The War of 1812 and the Rise of the US Navy

Discover the epic naval story of the war that threatened to undo our nation in 1812. Riveting firsthand accounts enliven this official sea-level view of the conflict that proved American naval prowess a force to be reckoned with. Explore historic documents, letters, ephemera, and artifacts, including fascinating finds from the Navy’s most recent underwater excavation of the war’s lost ships. Featuring a colorful, diverse cast of characters–from sailors, spies, and ship’s surgeons to commodores, Navy wives, and privateers–and incorporating hundreds of photographs, period illustrations, and contemporary and original maps, The War of 1812 and the Rise of the U.S. Navy is a sweeping panorama of a defining moment in U.S. history and a must-read for maritime aficionados and general history buffs alike.

Praise for The War of 1812 and the Rise of the U.S. Navy

“Since childhood, I’ve been a War of 1812 buff … Never before, however, have I encountered a book on that war more intellectually engaging than The War of 1812 and the Rise of the U.S. Navy … Inspired … couldn’t have done a better job of weaving together first-person accounts of the War of 1812 into a single volume … Spectacular… Jenkins and Taylor’s tapestry of personal reminiscences of the war is sui generis. Clearly, the bicentennial of the war that birthed the U.S. Navy holds surprises for even scholars of the era.“

– Douglas Brinkley

“Captivating … an engaging series of narratives.”

– Publishers Weekly

“Highly recommended for general readers … enlivened by a whole range of primary source recollections of the war by marines and sailors, their wives and families, and civilians … Text and images support each other impressively.”

– Library Journal

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