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Empire Of The Deep
Paperback English 0753829207 978-0753829202 Product 5.2 x 1.7 x 7.8 inches Shipping 1.4 pounds
692 pages, Paperback
First published July 25, 2013
113 people are currently reading
1022 people want to read
About the author
Ben Wilson
10 books82 followersBen Wilson was born in 1980 and educated at Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he graduated with a first class degree and an MPhil in history. He is the author of three books and was named in 2005 as one of Waterstone's 25 Authors of the Future. He has consulted on scripts for various TV history progammes, and has himself appeared on TV and on national radio in the UK, Ireland and the USA. He has given lectures at Tate Britain, Cambridge and Zagreb and at book festivals in the UK including the Edinburgh Festival. He has written for the Spectator, Literary Review, Independent on Sunday, Scotsman, Men's Health, Guardian Online and GQ.
He is the author of five previous books, including What Price Liberty?, for which he received the Somerset Maugham Award, and the Sunday Times bestseller Empire of the Deep: The Rise and Fall of the British Navy.
He is the author of five previous books, including What Price Liberty?, for which he received the Somerset Maugham Award, and the Sunday Times bestseller Empire of the Deep: The Rise and Fall of the British Navy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
August 2, 2020
Every edition of Night of the Proms, the whole crowd participates in signing "Rule Brittania". The patriotic song is a tribute to the Royal Navy, symbol of Britain's imperial past. The book "Empire of the deep" states that its naval power was not a gift from Heaven, but a mix of political will, luck and brave sailors (from admiral down to shipmate).
The isles have faced many invasions: Julius Caesar and Tiberius, Germanic tribes and the Vikings. Since the latter had low boats, they could cross the North Sea and at the same time infiltrate deep in the land via the rivers. In the 9th century, Alfred the Great found a way to successfully fight the Vikings at land and sea by building higher ships.
When the Danish King Cnut ruled England, he increased the fleet and lay more focus on the British isles, Ireland and Scandinavia. But after 1066, William reshifted the fleet to the Channel in order to link his possessions in France. As always, the English had to learn from their competitors and try to outsmart them in the end: the Hanseatic cogs, the Mediterranean galleys. Early 13th century, John Lackland lost large chunks of French territories and its status in the North Sea. Flemish pirates like John Crabbe were willing to further strengthen the dominant position of the Scots, whereas Norway and France also threatened Britain. Later on, also Genoa and Castillia were fighting England at sea. Edward III (1327-1377) wanted a stronger navy and that investment paid off quite soon. In 1340, the English navy beated the French at Sluis and so prevented France from invading England. Seven years later, Calais was captured. This stronghold on the European continent turned out to be useful in fighting the One Hundred Year war on French soil.
Henry V liked the innovative carrack (a mix of a cog and a galley), but he lacked the l organisation and funding due to domestic unrest. Henry VIII was more successful in professionalising and updating the navy. English ventures led to the discovery of Newfoundland and the exploration of the Levant and Asia. Ships with low gundecks under command of John Hawkins and Francis Drake attacked Spanish fleets in the Atlantic. French Huguenots and Dutch too learned that Spanish weakest spot was in its new territories. In 1588, Philips II lined up his Armada and troops in Flanders to smash the protestant isle. But poor Spanish planning, a little aid from the weather and the Navy's superior guns and speed did the job for Queen Elisabeth I. But since the Crown was too poor, she had to rely on early public-private partnership in the form of privateering. With bold captains like Walter Raleigh conquering the world, it is odd to find out that just a number of decades later king James I shifted the helm dramatically. Being of king of Scotland and Ireland too, there was no longer a threat from the west or the north. James I was war reluctant, but had to face a strong Dutch and French navy and Barbary piracy. Next to that, discord and the further specialization in shipbuilding triggered the end of public-private partnership. The North Sea was not the strong barrier it looked like. Time for James I to refocus the goal of the navy towards defensive operations. His successor Charles I created a stronger navy, but still steered between Dutch and Spanish interest. The former country benefited from government backed trade, going hand in hand with an increasing army. The East India company on the contrary was left alone by the Crown.
Sooner or later, Dutch and English had to collide and within a handful of decades they did three times. The first Anglo-Dutch War brought victory to England and the start of its imperialist era and profitable overseas trade. But Holland still ruled the Baltic, Mediterranean and Far East making use of its 100+ gun ships. More budget under Cromwell allowed to invest in better ships. Combined with its disciplined (although ill-paid) sailors, the reputation of the navy improved significantly. It took a courageous genious like Michiel de Ruyter to prevent an Anglo-French invasion using his superior tactics, signalling and manoeuvring. The landing of the Dutch stadtholder William III in 1688 proved a turning point for the Royal Navy. Not only would two foes (i.e. Holland and England) turn into allies, the new English king would also downgrade the Dutch Navy in favour of the land army. The latter seemed more suitable to fight the French. At the same time, it allowed the Royal Navy to spread its wings more freely. This came at a high financial cost, but the new fiscal military state was ready to provide the required funding. Thanks to the Glorious Revolution, parliament gained more power, but at the same time agreed to issue government loans and navy bills and to levy high taxes. During the Spanish Succession War, it fought the French navy successfully and gained Gibraltar in 1704. On the other hand, it had to rely too heavily on capable seafarers and sheer outnumbers to be victorious in battle. British ships did not perform well in bad weather to name one. By the start of the Seven Year War (1756), it had a two deck 74 gun ship to support worldwide trade (sugar!), conquer and protect new strongholds and to fight pirates and regular navies. The investment paid off immediately as it gained Madras, Pondicherry, Canada and the West Indies and blocked a French invasion at Quiberon bay. Next to that, Britain's ally Prussia helped to drag French military resources away from the seas to the continent. In the coming five decades, the Royal Navy would build its reputation it thrived on for the next two centuries.
