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Give Me a Fast Ship: The Continental Navy and America's Revolution at Sea Hardback - 2014
by McGrath, Tim
Summary
Five ships against hundredsthe fledgling American Navy versus the greatest naval force the world had ever seen
America in 1775 was on the verge of revolutionor, more likely, disastrous defeat. After the bloodshed at Lexington and Concord, England’s King George sent hundreds of ships westward to bottle up American harbors and prey on American shipping. Colonists had no force to defend their coastline and waterways until John Adams of Massachusetts proposed a bold solution: The Continental Congress should raise a navy.
The idea was mad. The Royal Navy was the mightiest floating arsenal in history, with a seemingly endless supply of vessels. More than a hundred of these were massive ships of the line,” bristling with up to a hundred high-powered cannon that could level a city. The British were confident that His Majesty’s warships would quickly bring the rebellious colonials to their knees.
They were wrong. Beginning with five converted merchantmen, America’s sailors became formidable warriors, matching their wits, skills, and courage against the best of the British fleet. Victories off American shores gave the patriots hopevictories led by captains such as John Barry, the fiery Irish-born giant; fearless Nicholas Biddle, who stared down an armed mutineer; and James Nicholson, the underachiever who finally redeemed himself with an inspiring display of coolness and bravery. Meanwhile, along the British coastline, daring raids by handsome, cocksure John Paul Jones and the Dunkirk Pirate,” Gustavus Conynghamwho was captured and sentenced to hang but tunneled under his cell and escaped to fight againsent fear throughout England. The adventures of these men and others on both sides of the struggle rival anything from Horatio Hornblower or Lucky Jack Aubrey. In the end, these rebel sailors, from the quarterdeck to the forecastle, contributed greatly to American independence.
Meticulously researched and masterfully told, Give Me a Fast Ship is a rousing, epic tale of war on the high seasand the definitive history of the American Navy during the Revolutionary War.
INCLUDES ILLUSTRATIONS
America in 1775 was on the verge of revolutionor, more likely, disastrous defeat. After the bloodshed at Lexington and Concord, England’s King George sent hundreds of ships westward to bottle up American harbors and prey on American shipping. Colonists had no force to defend their coastline and waterways until John Adams of Massachusetts proposed a bold solution: The Continental Congress should raise a navy.
The idea was mad. The Royal Navy was the mightiest floating arsenal in history, with a seemingly endless supply of vessels. More than a hundred of these were massive ships of the line,” bristling with up to a hundred high-powered cannon that could level a city. The British were confident that His Majesty’s warships would quickly bring the rebellious colonials to their knees.
They were wrong. Beginning with five converted merchantmen, America’s sailors became formidable warriors, matching their wits, skills, and courage against the best of the British fleet. Victories off American shores gave the patriots hopevictories led by captains such as John Barry, the fiery Irish-born giant; fearless Nicholas Biddle, who stared down an armed mutineer; and James Nicholson, the underachiever who finally redeemed himself with an inspiring display of coolness and bravery. Meanwhile, along the British coastline, daring raids by handsome, cocksure John Paul Jones and the Dunkirk Pirate,” Gustavus Conynghamwho was captured and sentenced to hang but tunneled under his cell and escaped to fight againsent fear throughout England. The adventures of these men and others on both sides of the struggle rival anything from Horatio Hornblower or Lucky Jack Aubrey. In the end, these rebel sailors, from the quarterdeck to the forecastle, contributed greatly to American independence.
Meticulously researched and masterfully told, Give Me a Fast Ship is a rousing, epic tale of war on the high seasand the definitive history of the American Navy during the Revolutionary War.
INCLUDES ILLUSTRATIONS
Details
- Title Give Me a Fast Ship: The Continental Navy and America's Revolution at Sea
- Author McGrath, Tim
- Binding Hardback
- Edition 1st
- Pages 543
- Language ENG
- Publisher NAL Hardcover, New York
- Date 2014-07-01
- ISBN 9780451416100
Media reviews
PRAISE FOR JOHN BARRY: AN AMERICAN HERO IN THE AGE OF SAIL
“Ashore as well as at sea, Tim McGrath paints an informative, engaging, and highly entertaining portrait of this worthy but neglected hero of American independence. The author shows us a man who was a magnificent embodiment of the common sense—and uncommon courage and dedication—that helped to transform age-old philosophical ideals into a new American reality. That such a work is long overdue makes its achievement all the more pleasurable.”—The Wall Street Journal
“Expertly brought together…very readable and exhaustively researched…this authoritative biography brings new attention to a hero whose story had faded from national memory. It’s a fresh look at a man worth remembering, and a great summer read.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer
“McGrath employs exemplary narrative style in this work….In John Barry, the author adroitly juxtaposes maritime history, narratives of naval combat, and early U.S. social history.”—New England Quarterly
“A nearly indispensable addition to U.S. Navy collections.”—Booklist
“Ashore as well as at sea, Tim McGrath paints an informative, engaging, and highly entertaining portrait of this worthy but neglected hero of American independence. The author shows us a man who was a magnificent embodiment of the common sense—and uncommon courage and dedication—that helped to transform age-old philosophical ideals into a new American reality. That such a work is long overdue makes its achievement all the more pleasurable.”—The Wall Street Journal
“Expertly brought together…very readable and exhaustively researched…this authoritative biography brings new attention to a hero whose story had faded from national memory. It’s a fresh look at a man worth remembering, and a great summer read.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer
“McGrath employs exemplary narrative style in this work….In John Barry, the author adroitly juxtaposes maritime history, narratives of naval combat, and early U.S. social history.”—New England Quarterly
“A nearly indispensable addition to U.S. Navy collections.”—Booklist
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Give Me a Fast Ship: The Continental Navy and America's Revolution at Sea
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Give Me a Fast Ship: The Continental Navy and America's Revolution at Sea
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NAL Caliber, 2014. 1st Edition 1st Printing. Hardcover. Very Good++/Very Good++. This American History hardback is in Very Good++ condition with a Very Good++ jacket. c2014, 1st Edition, 1st Printing. This bright Blue Textured Naval History board is in wonderful condition both inside and out. You will not be disappointed. It is Very, lightly read. Just a very light top & bottom spine end wrinkle. . The pages are very tight & no names, not a remainder. The jacket, with price is also very bright & very clean, some light edge wrinkle.543 pages. #20664-1223
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