WINNER OF THE SAMUEL ELIOT MORISON AWARD FOR NAVAL LITERATURE“A meticulous; adrenaline-filled account of the earliest days of the Continental Navy.â€â€”New York Times Bestselling Author Laurence BergreenAmerica in 1775 was on the verge of revolution—or; 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 hope—victories 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 Conyngham—who was captured and sentenced to hang but tunneled under his cell and escaped to fight again—sent 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 seas—and the definitive history of the American Navy during the Revolutionary War.
#516939 in Books Twelve 2015-03-03 2015-03-03Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x 1.25 x 5.25l; .0 #File Name: 0446570249432 pagesTwelve
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. We need to know these stories.By Killian McraeA fascinating true story; but rambles and repeats and sometimes leaves you confused. Still really happy I read this; it brought up an era in the women's and civil rights movement that I think was necessary: an extreme social platform so that the normalized result was pushed in the right direction.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Entertaining and Eye-OpeningBy Paula D RogersThis book was a thrill to read. First off; the subject matter is brilliant. I had no idea how revolutionary and powerful the sisters were. It is fascinating; and sometimes frustrating; to read about them fighting battles that were incredibly brave for their time--some of which still rage on today. I learned so much about systems of power and the history of power: gender; social; economic; sexual. Fascinating and inspiring.What's more; the writing is extremely good. MacPherson tells her story in such a natural; exciting; narrative-driven way that it feels like a novel; only with the amazing distinction of all being true. She does an excellent job of connecting the sisters to the present without being heavy-handed. Also she doesn't protect her subjects or spare them criticism. She paints their flaws and contradictions; even if it's clear that their lives had some problematic aspects.MacPherson also spread her insights to a supporting cast of characters such as Susan B. Anthony; The Beechers; and other famous Americans. She skillfully disrupts the common narrative around many known figures.All in all; this was fantastic read; and both Victorian-era enthusiasts and those new to exploring the era will find a fresh new perspective.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. the narrative is driven by the power of great storytelling. I felt as if I was seeing ...By Chris BeakeyI was completely swept away by this book . . . while the historical context of their lives would be fascinating enough; the narrative is driven by the power of great storytelling. I felt as if I was seeing it as I read it; and wishing I'd had the chance to meet these crazy-wonderful women. I highly recommend this to everyone who's looking for compelling stories about people who have bucked the traditions of their times to lead extraordinary lives . . . even more so if you appreciate truthful tales of how you really can come from almost nothing and still accomplish extraordinary things.
