What do you think?
Rate this book
Battle for Empire: The very first world war 1756-63
The Seven Years War has been described as the very first world war. This study examines the conflict outside Europe and the colourful commanders involved: Wolfe versus Montcalm in Canada, Clive against Lally in India, Pocock in Havana, Hawke, Boscawen and Saunders.
314 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
31 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
About the author
Tom Pocock
45 books4 followersTom Pocock was the author of 18 books (and editor of two more), mostly biographies but including two about his experiences as a newspaper war correspondent.
Born in London in 1925 - the son of the novelist and educationist Guy Pocock - he was educated at Westminster School and Cheltenham College, joining the Royal Navy in 1943. He was at sea during the invasion of Normandy and, having suffered from ill-health, returned to civilian life and in 1945 became a war correspondent at the age of 19, the youngest of the Second World War.
After four years wth the Hulton Press current affairs magazine group, he moved to the Daily Mail as feature-writer and then Naval Correspondent, becoming Naval Correspondent of The Times in 1952. In 1956, he was a foreign corresponent and special writer for the Daily Express and from 1959 was on the staff of the Evening Standard,as feature writer,Defence Correspondent and war correspondent. For the last decade of his time on the Standard he was Travel Editor.
He wrote his first book, NELSON AND HIS WORLD in 1967 on his return from reporting the violence in Aden and his interest in Nelson has continued. Indeed, eight of his books are about the admiral and his contemporaries; his HORATIO NELSON was runner-up for the Whitbread Biography Award of 1987.
Tom Pocock has contributed to many magazines and appeared on television documentaries about Nelson and the subject of another of his biographies,the novelist and imperialist Sir Rider Haggard.
Born in London in 1925 - the son of the novelist and educationist Guy Pocock - he was educated at Westminster School and Cheltenham College, joining the Royal Navy in 1943. He was at sea during the invasion of Normandy and, having suffered from ill-health, returned to civilian life and in 1945 became a war correspondent at the age of 19, the youngest of the Second World War.
After four years wth the Hulton Press current affairs magazine group, he moved to the Daily Mail as feature-writer and then Naval Correspondent, becoming Naval Correspondent of The Times in 1952. In 1956, he was a foreign corresponent and special writer for the Daily Express and from 1959 was on the staff of the Evening Standard,as feature writer,Defence Correspondent and war correspondent. For the last decade of his time on the Standard he was Travel Editor.
He wrote his first book, NELSON AND HIS WORLD in 1967 on his return from reporting the violence in Aden and his interest in Nelson has continued. Indeed, eight of his books are about the admiral and his contemporaries; his HORATIO NELSON was runner-up for the Whitbread Biography Award of 1987.
Tom Pocock has contributed to many magazines and appeared on television documentaries about Nelson and the subject of another of his biographies,the novelist and imperialist Sir Rider Haggard.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 5, 2017
An interesting collection of vignettes of some key battles in the Seven Years’ War, Pocock focuses almost exclusively on Britain’s campaigns to attack her enemies’ colonies around the world during this conflict. Written in a journalistic style, it covers the naval and land battles in India, North America, Cuba and the Philippines, while leaving the war on the European continent as little more than a footnote.
Recommended by Rahal.
Recommended by Rahal.
July 6, 2018
Tom Pocock posits the Seven Years War as the first world war (an assertion that he's not alone in, and that I can get behind), but his book on the subject doesn't really develop this.
Instead, each chapter is about one of the various non-European campaigns of the war, and treats each one well, if almost purely from the British point of view. There is some discussion of the immediate planning behind these campaigns, but other than the simultaneous strikes at Havana and Manila, no discussion of how these fit into wider policy. In fact, there's only a cursory amount of discussion of wider implications. There are some good discussions of immediate effects, but nothing overall.
As a series of small histories though, the book is very good. The writing is good, and the descriptions of the campaigns are fairly thorough considering the short format. Finally, there is some good tying together with thought as to how previous campaigns (most notably the failure at Minorca, and the subsequent execution of Admiral Byng for cowardice) affected later ones. This is a good introduction to the Seven Years War outside of Europe, and recommended for that, but it's only an introduction, and a prior grounding the European side would help.
Instead, each chapter is about one of the various non-European campaigns of the war, and treats each one well, if almost purely from the British point of view. There is some discussion of the immediate planning behind these campaigns, but other than the simultaneous strikes at Havana and Manila, no discussion of how these fit into wider policy. In fact, there's only a cursory amount of discussion of wider implications. There are some good discussions of immediate effects, but nothing overall.
