguing
details of war as it was practiced on the high seas from 1793 to 1815.
Editor King has done an excellent job selecting his sources; in addition
to views from the captain's quarters, Every Man Will Do His Duty
boasts plenty of material penned by mariners of a much humbler station;
their accounts provide the bulk of the book's humor. Fans of the nautical
novel will find this book a worthy addition to their library, and so will
students of English history. |