True, the failure of the Navy to block the American colony from receiving French arms was a drawback. But the French monarchy quickly paid the price in 1789. Against all odds, France recovered swiftly from its anarchy like a phoenix when Napoleon set the stage for an imperial era. Fortunately, the Navy could rely on two strong pillars: industrial innovation leading to e.g. naval guns (although it still relied on sailing ships at that time) and its motivated, bold, patriotic crew (including stiff upperlip). Leading example by far was Sir Horatio Nelson, the hero of the battle on the Nile (1798) safeguarding the passage to India and the famous battle at Trafalgar (1805) beating the Franco-Spanish fleet. Nelson played also an important role in keeping Kattegat free for trade and military support to the Baltic. Copenhagen had to take a few hits from the Royal Navy first to accept British dominance. Remember that Napoleon wanted to bleed Britain dry by separating it from its markets on the European continent (Continental Blockade). Next to securing its trading routes, the navy also had to prevent another invasion in 1803. Like during the Seven Year War, a new continental threat (Austria, Russia) helped to direct Napoleon's focus to the east. Don't be mistaken: Wellington took the credits from Waterloo, but the main British asset was at sea. Austria, Prussia, Russia and Britain's German, Scottish and Irish auxiliaries did the job at land.
Although Napoleon was off the map, France remained an eternal risk at sea. Its navy was famous for its innovations, but again and again the Royal Navy managed to improve its rival's technology. During the 19th century, trend was towards mines, torpedo boats and less but bigger guns. Key was to have ships with more speed and longer range gunnery that one's opponent. Naval strategist Alfred Mahan stressed the importance of the navy given that seapower was crucial to build lasting empires. With the rise of a new Napoleon (i.e. Napoleon III), Britain had to stand ground. Since it had bet on industrialisation, it needed farmers to move to its industrial towns. Hence, it relied heavily on crop import in order to survive via worldwide presence with key hubs and ports. Britain's support of free trade was hence not without any self-interest. Where needed, force and war was used in Crimea, Greece and China to tame growing powers. But it also used its position for the good cause when it prevented slave trade from West-Africa to the Americas.
After the Franco-Prussian war, the Royal Navy refocused its attention from the Atlantic to the North Sea. The building of dreadnoughts (steam engine, 12 inch guns) was a new milestone in military shipbuilding, but the Kriegsmarine was also at pace with building these ships. A pact with France and Russia helped to concentrate its fleet in the Atlantic. But Great Britain learned the hard way that battle ships were no longer crucial in winning the war. German and British navies challenged each other in Heligoland (1914), Dogger Bank (1916) and Jutland (1916) but none proved decisive. It was a shock for the British military to learn that German ships were better armoured and had a better fire control. Naval airforce outdated large fleet battles, whereas U-boats forced the Royal Navy to re-introduce convoys, build destroyers and invent sonar systems. The old days were over.
The Washington Treaty (1922) had a blind spot for the changes in naval warfare by still using tonnage as a military benchmark. But Japan, Italy and Germany refused the restrictions, whereas the economic recession made it impossible for Britain to fight in Asia and Europe at the same time. And at the first part of WW II (1939-1941), things did not look well for the Royal Navy. In Asia, Singapore fell and it had to rely on the US navy to fight the Japanese navy. In Europe, the sinking of the French navy at Mers-el-Kebir did no good to the Franco-British relations. Thanks to the Royal Air Force, plans for a German invasion were quickly dropped, but the maritime situation looked far from good. In the Medittereanan, Italy has spread its wings. And in the Atlantic, wolfpacks of U-boats were blocking crucial transports of food and material. Similar to WW I, convoys did the trick in combination with depth charges, torpedos and the naval airforce. Attacks at Saint-Nazaire were good to boost morale, but the Royal Navy had to wait to D-Day to turn the tables on the continent.
But when high-ranking navy officers and politicians assessed the damage done by WW II, they had to conclude that the US navy had replaced the Royal Navy as first naval power. The loss of its colonies, its reluctance to integrate its fleet into an European navy (but to join NATO in 1956) and financial restrictions due new economic recessions urged the need to downsize the navy. Big battle ships were replaced by smaller ships and aircraft carriers. Tight budgets allowed to invest in atomic submarines and Harrier jump jets to fight the Soviets on the Greenland-Iceland-UK Gap.
After the Cold War, the Royal Navy was also stripped with the bitter goodbye of its sole aircraft carrier. Brexit proves that John Bull still dreams of a strong Britain that might again rule the waves one day. May times of proud tradition, masculinity and bold military and political leaders return?
Mr Wilson did a marvellous job by combining British history from a naval perspective with interest for the technological improvements of the navy ships during the previous millennium and last but not least, the courage of its seamen and the strategic brilliance of its leaders.
The isles have faced many invasions: Julius Caesar and Tiberius, Germanic tribes and the Vikings. Since the latter had low boats, they could cross the North Sea and at the same time infiltrate deep in the land via the rivers. In the 9th century, Alfred the Great found a way to successfully fight the Vikings at land and sea by building higher ships.
When the Danish King Cnut ruled England, he increased the fleet and lay more focus on the British isles, Ireland and Scandinavia. But after 1066, William reshifted the fleet to the Channel in order to link his possessions in France. As always, the English had to learn from their competitors and try to outsmart them in the end: the Hanseatic cogs, the Mediterranean galleys. Early 13th century, John Lackland lost large chunks of French territories and its status in the North Sea. Flemish pirates like John Crabbe were willing to further strengthen the dominant position of the Scots, whereas Norway and France also threatened Britain. Later on, also Genoa and Castillia were fighting England at sea. Edward III (1327-1377) wanted a stronger navy and that investment paid off quite soon. In 1340, the English navy beated the French at Sluis and so prevented France from invading England. Seven years later, Calais was captured. This stronghold on the European continent turned out to be useful in fighting the One Hundred Year war on French soil.
