How "a handful of bastards and outlaws fighting under a piece of striped bunting" humbled the omnipotent British Navy.
Before the ink was dry o... read full description
Before the ink was dry o... read full description
reviews
Dec 30, 2011
Jason
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Six Frigates is an engaging narrative of the early years of the United States Navy. For a popular history, it is richly detailed, with descriptions of the military & political actors of the era, and the extricates of the naval warfare at the height of the age of sail, in the early 19th century.
Ian Toll, a popular historian with a background in financial services has written a broad history, split into three parts: preparation and early US Navy planning, the fight against the Barbary pi More...
Ian Toll, a popular historian with a background in financial services has written a broad history, split into three parts: preparation and early US Navy planning, the fight against the Barbary pi More...
Aug 24, 2011
When I asked John for a book recommendation for our 4th of July trip to Bakers Island, he handed me this book. As he told me about it, he got increasingly excited about the book and then seemed to reluctantly hand it over.
I began reading the night before we left and every time I put it down, he picked it up and read. We had two bookmarks in it. Even when I put the book down to spend time with him, he'd immediately pick it up which meant we could not read together, which I love to do More...
I began reading the night before we left and every time I put it down, he picked it up and read. We had two bookmarks in it. Even when I put the book down to spend time with him, he'd immediately pick it up which meant we could not read together, which I love to do More...
Jun 02, 2011
Edward
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Fascinating book about the founding of the US Navy, particularly from about 1800 through 1815. I didn't realize that the small US Navy disbanded after the revolutionary war. Nor did I understand that many of our founding father resisted the idea of a standing Navy as an unnecessary expense. However, a combination of conflicts with the Barbary Pirates as well as threats from the British Navy and the French Navy helped establish the need for a permanant Navy to protect our merchant vessels and t
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Apr 23, 2010
Few people realize how close the United States came to not having a Navy at all — Jefferson, for one, insisted that the equivalent of the Coast Guard would be perfectly adequate. In the end, George Washington’s administration decided to build six large frigates more powerful than comparable ships in other navies — one of these six being the still-surviving USS Constitution now on view here in Boston.
Out of the careers of these ships and their officers Ian Toll spins a fascinating an More...
Out of the careers of these ships and their officers Ian Toll spins a fascinating an More...
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Dec 01, 2009
Steven
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United States, President, Chesapeake, Congress, Contellation, Constitution. The six frigates, construction having begun under President George Washington's watch, were the core of the first American navy. There were few enough of these ships (compared with the hundreds of British warships), but they had been excellently designed by Joshua Humphreys.
This book tells the story of these frigates through the conflict with the Barbary states, the "Cold War" between those days an More...
This book tells the story of these frigates through the conflict with the Barbary states, the "Cold War" between those days an More...
Mar 20, 2009
Richard
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Ian Toll describes the first foreign challenges of the United States government which prompted the construction of a group of ships that would constitute the beginning of the United States Navy. The book contains a wealth of details of sailing-era ship construction and the excitement of early American-history sea battles. Toll adeptly describes the nation's early political picture, and clarifies which forces were for building a navy and which opposed it. Many interesting personal stories are tol
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Oct 09, 2011
Rob
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Toll tells this story thoroughly and well: America didn't want a navy, and remained dubious even when necessity forced her hand. For a while she acquiesced in the extortion demanded by the barbary states, but then stood up to them--resulting in the loss of a brand new frigate, lots and lots of money, and other humiliations. Other nations thought she was crazy.
And she was, to a great extent. Her new design of frigates had no precedent and freaked out everyone charged with building th More...
And she was, to a great extent. Her new design of frigates had no precedent and freaked out everyone charged with building th More...
Jan 23, 2011
Michael
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This is hands down one of the best naval history books I have read. There is a reason it is on the U.S. Navy Reading list for leaders.
It is a thoroughly researched account of our Navy's origins up to the end of the 1812 War.
The author combines solid history with a rich and addicting writing to envelope the reader in the world of the tall ships. One can easily find themselves on the gundeck of the Constitution as Com. Hull kedges his ship out of the reach of the British squ More...
It is a thoroughly researched account of our Navy's origins up to the end of the 1812 War.
The author combines solid history with a rich and addicting writing to envelope the reader in the world of the tall ships. One can easily find themselves on the gundeck of the Constitution as Com. Hull kedges his ship out of the reach of the British squ More...
Jan 01, 2009
Tripp
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In Six Frigates, author Ian Toll ably presents the story of the creation of the American Navy. The book balances narratives of naval action with the political battles that decided where, how and if a Navy would be built.
Building the six initial frigates was an challenging endeavor. Joshua Humphreys designed the ships to be both more powerful and more sturdy than their European counterparts. Toll describes the difficult process of building and arming the ships, including the harvestin More...
Building the six initial frigates was an challenging endeavor. Joshua Humphreys designed the ships to be both more powerful and more sturdy than their European counterparts. Toll describes the difficult process of building and arming the ships, including the harvestin More...
Dec 17, 2009
Jim
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Great description of naval battles. Describes the infancy of the US navy and the War of 1812 as the US challenged England on the sea by pirating England’s commerce and relying on their distractions with Napoleon to keep them from fully engaging. Also includes the war with the Barbary powers (Tripoli) and how that established the US presence. The Six Frigates are the ones commissioned during John Adams presidency to deal with French intrusions on US commerce. The juxtaposition of the Federalists
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May 16, 2011
Ross
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Another new book about the founding of the U.S. Navy and the War of 1812. Quite similar, but longer (500 pages) than "The Perilous Fight" I decided to read this work after recently reading "The Perilous Fight" hoping there would be much more detail about the six actual ships; e.g. construction details, design considerations, etc. Unfortunately the book does not have the detail I was really lookiing for.