As a series of small histories though, the book is very good. The writing is good, and the descriptions of the campaigns are fairly thorough considering the short format. Finally, there is some good tying together with thought as to how previous campaigns (most notably the failure at Minorca, and the subsequent execution of Admiral Byng for cowardice) affected later ones. This is a good introduction to the Seven Years War outside of Europe, and recommended for that, but it's only an introduction, and a prior grounding the European side would help.
February 20, 2020
A readable but episodic history of the Seven Years’ War from Britain’s perspective, with a focus on Britain’s global campaigns rather than Europe.
This is not a chronological history, and instead Pocock describes different campaigns in each chapter. At times, the book reads more like a collection of personal experiences than a work of real history. Pocock's account of the campaign in India is first-rate, and he does a fine job describing all of the naval battles, some of which are a little obscure. He describes the North American campaigns, although his coverage here is not likely to be new to any reader familiar with them.
Pocock also does a great job describing the massive scale of Britain’s global war effort and the dramatic ambitions of the Pitt-Newcastle ministry. He ably describes the successful strategy of Britain, the spectacular successes like India, and the equally spectacular failures like Minorca. Other more obscure operations such as Manila and Havana are also covered.
Still, the lack of maps was a problem. Most of the book is pretty detailed, but the campaigns for Fort Frontenac, Fort Duquesne, and Montréal are covered in just a few sentences. And at one point Pocock writes, inaccurately, and on the very first page of the book, that Augustus Hervey was the son and heir of the Earl of Bristol. Pocock also repeats the story of James Wolfe giving his will and papers to John Jervis before the battle for Québec and telling Jervis that he did not expect to survive. Wolfe actually gave these to his aide-de-camp Thomas Bell, who had no recollection of Wolfe saying anything that dramatic. Pocock also repeats another story, namely that Wolfe recited Elegy in a Country Churchyard the night before the battle, even though Wolfe had issued strict orders for silence.
Still, a fine history, with good depictions of colorful personalities and interesting anecdotes.
This is not a chronological history, and instead Pocock describes different campaigns in each chapter. At times, the book reads more like a collection of personal experiences than a work of real history. Pocock's account of the campaign in India is first-rate, and he does a fine job describing all of the naval battles, some of which are a little obscure. He describes the North American campaigns, although his coverage here is not likely to be new to any reader familiar with them.
Pocock also does a great job describing the massive scale of Britain’s global war effort and the dramatic ambitions of the Pitt-Newcastle ministry. He ably describes the successful strategy of Britain, the spectacular successes like India, and the equally spectacular failures like Minorca. Other more obscure operations such as Manila and Havana are also covered.
Still, the lack of maps was a problem. Most of the book is pretty detailed, but the campaigns for Fort Frontenac, Fort Duquesne, and Montréal are covered in just a few sentences. And at one point Pocock writes, inaccurately, and on the very first page of the book, that Augustus Hervey was the son and heir of the Earl of Bristol. Pocock also repeats the story of James Wolfe giving his will and papers to John Jervis before the battle for Québec and telling Jervis that he did not expect to survive. Wolfe actually gave these to his aide-de-camp Thomas Bell, who had no recollection of Wolfe saying anything that dramatic. Pocock also repeats another story, namely that Wolfe recited Elegy in a Country Churchyard the night before the battle, even though Wolfe had issued strict orders for silence.
Still, a fine history, with good depictions of colorful personalities and interesting anecdotes.
January 1, 2024
Battle for Empire by Tom Pocock is one of the better history books I have read in a while. It is about the 7 years war, but focuses only on the battles and campaigns outside of Europe, mainly focusing on Clive and Watson in India, and then the French and Indian war in North America.
Pocock writes in an engaging style, writing the historical events less like a run down of what happened, but using contemporary accounts and scholarly works to form something closer to a narrative of the events, but with all of the information being true. It is a style that most history writers fail to achieve, but when they do achieve it, it is a game changer.
Pocock also likes to tie all the chapters together, mentioning events that happened previously and tying them into the later actions of the generals, while also bringing to mind what could have happened if things transpired differently, such as General Wolfe surviving Quebec, and the impact that would have had in the conflicts against the Ottawa later on. It is a very thoughtful way to write.
My favorite part was the chapter that detailed the little know British Invasion into Havana, which concluded with the capitulation of the city and the British ruling it for two years. Pocock blends actions and descriptions of the city beautifully in the chapter, showing the people who engaged in the siege in a new light.
Overall, to people who are interested in the history of the long 18th century or military history in general this book could be something you would enjoy. I defiantly recommend.
