How Britain Won the War of 1812 (HC)

Brian Arthur has a new book which is available for pre-order in hardcover, How Britain Won the War of 1812: The Royal Navy’s Blockades of the United States, 1812-1815. It will be released wordlwide on 17 November 2011.

The War of 1812 between Britain and the United States was fought on many fronts: single ship actions in the Atlantic; a US invasion of Canada, which the Canadians heroically resisted; the burning of the new US capital, Washington, by the British, the President’s house subsequently painted white to hide the fire damage; and an unsuccessful attack by the British on New Orleans. The war is usually seen as a draw. However, as this book demonstrates, it was in fact a British victory. The United States achieved none of its war aims, and the peace, concluded in December 1814, met Britain’s long-term maritime needs.

Read More How Britain Won the War of 1812 (HC).

Figureheads of the Royal Navy (HC)

David Pulvertaft has a new book out  which has just been released in hardcover in the UK, Figureheads of the Royal Navy. it will be available in the US on 15 October 2011 and can be pre-ordered.

The first figureheads that were carved to represent the names of British warships appeared during the reign of Henry VIII; the last ones were carved in the early years of the twentieth century. During the intervening three hundred and fifty years it is estimated that some 5000 ships of the Royal Navy carried a figurehead of some description. This book follows the development of these diverse carvings, examining how the figurehead carvers interpreted the names and the symbolism incorporated in their designs.

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Obituary: Tom Grundner (1945-2011)

It was with sadness that I learned of the sudden death of Tom Grundner, author and publisher, on Sunday 11th September 2011.

Tom was a great supporter of historic naval fiction both as an author of the Sir Sidney Smith Nautical Adventure Series and as the Senior Editor of Fireship Press. I have never met him face to face but I regarded him as a friend and I had worked with to bring several new novels into publication. However to limit Tom to this career is to do him an injustice as there was far more to him than naval fiction.

Read More Obituary: Tom Grundner (1945-2011).

Crucible of Gold HC

Author Naomi Novik has a new novel which is now available for pre-order in hardcover, Crucible of Gold. It will be available worldwide on 6 March 2012.

Naomi Noviks beloved series returns, with Capt. Will Laurence and his fighting dragon Temeraire once again taking to the air against the broadsides of Napoleons forces and the friendly—and sometimes not-so-friendly—fire of British soldiers and politicians who continue to suspect them of divided loyalties, if not outright treason.

For Laurence and Temeraire, put out to pasture in Australia, it seems their part in the war has come to an end just when they are needed most. Newly allied with the powerful African empire of the Tswana, the French have occupied Spain and brought revolution and bloodshed to Brazil, threatening Britains last desperate hope to defeat Napoleon.

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HMS Victory Owner’s Workshop Manual (HC)

Peter Goodwin has a new book out  which is now available for pre-order in hardcover, HMS Victory Owner’s Workshop Manual: An Insight Into Owning, Operating and Maintaining the Royal Navy’s Oldest and Most Famous Warship. Release date 1 April 2012.

Using the tried and tested formula HMS Victory, now available in the Haynes manual format, is probably the most famous surviving historic warship in the world today. She was flagship to Admiral Lord Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, when he was killed on her quarter deck by a sniper’s bullet in Britain’s hour of victory. Maritime historian and former HMS Victory Keeper and Curator Peter Goodwin tells the story of Nelson’s flagship, giving fascinating insights into how she was built, her anatomy and weaponry, and how a ship of the line in the Georgian navy was sailed, fought and maintained.

via HMS Victory Owner’s Workshop Manual (HC).