Henry V liked the innovative carrack (a mix of a cog and a galley), but he lacked the l organisation and funding due to domestic unrest. Henry VIII was more successful in professionalising and updating the navy. English ventures led to the discovery of Newfoundland and the exploration of the Levant and Asia. Ships with low gundecks under command of John Hawkins and Francis Drake attacked Spanish fleets in the Atlantic. French Huguenots and Dutch too learned that Spanish weakest spot was in its new territories. In 1588, Philips II lined up his Armada and troops in Flanders to smash the protestant isle. But poor Spanish planning, a little aid from the weather and the Navy's superior guns and speed did the job for Queen Elisabeth I. But since the Crown was too poor, she had to rely on early public-private partnership in the form of privateering. With bold captains like Walter Raleigh conquering the world, it is odd to find out that just a number of decades later king James I shifted the helm dramatically. Being of king of Scotland and Ireland too, there was no longer a threat from the west or the north. James I was war reluctant, but had to face a strong Dutch and French navy and Barbary piracy. Next to that, discord and the further specialization in shipbuilding triggered the end of public-private partnership. The North Sea was not the strong barrier it looked like. Time for James I to refocus the goal of the navy towards defensive operations. His successor Charles I created a stronger navy, but still steered between Dutch and Spanish interest. The former country benefited from government backed trade, going hand in hand with an increasing army. The East India company on the contrary was left alone by the Crown.
Sooner or later, Dutch and English had to collide and within a handful of decades they did three times. The first Anglo-Dutch War brought victory to England and the start of its imperialist era and profitable overseas trade. But Holland still ruled the Baltic, Mediterranean and Far East making use of its 100+ gun ships. More budget under Cromwell allowed to invest in better ships. Combined with its disciplined (although ill-paid) sailors, the reputation of the navy improved significantly. It took a courageous genious like Michiel de Ruyter to prevent an Anglo-French invasion using his superior tactics, signalling and manoeuvring. The landing of the Dutch stadtholder William III in 1688 proved a turning point for the Royal Navy. Not only would two foes (i.e. Holland and England) turn into allies, the new English king would also downgrade the Dutch Navy in favour of the land army. The latter seemed more suitable to fight the French. At the same time, it allowed the Royal Navy to spread its wings more freely. This came at a high financial cost, but the new fiscal military state was ready to provide the required funding. Thanks to the Glorious Revolution, parliament gained more power, but at the same time agreed to issue government loans and navy bills and to levy high taxes. During the Spanish Succession War, it fought the French navy successfully and gained Gibraltar in 1704. On the other hand, it had to rely too heavily on capable seafarers and sheer outnumbers to be victorious in battle. British ships did not perform well in bad weather to name one. By the start of the Seven Year War (1756), it had a two deck 74 gun ship to support worldwide trade (sugar!), conquer and protect new strongholds and to fight pirates and regular navies. The investment paid off immediately as it gained Madras, Pondicherry, Canada and the West Indies and blocked a French invasion at Quiberon bay. Next to that, Britain's ally Prussia helped to drag French military resources away from the seas to the continent. In the coming five decades, the Royal Navy would build its reputation it thrived on for the next two centuries.
True, the failure of the Navy to block the American colony from receiving French arms was a drawback. But the French monarchy quickly paid the price in 1789. Against all odds, France recovered swiftly from its anarchy like a phoenix when Napoleon set the stage for an imperial era. Fortunately, the Navy could rely on two strong pillars: industrial innovation leading to e.g. naval guns (although it still relied on sailing ships at that time) and its motivated, bold, patriotic crew (including stiff upperlip). Leading example by far was Sir Horatio Nelson, the hero of the battle on the Nile (1798) safeguarding the passage to India and the famous battle at Trafalgar (1805) beating the Franco-Spanish fleet. Nelson played also an important role in keeping Kattegat free for trade and military support to the Baltic. Copenhagen had to take a few hits from the Royal Navy first to accept British dominance. Remember that Napoleon wanted to bleed Britain dry by separating it from its markets on the European continent (Continental Blockade). Next to securing its trading routes, the navy also had to prevent another invasion in 1803. Like during the Seven Year War, a new continental threat (Austria, Russia) helped to direct Napoleon's focus to the east. Don't be mistaken: Wellington took the credits from Waterloo, but the main British asset was at sea. Austria, Prussia, Russia and Britain's German, Scottish and Irish auxiliaries did the job at land.
Although Napoleon was off the map, France remained an eternal risk at sea. Its navy was famous for its innovations, but again and again the Royal Navy managed to improve its rival's technology. During the 19th century, trend was towards mines, torpedo boats and less but bigger guns. Key was to have ships with more speed and longer range gunnery that one's opponent. Naval strategist Alfred Mahan stressed the importance of the navy given that seapower was crucial to build lasting empires. With the rise of a new Napoleon (i.e. Napoleon III), Britain had to stand ground. Since it had bet on industrialisation, it needed farmers to move to its industrial towns. Hence, it relied heavily on crop import in order to survive via worldwide presence with key hubs and ports. Britain's support of free trade was hence not without any self-interest. Where needed, force and war was used in Crimea, Greece and China to tame growing powers. But it also used its position for the good cause when it prevented slave trade from West-Africa to the Americas.
After the Franco-Prussian war, the Royal Navy refocused its attention from the Atlantic to the North Sea. The building of dreadnoughts (steam engine, 12 inch guns) was a new milestone in military shipbuilding, but the Kriegsmarine was also at pace with building these ships. A pact with France and Russia helped to concentrate its fleet in the Atlantic. But Great Britain learned the hard way that battle ships were no longer crucial in winning the war. German and British navies challenged each other in Heligoland (1914), Dogger Bank (1916) and Jutland (1916) but none proved decisive. It was a shock for the British military to learn that German ships were better armoured and had a better fire control. Naval airforce outdated large fleet battles, whereas U-boats forced the Royal Navy to re-introduce convoys, build destroyers and invent sonar systems. The old days were over.
