'Peter Padfield is the best naval historian of his generation' -- John Keegan 'Peter Padfield's virtues as a naval historian are in giving us the rounded picture, both large and small. He is as good on strategy and tactics as on the technicalities of signalling and gunnery. He is as much a master of sailing-ship language as an observer of the crews that manned them' -- Ludovic Kennedy, Telegraph 'This book can be read at two levels. The first is as a colourful account of naval actions and, as such, it makes for superb reading, since the author is a consummate wordsmith. It is quite lovely to read his account of the battle of the Nile (1798), or of Trafalgar (1805). His sources are rich and well employed in many of the quotations. But it is the second aspect of the book -- the sea power and liberty theme -- that intrigues me ! A extremely fine and readable naval narrative' -- Paul Kennedy, Sunday Times 20030727 'Those ready for an adult education in the history of war will be satisfied and those just wanting a good read enthralled ! On naval warfare Padfield is masterly, splicing together the strategic, tactical, technological and social strands of his story with lively narrative, and deftly sketching portraits of the great commanders ! A quarter of a century of sea warfare is dissected with scholarship and insight and Peter Padfield shows great descriptive flair' -- Tom Pocock, Literary Review 20030701 'Maritime Power is a worthy successor to Padfield's previous book, a particularly hard act to follow. It contains enough insight, clarity and drama to delight in its own right. I eagerly await the concluding volume' -- Saul David, Sunday Telegraph 20030701 "Well-researched hardback ... excellent book" -- Dover Express & Folkestone Herald 20031201 "This book has something for everyone... Further volume is eagerly anticipated" -- The Nelson Society 20031201 "This book is a good read, as well as a thought-provoking contribution to the study of maritime history" -- The Nelson Society 20031201 'Gutsy, comprehensive saga ... A brilliantly written, thought-provoking work' -- The Glasgow Herald 20040228 'His pithy narratives of battle are as gripping as anything written by Patrick O'Brian. But his real achievement lies in the way he places all his descriptions in a wider context to present a convincing thesis about the nature of naval power and the governments that support it' -- Sunday Times 20040215 'The accounts of the battles are colourful and gripping' -- History Today 20040501 'Rarely has serious history been so compulsively readable' -- Lloyd's List 20040430
