Charts of War
By John Blake
Lieutenant Commander John Blake has drawn on his extensive knowledge of some of the most impressive collections in the world, such as the Hydrographic Office, The Admiralty Library Manuscript Collection, The National Maritime Museum and The Royal Geographical Society in the UK, and the Library of Congress and South Street Seaport Museum in the USA, together with his experience in the Royal Navy, to provide a fascinating and astonishingly well-illustrated account of the role that charts have played in planning, preventing, conducting and recording war on water. A comprehensive introduction discusses the major themes with regard to naval warfare, navigation and chart-making; important topics such as why charting was necessary, how valuable the knowledge was and to whom, who was responsible for data gathering and chart-making, the technology and techniques involved, and the strategic and technical effects of accurate (and inaccurate) charting. Chapters are then organized chronologically.
The first covers the period from earliest recorded history to the fifteenth century; thereafter they unfold century by century. Each chapter opens with a one-spread overview of the main actions and developments of that century and is followed by a plate section of charts with extended captions that explain their relevance. They cover major battles, amphibious attacks and single-ship duels from the Napoleonic Wars, The American War of Independence and Civil War, as well as other major and lesser know actions around the globe. These are supported by extracts from logbooks, navigational views and illustrations that reveal how a battle unfolded. Stand-alone feature boxes explore peripheral themes, such as the role of the privateer, dealing with piracy, secrecy and subterfuge, and the naval painters. The various elements weave a rich history that not only reveals the emergent skills of surveying, but the technical innovations and strategic developments of waging war ar sea.
Published: 28/09/2006
Length: 160pages
Illustration note: 150 illustrations
ISBN: 9781844860319
Dimensions: 280 x 300