The Washington Treaty (1922) had a blind spot for the changes in naval warfare by still using tonnage as a military benchmark. But Japan, Italy and Germany refused the restrictions, whereas the economic recession made it impossible for Britain to fight in Asia and Europe at the same time. And at the first part of WW II (1939-1941), things did not look well for the Royal Navy. In Asia, Singapore fell and it had to rely on the US navy to fight the Japanese navy. In Europe, the sinking of the French navy at Mers-el-Kebir did no good to the Franco-British relations. Thanks to the Royal Air Force, plans for a German invasion were quickly dropped, but the maritime situation looked far from good. In the Medittereanan, Italy has spread its wings. And in the Atlantic, wolfpacks of U-boats were blocking crucial transports of food and material. Similar to WW I, convoys did the trick in combination with depth charges, torpedos and the naval airforce. Attacks at Saint-Nazaire were good to boost morale, but the Royal Navy had to wait to D-Day to turn the tables on the continent.
But when high-ranking navy officers and politicians assessed the damage done by WW II, they had to conclude that the US navy had replaced the Royal Navy as first naval power. The loss of its colonies, its reluctance to integrate its fleet into an European navy (but to join NATO in 1956) and financial restrictions due new economic recessions urged the need to downsize the navy. Big battle ships were replaced by smaller ships and aircraft carriers. Tight budgets allowed to invest in atomic submarines and Harrier jump jets to fight the Soviets on the Greenland-Iceland-UK Gap.
After the Cold War, the Royal Navy was also stripped with the bitter goodbye of its sole aircraft carrier. Brexit proves that John Bull still dreams of a strong Britain that might again rule the waves one day. May times of proud tradition, masculinity and bold military and political leaders return?
Mr Wilson did a marvellous job by combining British history from a naval perspective with interest for the technological improvements of the navy ships during the previous millennium and last but not least, the courage of its seamen and the strategic brilliance of its leaders.
November 28, 2018
Loved it. Great focus on the officers throughout the ages, and their leadership styles, which you might not expect from a cursory look at the cover and blurb.
Another lovely surprise was how much reading a continuous narrative from the 700s to the 2000s changes your perspective of history. Things aren't compartmentalized, it's all fluid--including the present.
10/10 recommend.
Oh, one word of caution: if you set your reading challenge expecting you could polish a book every two weeks, reading this might be shooting yourself in the foot. 1,300 years is a long time, and 649 is a lot of pages.
Another lovely surprise was how much reading a continuous narrative from the 700s to the 2000s changes your perspective of history. Things aren't compartmentalized, it's all fluid--including the present.
10/10 recommend.
Oh, one word of caution: if you set your reading challenge expecting you could polish a book every two weeks, reading this might be shooting yourself in the foot. 1,300 years is a long time, and 649 is a lot of pages.
August 13, 2020
Finished! My god, that was epic; longwinded, exhausting but fascinating. Totally worth it. I've learned so much, from the beginnings of Britain's struggles with maritime security, like, 1000 years ago, through Drake (who was essentially a pirate), Nelson (who was fucking brilliant), colonialism (on which I have acquired a new perspective), two world wars (and no mention of a world cup)... it's sub-title is misleading. It really should be called, "The Constant Fluctuating Between Rising and Falling of the British Navy".
Brilliant.
Brilliant.
May 7, 2019
Excellent history of the Royal Navy, which means it's also a history of England, a history of geopolitics and a history of technology. The 19th century gets a bit short-changed, though.
Read
February 3, 2022for literal centuries, the best idea ANYONE could come up with to fight boats against boats was to get in two very long lines and create Murder Queues????
May 9, 2020
Extremely interesting
September 2, 2021
A brilliant, almost alternative history of England. Highly recommended for history lovers.
March 7, 2025
The first and last 100 pages were the worst bits. The middle 400 were all Rule Brittania, Ships of the Line and stuff and that was class
November 5, 2023
Very noice. History as it should be written.
August 24, 2020
Ben Wilson's Empire of the Deep explores the significance of Britain's navy within the context of its broader past.
Wilson traces this chronology effectively by striking a nice balance between general changes in the navy and any specific events and individuals. The descriptions of naval battles, for instance, are fast-paced and engrossing, without sacrificing the intricate details of the action. The continental and global perspectives also introduce a wider context, such as considering the parallels between the British Navy and the Dutch VOC. Likewise, the discussion of slavery added a further dimension to the Navy and its role in Britain's imperial past.
As I have recently been devouring Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series, I was most looking forward to explanations of the Napoleonic Wars and the Age of Sail. This definitely did not disappoint, as Wilson delightfully recounts the developments in ship design and discipline throughout the period. And while Men-of-War: Life in Nelson's Navy by O'Brian himself does effectively describe the daily goings-on in a contemporary ship, Wilson's explanations are arguably both clearer and more comprehensive. Unfortunately, these fascinating chapters did then lessen my interest in the modern battleships of the late nineteenth century and onwards.
The writing style is very accessible and, though I intended to read it gradually, I binged the eight-hundred fact-filled pages in under a fortnight. The Kindle version is very highlightable, as Wilson concisely explains all the relevant facts and figures - seriously, I was highlighting entire pages when he was describing the Navy's influence on our day-to-day language. The quotes that begin each section and the odd illustration are also a nice addition. I only really have two minor qualms. Firstly, I would have liked far more citations in the text to substantiate the use of specific evidence, though the bibliography at the end is appreciated. And, secondly, the author could be more liberal with his commas, as I often found myself re-reading sentences to grasp their intended structure.
Although my interest somewhat waned into the passages on the twentieth century, Empire of the Deep does feature a rather heart-rending conclusion on the relationship between navy and national identity. It's clear that Wilson is passionate about the Royal Navy and its history, and this ultimately fills his commentary on the fleet's recent state with both condemnation and despair.
