Tempest: The Royal Navy and the Age of Revolutions (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780300238273)

A major new history of the Royal Navy during the tumultuous age of revolution

The French Revolutionary Wars catapulted Britain into a conflict against a new enemy: Republican France. Britain relied on the Royal Navy to protect its shores and empire, but as radical ideas about rights and liberty spread across the globe, it could not prevent the spirit of revolution from reaching its ships.

In this insightful history, James Davey tells the story of Britain's Royal Navy across the turbulent 1790s. As resistance and rebellion swept through the fleets, the navy itself became a political battleground. This was a conflict fought for principles as well as power. Sailors organized riots, strikes, petitions, and mutinies to achieve their goals. These shocking events dominated public discussion, prompting cynical--and sometimes brutal--responses from the government.

Tempest uncovers the voices of ordinary sailors to shed new light on Britain's war with France, as the age of revolution played out at every level of society.

Author: James Davey
ISBN-10: 0300238274
ISBN-13: 9780300238273
Publisher: Yale University Press
Language: English
Published: 06/20/2023
Pages: 448
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.63lbs
Size: 9.90h x 6.50w x 1.50d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 02/01/2024