( 2 reviews )
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( 1 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: Mar 22 2008
Admiral Lord Howe proves to be a mildly interesting but brief biography on England's greatest admiral of the 18th Century (and one of the greatest in British naval history). There isn't a single biography on Howe that I know of while there are hundreds on Lord Nelson who totally overshadowed him. This book is an effort to correct that absence of material on Admiral Lord Howe. Unfortunately, this book really don't add much to the literature that well. Much of what you read about Howe in this book can be found almost any book related to the admiral. Whether it due to lack of primary material or lack of research but this book lacks the depth and the detail of a real biography. Almost nothing is written about Howe's childhood and his career until he gained command. Much of Howe's career until he became admiral proves to be short and sweet for the readers. Much of what is written about Howe's latter career as commanding fleet admiral can be found in books related to that subject. This biography however, provides nothing new or insightful to these subject matters. Overall, this proves to be a biographical summary book. Lack of details, insights and in-depth analysis of the subject at hand make this a hard book to recommend for the price they are asking. Most people who are well read on the Age of Wooden Ships and Iron Men have read superior material on Howe and his battles from other books even if such books may not be centered on Howe himself.
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( 1 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: Oct 19 2006
Entering the Royal Navy in 1739 at the age of 13, Admiral Lord Howe remained in the Navy until his death in 1799 -- sixty years of service. His career spanned four wars, including the American Revolution where he attempted to negeotiate an end to the revolution and when that proved impossible he commanded the British navy during much of the war. ==His was a lifetime of service and triumph. He was quite possibly the most famous Admiral of his time. Unfortunately in 1805 came the Battle of Trafalgar and Nelson, and Howe's fame faded into history. This is the first detailed biography of the Admiral. Dr. Syrett has used as many primary documents for his sources as it was possible to find. His analysis of Howe's career places it in perspective to the organization and structure of the Royal Navy through some of its most important years. It also provides an interesting perspective from the other side on the American Revolution. His report of his meeting with John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and John Rutledge has a somewhat different viewpoint than other versions. This is abook long awaited that fills a hole in any Revolutionary War library.