This is perhaps the best history book that I have read in a while, and one that I will definitely return to.
Rating: 4.6/5
Wilson traces this chronology effectively by striking a nice balance between general changes in the navy and any specific events and individuals. The descriptions of naval battles, for instance, are fast-paced and engrossing, without sacrificing the intricate details of the action. The continental and global perspectives also introduce a wider context, such as considering the parallels between the British Navy and the Dutch VOC. Likewise, the discussion of slavery added a further dimension to the Navy and its role in Britain's imperial past.
As I have recently been devouring Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series, I was most looking forward to explanations of the Napoleonic Wars and the Age of Sail. This definitely did not disappoint, as Wilson delightfully recounts the developments in ship design and discipline throughout the period. And while Men-of-War: Life in Nelson's Navy by O'Brian himself does effectively describe the daily goings-on in a contemporary ship, Wilson's explanations are arguably both clearer and more comprehensive. Unfortunately, these fascinating chapters did then lessen my interest in the modern battleships of the late nineteenth century and onwards.
The writing style is very accessible and, though I intended to read it gradually, I binged the eight-hundred fact-filled pages in under a fortnight. The Kindle version is very highlightable, as Wilson concisely explains all the relevant facts and figures - seriously, I was highlighting entire pages when he was describing the Navy's influence on our day-to-day language. The quotes that begin each section and the odd illustration are also a nice addition. I only really have two minor qualms. Firstly, I would have liked far more citations in the text to substantiate the use of specific evidence, though the bibliography at the end is appreciated. And, secondly, the author could be more liberal with his commas, as I often found myself re-reading sentences to grasp their intended structure.
Although my interest somewhat waned into the passages on the twentieth century, Empire of the Deep does feature a rather heart-rending conclusion on the relationship between navy and national identity. It's clear that Wilson is passionate about the Royal Navy and its history, and this ultimately fills his commentary on the fleet's recent state with both condemnation and despair.
This is perhaps the best history book that I have read in a while, and one that I will definitely return to.
Rating: 4.6/5
July 1, 2020
Brilliantly written and in-depth, and full of lots of info I didn't know about. The most interesting parts - and the parts I bought the book for - were the 16th into the 19th century. I will never tire of reading about the Georgian navy and the Age of Sail. It is all described in a very real and harsh way, and there is no real romanticisation of it, but an acknowledgement of the intense colonial overtones - a movement away from more traditional British history. This kind of revisionism and continual re-assessment of the past is what makes History so fascinating as a discipline.
It still retains some elements of tradition, though, in the focus on more Big Names of history. That is understandable in such a wide-reaching book - from the ancients up to the modern-day. The scope of it was very interesting, but also its downfall, for me, in a way. I found some parts far more engaging than others - I had completely lost interest by the time the ships lost their sails, and it took me a while to get past the pre-1500 sections (and certain bits with the Tudors, who I can never really get into). Saying that, I learned loads that I didn't know, such as about the Anglo-Dutch Wars and the intricacies of the Napoleonic conflicts (of course, the chapters with Nelson were my favourite, to no surprise). I would have loved more on the explorations of the 19th century too!
So, overall, the centuries I found most interesting were superb - other centuries not so much, but that is only my personal preference. It is a brilliant piece on the importance of the sea to Britain - the fear of it, the fascination with it, the love of it, and the obsession with it.
It still retains some elements of tradition, though, in the focus on more Big Names of history. That is understandable in such a wide-reaching book - from the ancients up to the modern-day. The scope of it was very interesting, but also its downfall, for me, in a way. I found some parts far more engaging than others - I had completely lost interest by the time the ships lost their sails, and it took me a while to get past the pre-1500 sections (and certain bits with the Tudors, who I can never really get into). Saying that, I learned loads that I didn't know, such as about the Anglo-Dutch Wars and the intricacies of the Napoleonic conflicts (of course, the chapters with Nelson were my favourite, to no surprise). I would have loved more on the explorations of the 19th century too!
So, overall, the centuries I found most interesting were superb - other centuries not so much, but that is only my personal preference. It is a brilliant piece on the importance of the sea to Britain - the fear of it, the fascination with it, the love of it, and the obsession with it.
December 30, 2014
Despite being a sucker for all things naval, I'm not sure I've ever before read quite such a comprehensive history of the Royal Navy.
This is a fairly hefty tome, but written in a supremely readable way. Wilson trades intricate minutiae and detail (not a criticism) for a grander narrative of rise, overconfidence, complaisance, fightback and repeat.
If I have to raise a criticism, it feels a bit light in post-WW2 detail, but as an overview for those with a passing interest it is an excellent piece of work -- and the conclusion hits home just how far the Navy has been allowed to decay and shrink.
This is a fairly hefty tome, but written in a supremely readable way. Wilson trades intricate minutiae and detail (not a criticism) for a grander narrative of rise, overconfidence, complaisance, fightback and repeat.
If I have to raise a criticism, it feels a bit light in post-WW2 detail, but as an overview for those with a passing interest it is an excellent piece of work -- and the conclusion hits home just how far the Navy has been allowed to decay and shrink.
August 22, 2021
"Deep Blue Empire" tells the history of the British navy from the 60th anniversary of the enthronement of King Alfred the Great and Queen Elizabeth. At the same time, it is also a history of British culture and empire.
For a long time, the United Kingdom was only a third-rate maritime country on the edge of Europe. The sea around its islands was totally lawless, and various disasters followed one after another. However, it is such an unremarkable island country that has repeatedly defeated maritime threats from all sides during its development.
After the Battle of Trafalgar, the United Kingdom was firmly seated as the overlord of the oceans and became a powerful trade empire that ruled the world's oceans. In the end, it lost this hegemony in the 20th century, and the epic of its maritime empire came to an end.
The main reason for the success of the British Empire was the Royal Navy. Before the advent of airplanes, most colonies could only be reached safely by sea routes.
In the Age of Discovery, the Royal Navy was one of the largest and most advanced navies in the navy, and it helped them establish good connections with the colony’s trading posts and fortresses.
The defeat of the Spanish Armada at Trafalgar proved this fact. The Spanish and Portuguese arrived in South America very early, where they have very rich resources. The British hired private crews to rob Spanish sailboats laden with gold in the ocean. Sir Francis Drake and Captain Henry Morgan are the most famous.
At the beginning of the 18th century, the industrial revolution kicked off in England, inventing the harvester, spinning jenny, steam engine, power loom, as well as new machines in many fields such as textiles, metallurgy, steam power and agriculture. These machines have greatly increased the output. This provided the British with an opportunity to sell their goods and also provided the necessity for opening up new markets. Initially, they also had the advantages of gunpowder weapons and horses, which the Native Americans did not have.
One of the main reasons Britain became very wealthy was the wealth of its colonies. In India, their arrival coincided with the heyday of the Mughal Empire, and they had no military hard power. Therefore, they obtained permission to establish a trading station and continue peaceful trading. When the power of the Womor Empire began to weaken, a power vacuum was formed, and they watched keenly.
Britain became the most powerful European power in South Asia and gave them the right to rule and tax the region of Bangladesh. Slowly, with the passage of the failure theory and policies, they became the rulers of the entire subcontinent.
They found a huge market for their textiles and industrial products here, and sold them at the expense of the livelihoods of local artisans. During the battle for Africa in the 19th century, the European powers recognized each other's territorial claims and decided to carve up the African continent.
In Africa, the British acquired the Cape Colony and expelled thousands of Dutch, who formed their own republic, the Free State of Orange and the Transvaal Republic, which were later incorporated into the British Empire.
They repelled the Zulu invasion and won the Boer War. They also established rule in Egypt, Sudan and East Africa, thereby controlling the Nile River, one of the largest resources in Africa.
With the exception of Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi, they controlled all of Africa, leading Cecil Rhodes to propose a telegraph and railway line from Cairo to Cape. The main reason for controlling the colonies of Egypt and Cape is.
The Egyptian occupation also allowed the British to control the Suez Canal. They also defeated the alliance of Ghana (then known as the British Gold Coast). Nigeria, Somalia, Sierra Leone and Gambia are also under their rule. North America and the Pacific were also colonized, and Australia was used as an exile colony for sinners.
Britain has a great monarch and a stable government, except for the Glorious Revolution. They are also one of the top-ranked countries during the great nautical era. The French were wiped out in the Napoleonic Wars and rose to rise in the battle for Africa. It was not until Victor Emmanuel II united in 1861 that Italy became a city-state. The Prussians and Germanic city states formed the German Empire only in the second half of the 19th century.
The Russian Empire is the second largest empire, and the only colony they occupy is Alaska. The Spanish never ruled any major colonies outside of South America. The Portuguese had colonies in South America, Africa and the East Indies, and even some colonies in India, but they never became a major threat to Britain.
The two world wars dealt a heavy blow to the economies of Britain and almost all other European powers. Many countries gained independence after the Second World War. The end of World War II marked the end of British naval imperialism worldwide, and all European empires have become a shadow of their former glory.
Ben Wilson's "Deep Blue Empire" is a fascinating story from King Alfred to Queen Elizabeth's 60th anniversary celebrations.
His pen power is enviable, he can quickly shuttle through authoritative discourses, ideas and arguments, which is both fascinating and elegant.
The influence of the British Empire on the current society can be described as far-reaching. Whether it is good or not, this is objective. We need to understand the history of this country, and the best way is the British navy.
For a long time, the United Kingdom was only a third-rate maritime country on the edge of Europe. The sea around its islands was totally lawless, and various disasters followed one after another. However, it is such an unremarkable island country that has repeatedly defeated maritime threats from all sides during its development.
After the Battle of Trafalgar, the United Kingdom was firmly seated as the overlord of the oceans and became a powerful trade empire that ruled the world's oceans. In the end, it lost this hegemony in the 20th century, and the epic of its maritime empire came to an end.
The main reason for the success of the British Empire was the Royal Navy. Before the advent of airplanes, most colonies could only be reached safely by sea routes.
In the Age of Discovery, the Royal Navy was one of the largest and most advanced navies in the navy, and it helped them establish good connections with the colony’s trading posts and fortresses.
The defeat of the Spanish Armada at Trafalgar proved this fact. The Spanish and Portuguese arrived in South America very early, where they have very rich resources. The British hired private crews to rob Spanish sailboats laden with gold in the ocean. Sir Francis Drake and Captain Henry Morgan are the most famous.
At the beginning of the 18th century, the industrial revolution kicked off in England, inventing the harvester, spinning jenny, steam engine, power loom, as well as new machines in many fields such as textiles, metallurgy, steam power and agriculture. These machines have greatly increased the output. This provided the British with an opportunity to sell their goods and also provided the necessity for opening up new markets. Initially, they also had the advantages of gunpowder weapons and horses, which the Native Americans did not have.
One of the main reasons Britain became very wealthy was the wealth of its colonies. In India, their arrival coincided with the heyday of the Mughal Empire, and they had no military hard power. Therefore, they obtained permission to establish a trading station and continue peaceful trading. When the power of the Womor Empire began to weaken, a power vacuum was formed, and they watched keenly.
Britain became the most powerful European power in South Asia and gave them the right to rule and tax the region of Bangladesh. Slowly, with the passage of the failure theory and policies, they became the rulers of the entire subcontinent.
They found a huge market for their textiles and industrial products here, and sold them at the expense of the livelihoods of local artisans. During the battle for Africa in the 19th century, the European powers recognized each other's territorial claims and decided to carve up the African continent.
