Independence or Death: British Sailors and Brazilian Independence, 1822-1825

by Brian Vale

On 7th September 1822, Dom Pedro, Prince Regent of Brazil, declared his country independent and began the war of liberation against Portugal. Based on research from original documents and journals, the book details how independence was secured against all odds by seizing command of the sea, under the leadership of Lord Cochrane, to ensure the integrity of the new Brazilian empire.

Set against the background of Brazilian politics and British foreign policy interests, this is a detailed account of the operations of the Brazilian navy during the transition to independence.

256 pages, Hardcover

First published July 15, 1996

About the author

Brian Vale is a naval historian. He was a British Council officer in Brazil, the Middle East and Spain and from 1987-1991 he served as Assistant Director General in London. He was a contributor to the official history of the Brazilian Navy.

Reviews

[Berseker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-written, well researched and insanely fun to read.