This is a very good short survey of "the classic age of naval history, 1793-1815" (well, 1816 actually, given the last chapter on the Battle of Algiers) and included much information that I had not read elsewhere. It was a good, easy, racy read too. ( )

I enjoyed this survey of the Naval side of the Napoleonic War, partly because Parkinson doesn't concentrate so myopically on the Naval War in European Waters but has a more global vision. There was a lot that went on in the former French and Dutch Colonies to interest the naval enthusiast. ( )