In Africa, the British acquired the Cape Colony and expelled thousands of Dutch, who formed their own republic, the Free State of Orange and the Transvaal Republic, which were later incorporated into the British Empire.
They repelled the Zulu invasion and won the Boer War. They also established rule in Egypt, Sudan and East Africa, thereby controlling the Nile River, one of the largest resources in Africa.
With the exception of Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi, they controlled all of Africa, leading Cecil Rhodes to propose a telegraph and railway line from Cairo to Cape. The main reason for controlling the colonies of Egypt and Cape is.
The Egyptian occupation also allowed the British to control the Suez Canal. They also defeated the alliance of Ghana (then known as the British Gold Coast). Nigeria, Somalia, Sierra Leone and Gambia are also under their rule. North America and the Pacific were also colonized, and Australia was used as an exile colony for sinners.
Britain has a great monarch and a stable government, except for the Glorious Revolution. They are also one of the top-ranked countries during the great nautical era. The French were wiped out in the Napoleonic Wars and rose to rise in the battle for Africa. It was not until Victor Emmanuel II united in 1861 that Italy became a city-state. The Prussians and Germanic city states formed the German Empire only in the second half of the 19th century.
The Russian Empire is the second largest empire, and the only colony they occupy is Alaska. The Spanish never ruled any major colonies outside of South America. The Portuguese had colonies in South America, Africa and the East Indies, and even some colonies in India, but they never became a major threat to Britain.
The two world wars dealt a heavy blow to the economies of Britain and almost all other European powers. Many countries gained independence after the Second World War. The end of World War II marked the end of British naval imperialism worldwide, and all European empires have become a shadow of their former glory.
Ben Wilson's "Deep Blue Empire" is a fascinating story from King Alfred to Queen Elizabeth's 60th anniversary celebrations.
His pen power is enviable, he can quickly shuttle through authoritative discourses, ideas and arguments, which is both fascinating and elegant.
The influence of the British Empire on the current society can be described as far-reaching. Whether it is good or not, this is objective. We need to understand the history of this country, and the best way is the British navy.
April 18, 2025
officially reached the part of my reading journey where i stopped taking notes while reading, therefore these reviews will be very bare bones. that said, 700 pages full of boats? hell yes. nice comprehensive history of the royal navy. there were time periods, especially the earlier ones, where i felt like i did not have quite enough background knowledge of british history in general to fully grasp the bigger picture. also side note why were all the other countries' navies just called the french/spanish/dutch/etc navy but the germans got kriegsmarine'd? did they not also have names in their own languages or is it just bc the germans were the most recent enemy so british people are still familiar with the german term. either way, 4 stars, on to some more in depth works about specific time periods/people next hopefully.
October 6, 2024
An incredible history of the British Navy from the 700s to the 2000s. It's a journey from victim, to pirate, to naval power, to ruling the seas. This book tells the story of officers, naval technology, tactics. It captures the essence of naval warfare, campaigns, and battels in lucid detail. We see the Navy's influence on Britain's economy, politics, military, culture, and language. I learned an incredible amount from this book and would highly recommend it!
I do feel like there was a missed opportunity to explain why -- why did the English surpass the Dutch, why did the French lose the contest for the seas, why didn't non-European powers compete until Japan? The book gives a lot of material for you to consider those questions, but doesn't deliver any concrete answers.
I do feel like there was a missed opportunity to explain why -- why did the English surpass the Dutch, why did the French lose the contest for the seas, why didn't non-European powers compete until Japan? The book gives a lot of material for you to consider those questions, but doesn't deliver any concrete answers.
May 7, 2023
Might be a bit harsh giving it 3 starts.
I think the sections where it focuses on 1 particular topic such as the life of a crewman on a 16th century ship, Nelson or The Ark in WW2, this book is incredible. I just found some of the bits describing certain wars or time periods in broader details such as all those Anglo-Dutch wars in the 17th century really dry.
I probably took 3 months to read the first 1/3 and then 3 weeks to read the rest. It has helped me view naval history in a new light and taught me about certain periods of history e.g. british navy in the post napoleonic 19th century of which I knew nothing about.
I think the sections where it focuses on 1 particular topic such as the life of a crewman on a 16th century ship, Nelson or The Ark in WW2, this book is incredible. I just found some of the bits describing certain wars or time periods in broader details such as all those Anglo-Dutch wars in the 17th century really dry.
I probably took 3 months to read the first 1/3 and then 3 weeks to read the rest. It has helped me view naval history in a new light and taught me about certain periods of history e.g. british navy in the post napoleonic 19th century of which I knew nothing about.
February 10, 2025
A comprehensive history of Britain’s navy from Alfred to the modern day. Wilson does an excellent job of whisking us through all the major events and characters in the history of the navy, moving the narrative at a quick pace. Rather than just recounting a list of places and events, he offers insightful analysis throughout placing events into the wider context driving Britain’s relationship with its navy. With a book of such scope it’s difficult to dwell on detail anywhere for long, which does on occasion leave you wanting more.
May 21, 2023
This is an excellent history of the Navy, from its origins to the 2nd decade of the 21st Century. It demonstrates the importance of the Navy to an island nation but also that naval supremacy is not guaranteed. It can be easily lost and was on several occasions. The importance of leadership, training and technological innovation is stressed. We also get an introduction to some of the famous admirals, including Shovell, Nelson, Hawke, Fisher and others. Highly recommended.
September 17, 2025
Whilst I am hardly a naval enthusiast, this was a very rewarding read, specifically because it rekindled school-aged memories of studying some pivotal moments in British history (1066 and all that), revealed parts of history that I am now tempted to delve into further (the Dutch Golden Age - what a remarkable nation!- Mary Queen of Scots, the Napoleonic wars and Henry V - what a character!), as well being packed with new information I had no idea about; now I am sure I was taught that Britain has remained an uninvaded island nation every since William the Conqueror (the Battle of Britain being the ultimate example of holding off an enemy), but it turns out there were in fact several successful incursions since by the Spanish, French and Dutch.