Pocock writes in an engaging style, writing the historical events less like a run down of what happened, but using contemporary accounts and scholarly works to form something closer to a narrative of the events, but with all of the information being true. It is a style that most history writers fail to achieve, but when they do achieve it, it is a game changer.
Pocock also likes to tie all the chapters together, mentioning events that happened previously and tying them into the later actions of the generals, while also bringing to mind what could have happened if things transpired differently, such as General Wolfe surviving Quebec, and the impact that would have had in the conflicts against the Ottawa later on. It is a very thoughtful way to write.
My favorite part was the chapter that detailed the little know British Invasion into Havana, which concluded with the capitulation of the city and the British ruling it for two years. Pocock blends actions and descriptions of the city beautifully in the chapter, showing the people who engaged in the siege in a new light.
Overall, to people who are interested in the history of the long 18th century or military history in general this book could be something you would enjoy. I defiantly recommend.
November 26, 2024
DNF, got to page 100 and couldn't persevere which is annoying especially with non-fiction. But where DNFing a fiction novel belies a lack of entertainment, I DNF a history book because it fails at its purpose - to educate. That's what happened here. How can it call itself a book about the 7-year war, the connection to this must have passed me by. I wish I had the motivation to read further to see if the historian wangles a cohesive narrative out of his book, maybe one day, but in the meantime I don't feel like it's my job as a reader of a topic I know little about to make sense of what is loosely being told. There is a brief introduction which provides a very very high-level overview of the war, then Pocock drops some key names of the period, and mentions his great grandad & his acknowledgements. Then we go straight into episodic accounts of battles that may well form important milestones in the 7-year war but are not contextualised, nor their importance explained. I can't motivate myself to read further as I don't understand why Pocock is telling me about X/Y/Z event, there is not even an attempt to explain the build-up to the war, the political background or how each event may connect to another. Really poor. As a book not about the 7-year war, but rather just random battles of the period, it would be fine but there is no draw whatsoever for me to read this. Frustrating.
December 18, 2021
Battle for Empire – the very first World War, 1756-1763, Tom Pocock, 1998, 272 pages all in.
This very readable book makes a good companion to McLynn's 1759. However, its coverage is patchy. Certain aspects interest Pocock more than others.
He goes deeply into the death of Byng, the duel in India and the capture of Quebec, with lesser attention given to Havana and Manilla. In contrast, the battles within Europe that helped make this possible and Quiberon Bay are all but ignored. As is the political situation within England and with the major players.
It's a decent enough book, but one to read alongside another if this is a period that one wishes to learn about.
This very readable book makes a good companion to McLynn's 1759. However, its coverage is patchy. Certain aspects interest Pocock more than others.
He goes deeply into the death of Byng, the duel in India and the capture of Quebec, with lesser attention given to Havana and Manilla. In contrast, the battles within Europe that helped make this possible and Quiberon Bay are all but ignored. As is the political situation within England and with the major players.
It's a decent enough book, but one to read alongside another if this is a period that one wishes to learn about.
February 14, 2022
Just Before the American War of Independence
Very broad account of the decades immediately preceding America's war for Independence. The British and French contesting each other's conquests in North America and the near east. Very enlightening about a less well-discussed period, one for which the author makes a winning case for calling the first world war.
Very broad account of the decades immediately preceding America's war for Independence. The British and French contesting each other's conquests in North America and the near east. Very enlightening about a less well-discussed period, one for which the author makes a winning case for calling the first world war.
January 3, 2021
Brief and excellent book
This gave a very brief but thorough story for he Seven years war, told by the British. It is straight to the point with a narrative that doesn’t ramble on. Very enjoyable.
This gave a very brief but thorough story for he Seven years war, told by the British. It is straight to the point with a narrative that doesn’t ramble on. Very enjoyable.
April 26, 2018
A fluid narrative, but not much in the way of synthesis or analysis. Really just a collection of stories about various colonial campaigns in the war.
March 10, 2025
Could develop the war's implications and spend more time on the motivations and wider context of other countries. That said, good writing & well researched
December 1, 2013
Interesting but disjointed history of the 7 Years War. Covers actions in India & Americas, purposefully ignores European theater which unfortunately limits full picture of war. Presented solely from English side without analysis of French/Spanish goals and strategies.
January 3, 2015
Very interesting read. Focuses largely on the British Naval contribution to the Seven Years War, especially focusing on India.
May 9, 2015
A good book. The end came a little abrupt, though. I missed more about the consequenses of the conflict, for example what it meant for France's way towards bancrupcy and revolution.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews