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Tempest: The Royal Navy and the Age of Revolutions
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 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.
The French Revolutionary Wars catapulted Britain into a conflict against a new 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.
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Published December 26, 2023
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About the author
James Davey
31 books1 followerJames Davey is curator of naval history at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 27, 2024
Not what I expected when I began to read it but it's premise and the subject matter was still fascinating, nonetheless.
August 26, 2023
A very interesting account of a subject I have known little about.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews