castles of steel

I think this is the best treatment of naval history I've ever read. Save this story for later. Be the first one to write a review. Review quote. The emphasis throughout is on the Castles of Steel of the title, the great battleships. Book is dense and meaty. All these elements are given magnificent scope by Robert K. Massie’ s … In itself, this is a true measure of a first rate writer's skill; Robert Massie again shows he is unquestionably that. What people are saying - Write a review. After Jutland the book starts to fizzle out a little and we get accounts of the blockade of Germany, the convoy system used in the Atlantic, and the defeat of the U Boats. Please try again. It narrates the major naval actions of the First World War with an emphasis on those of the United Kingdom and Imperial Germany . Reviewed by Captain Steven W. Nerheim, USN, Senior Navy Representative, US Army War College. So many history books are crammed with too much information presented in an overwhelming or boring manner. In Castles of steel we have a full account of Britain and Germany's great war at sea. BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Robert K. Massie's Catherine the Great. Thorough but very unbalanced history of naval engagements in WWI, Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2019. 19 Views . In Castles of steel we have a full account of Britain and Germany's great war at sea. Robert K. Massie was born in Lexington, Kentucky, and studied American history at Yale and modern European history at Oxford, which he attended as a Rhodes Scholar. Preview this book » What people are saying - Write a review. The main characters of Castles of Steel: Britain, Germany, and the Winning of the Great War at Sea novel are John, Emma. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 5, 2015. Bravo! Massie’s affinity for biography is on display as well, as in Roberts, Andrew. One flaw pointed out by Joost Boswijk is that his accounts and judgements of the German commanders is far less thorough than that of the British Admirals, and indeed, even most of them are eclipsed by his concentration on Jellicoe and Beatty. Gripping stuff * Charles Osbourne, Sunday Telegraph * show more. All these elements are given magnificent scope by Robert K. Massie's special and widely hailed literary mastery. At first there were skirmishes, then battles off the coasts of England and Germany and in the far corners of the world, including the Falklands. Other aspects of the naval war, such as the U-boats, are dealt with quite briefly, and … The depth to which Robert Massie goes in analysing the strengths and weaknesses of both navies is astounding. Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2017. Still, Wikipedia and all that. On a minor note, the book refers to possible submarine incursions into Scapa Flow. All these elements are given magnificent scope by Robert K. Massie’ s special and widely hailed literary mastery. This is a very good account of the naval war between Britain and Germany. plus-circle Add Review. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. by Gail Anthea Brown (Author) Format: Kindle Edition. It narrates the major naval actions of the First World War with an emphasis on those of the United Kingdom and Imperial Germany. Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2018. Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. See all formats and editions. It covers the time from just prior to WWI up through the peace treaty of 1919. Jan Morris, New Statesman. Castles of Steel is about war at sea, leadership and command, courage, genius, and folly. Robert K Massie's Castles of Steel is a baroque battleship of a book on first world war sea power. This is the one point at which Massie becomes quite involved; he is very clearly pro-Jellicoe and anti-Beatty, and I must read further to discover whether he is scrupulously fair, or decidedly biased. His Nicholas and Alexandra is another example. Please try again. More Like This . User ratings. They will not be disappointed. Robert Massie’s Castles of Steel is a follow-up of his book Dreadnought, which chronicles the lead up to World War I from Bismarck through to the assassination of Duke Frederick. All these elements are given magnificent scope by Robert K. Massie's special and widely hailed literary mastery. Castles of Steel is about war at sea, leadership and command, courage, genius, and folly. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! Castles of Steel: Britain, Germany, and the Winning of the Great War at Sea. Topics Illinois Public Media: Focus 580. BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Robert K. Massie's Catherine the Great. extraordinary narrative power, filled with brilliant personalities and vivid scenes of dramatic action, Robert K. Massie, the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Peter the Great, Nicholas and Alexandra, and Dreadnought, elevates to its proper historical importance the role of sea power in the winning of the Great War. ‘Little Pieces of Gold’ competition. History buffs will all know about the battle of Jutland in 1916 and perhaps the Gallipoli (in western Turkey) campaign, but there was more naval action around the world all given the same detailed treatment. I can’t really praise it too highly. The emphasis throughout is on the Castles of Steel of the title, the great battleships. Yet even under the command of respected Admiral John Jellicoe, the most powerful navy the world has ever seen appears to be doing little to help end the war other than swing idly at anchor. show more. It even has many familiar places, and in the case of "Nicholas and Alexandra", many familiar faces. Scenes 8-14, Castles of Steel - Part 3 of 5 Castles of Steel - Part 2 of 5. Nowhere is it more pronounced than when the role of Churchill, Jellicoe, and Fisher are concerned. In a work of extraordinary narrative power, filled with brilliant personalities and vivid scenes of dramatic action, Robert K. Massie, the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Peter the Great, Nicholas and Alexandra, and Dreadnought, elevates to its proper historical importance the role of sea power in the winning of the Great War. Click here for info on buying via Amazon. The book has been awarded with Booker Prize, Edgar Awards and many others. I'm not a naval historian, and could have used the extra detail. Starts with a rather detailed account of the personalities involved before moving on to the history. Although the great dreadnoughts and battle cruisers - the "castles of steel" of the title - are never far from the main narrative thrust, U-boat warfare and diplomatic maneuvering (and the politics of the British Admiralty) are given their due.Although a long book at over 800 pages, "Castles of Steel" is nonetheless a powerful, fast-moving history of naval warfare as it emerged into the modern era of steel and radio. Castles of Steel takes up the narrative at the start of the War. Other aspects of the naval war, such as the U-boats, are dealt with quite briefly, and criticisms of the book for not dealing with events such as the Zeebrugge Raid miss this point. SKU: 112675 . Castles of Steel - Part 1 of 5. He provides some astonishing revelations regarding the workings of the British and German Admiralties and very interesting explanations about the U-boat threat; how the `moving square' for convoys defrayed that threat; the real reason Americans joined the war (very late) and why the German naval forces came so close to mutiny in the closing months of 1918. From inside the book . Scenes 1-7. Castles of Steel is about war at sea, leadership and command, courage, genius, and folly. Castles of Steel is a difficult book to categorize. Scenes 1-7, Castles of Steel - Part 2 of 5 From the Hardcover edition. Then, and only then did he presents his interpretation. But Jellicoe is undoubtedly the true and modest hero whose grasp and retention, against all arguments, of the Grand Strategy is the true measure of the man who won the war at sea. If you liked Massie's books about the czars, you'll probably like this too. 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