My favourite chapter was the short one describing the influence of seafaring on the English language:
"There are dozens of words and phrases that we use every day that derive their meaning from naval slang. Some, like slush fund, do not contain any clues as to their nautical origin. Phrases such as ‘all at sea’, ‘sailing close to the wind’, ‘high and dry’, ‘plain sailing’, ‘wide berth’, ‘push the boat out’, ‘press-ganged’, ‘taking the wind out of your sails’, ‘shot across the bows’, ‘loose cannon’, ‘shipshape’, ‘batten down the hatches’ belong more obviously to the sea. Others such as ‘close quarters’, ‘cut and run’, ‘fathoming’ something, ‘broad in the beam’ and the ‘cut of your jib’ take a moment longer to work out that they derive from seafaring.... The meat that came out of the slushy water was tough and chewy; men gathered around their mess tables talked while they tried to digest the tough fare – hence ‘chewing the fat’. The meals were served on square plates, giving rise to the phrase ‘square meal’. The monotony of shipboard food, routine and discipline was broken by the daily intake of alcohol. The rum ration was introduced by Admiral Vernon during his time in the West Indies between 1739 and 1741, when he gave the men half a pint of the spirit a day each. Vernon wore a black waterproof made of a fabric known as ‘grogram’, a blend of silk, mohair and wool stiffened with gum. Consequently he was nicknamed ‘Old Grogram’ and rum was called ‘grog’."
My favourite chapter was the short one describing the influence of seafaring on the English language:
"There are dozens of words and phrases that we use every day that derive their meaning from naval slang. Some, like slush fund, do not contain any clues as to their nautical origin. Phrases such as ‘all at sea’, ‘sailing close to the wind’, ‘high and dry’, ‘plain sailing’, ‘wide berth’, ‘push the boat out’, ‘press-ganged’, ‘taking the wind out of your sails’, ‘shot across the bows’, ‘loose cannon’, ‘shipshape’, ‘batten down the hatches’ belong more obviously to the sea. Others such as ‘close quarters’, ‘cut and run’, ‘fathoming’ something, ‘broad in the beam’ and the ‘cut of your jib’ take a moment longer to work out that they derive from seafaring.... The meat that came out of the slushy water was tough and chewy; men gathered around their mess tables talked while they tried to digest the tough fare – hence ‘chewing the fat’. The meals were served on square plates, giving rise to the phrase ‘square meal’. The monotony of shipboard food, routine and discipline was broken by the daily intake of alcohol. The rum ration was introduced by Admiral Vernon during his time in the West Indies between 1739 and 1741, when he gave the men half a pint of the spirit a day each. Vernon wore a black waterproof made of a fabric known as ‘grogram’, a blend of silk, mohair and wool stiffened with gum. Consequently he was nicknamed ‘Old Grogram’ and rum was called ‘grog’."
December 23, 2020
A book that is impressive in its scope, ambition and research.
Sadly I found that it was not uniformly well written. I struggled with long paragraphs that jumped from topic to topic, making the narrative hard to follow.
No doubt the task of editing a book of this size (just shy of 1000 pages) is not an easy one.
Sadly I found that it was not uniformly well written. I struggled with long paragraphs that jumped from topic to topic, making the narrative hard to follow.
No doubt the task of editing a book of this size (just shy of 1000 pages) is not an easy one.
November 3, 2022
I read this because I lived the picture on the front it is packed with naval history which has been lost to technology the ability to look on the horizon and leave anything behind not knowing when or if it’ll return the sense of control in a truly gigantic world which no one will ever truly grasp in size and complexity
December 31, 2018
Stunning history of Britain's navy
This detailed and intelligently assessed chronicle of the senior service deftly draws the links between nation and navy. Linking successes and security with the trials of the navy, Wilson fundamentally questions our current neglect
This detailed and intelligently assessed chronicle of the senior service deftly draws the links between nation and navy. Linking successes and security with the trials of the navy, Wilson fundamentally questions our current neglect
March 23, 2019
Fascinating
Was completely captured by this book from start. Accepting the changing world in which we live it was fascinating to read about how the navy came to be and how it declined.
Was completely captured by this book from start. Accepting the changing world in which we live it was fascinating to read about how the navy came to be and how it declined.
December 29, 2020
This is a good book, it is the story of the Royal Navy and more specifically the people who were in it. It is also a long book and its has taken a long while to read so not one to be taken lightly. I did think he was dismissive of technology and its impact in his story and I did think I spotted a few inaccuracies he is not strong in this area.
October 10, 2021
This is an interesting read, although at 800 pages it will require commitment on the part of the reader. I find the subject matter interesting. It provides you with an in-depth understanding of the role of the Navy through the centuries. I would recommend reading it.
September 20, 2022
Fantastic learning about the history of the royal navy
December 25, 2022
Took me a while but was fantastic.
January 6, 2023
书中20世纪的那部分内容我都相当熟悉了，但关于风帆时代的章节和战术细节则补足了我不少的空白。几场重要海战的态势图，制作得相当清晰明了，帮助颇大。
而上下一千多年的时间跨度里，作者在对历史背景、制度沿革、战役细节和人物描写等不同层面内容的平衡上也做得相当不错，使得这部长达900多页的两卷本作品，既做到了言之有物，又不显得冗长乏味。
而上下一千多年的时间跨度里，作者在对历史背景、制度沿革、战役细节和人物描写等不同层面内容的平衡上也做得相当不错，使得这部长达900多页的两卷本作品，既做到了言之有物，又不显得冗长乏味。
July 26, 2023
Brilliant read, could not put it down. Shows eloquently and with a touch of humour how integral the sea is to the fortune of the UK. I have new appreciation for the RN because of this book.
September 28, 2024
Good, but unbelievable that it doesn't mention Blas de Lezo.
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