Still a good book recommended for all interested in U.S. and naval More...
Still a good book recommended for all interested in U.S. and naval More...
Mar 13, 2011
This book feels like a historical narrative which is to me liking because I always had an interest in our nations history. Not to mention it's specifically about the US Navy history, which is the branch I'm currently in so its win-win! haha. I was surprised to learn how in the revolutionary years how horrible our navy was. John Paul Jones was apparently the only good Navy captain with the only good ship during that era. It also surprised me of how dependent we were on the British for our trade
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Jan 16, 2012
M
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My son recommended this, knowing how much I love American history. The first part of the book, with the founding of the Navy, the financing for the first ships, the construction and commissioning of the ships, was fascinating. The details of research were also very evident. Then Toll moved onto the first wars, "The Shores of Tripoli" and the War of 1812. Again, the details were fascinating, and he fleshed out the two wars so the reader now actually knows what happened - politically
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Apr 14, 2009
Marcus
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I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The history of our country's growth as an economic player and power is linked to the history of our navy. The original appropriation for the six vessels was extremely controversial at the time. There were may in our country, especially those whose livelihood was farming, that were against any kind of standing military force. The building of these ships helped create the mythology of our country's development. Without them, there would be no "shor
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Sep 12, 2011
Don
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As a piece of non-fiction, it was certainly a change of pace from the historical naval fiction I tend to read.
This read like a history book, in that it was tied to a timeline. However, it gave great insight to the early political process, not to mention our fore-fathers in the U.S.
For those that want to read about the first British naval loss to a U.S. ship, this is a good place to read about it. It still mystifies me as to why the Brit's thought that having a ship with More...
This read like a history book, in that it was tied to a timeline. However, it gave great insight to the early political process, not to mention our fore-fathers in the U.S.
For those that want to read about the first British naval loss to a U.S. ship, this is a good place to read about it. It still mystifies me as to why the Brit's thought that having a ship with More...
Sep 12, 2010
Mark
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This book reviews revolutionary war history through the prism of the Navy, in an era when the fledgling United States led the way in the grand experiment that is democracy. That’s the trite bromide you’d expect to read here, and if you’re like me it conjures a pastel middle school history classroom, more boring even than English Lit.
This book however, transported me there so that for the first time, I felt the edgy fear of democracy. Would America find itself to be too radical, explod More...
This book however, transported me there so that for the first time, I felt the edgy fear of democracy. Would America find itself to be too radical, explod More...
Aug 31, 2011
Jim
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A thoroughly enjoyable and educational book, Ian Toll easily mixes historical narrative of facts relating to the early days of the true US Navy with thrilling accounts of significant engagements from the Tripolitan and 1812 Wars. Calling on a tremendous wealth of resources from the Navy's chronicling of Quasi War with France, the Barbary Wars and of course, the War 1812, Toll paints the first Captains of "The Constitution" and its five sisters and the legendary battles that establishe
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Jan 31, 2011
Dennis
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This is the story of how the United States decided to have a 'real' Navy. And as one who reads much history, it's not the usual boring, statement-of-fact type of book. The author writes with a smooth, flowing type of story telling that keeps you wanting to know the next event that happened with our 'infant' US Navy. When starting this book, you will find out very quickly that our founding fathers like Adams and Jefferson really didn't see much value in having a 'full time' Navy. I learned much f
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Sep 19, 2010
Almak
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Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy is a well written work that begins by giving a slight overview of Britain's Naval supremacy prior to and during the revolution of the original 13 colonies. He then progresses with the story of the founding of the US Navy.
Toll does a good job showing the two viewpoints of the political parties of the time, namely the Federalists and Republicans, and their re More...
Toll does a good job showing the two viewpoints of the political parties of the time, namely the Federalists and Republicans, and their re More...
Sep 19, 2010
Steve
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I was very happily surprised to discover that the author did not immediately jump into the specifics of the title (the six vessels) and instead painted with very broad brush strokes the problems faced by the fledgling nation that lead to the need for a Navy: end of protection for American merchant ships by the British Navy; attacks on American merchant ships by the Barbary pirates of North Africa; etc. And he weaves into this narrative the backgrounds, personalities, etc. of the major players c
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Mar 25, 2009
brian
rated it:
As am armchair admiral, I have learned that amateurs discuss tactics, while the professionals discuss logistics. This book has both. We learn how various sea battles were fought but also the events that lead up to them.
My emotions and feelings pendulummed while reading the book.
As Toll explained the founding of the navy, I cheered for the Americans.
When he got into the causes of the War of 1812, I, as a Canadian and Commonwealth citizen, felt upset at how the Brit More...
My emotions and feelings pendulummed while reading the book.
As Toll explained the founding of the navy, I cheered for the Americans.
When he got into the causes of the War of 1812, I, as a Canadian and Commonwealth citizen, felt upset at how the Brit More...
Mar 10, 2009
D
rated it:
Spellbinding - couldn't wait to read more!
The history I learned was much better than any jr. high class. The political maneuvering required to build and maintain these ships was intriguing. The book described an all-too human side of the fledgling US gov't and the personalities involved: Washington, Adams, Jefferson (no fan of Adams until the end), Madison. We also get to meet the commanders of the frigates and root for our favorites. Egos, intellects, moods; everyone's got 'e More...
The history I learned was much better than any jr. high class. The political maneuvering required to build and maintain these ships was intriguing. The book described an all-too human side of the fledgling US gov't and the personalities involved: Washington, Adams, Jefferson (no fan of Adams until the end), Madison. We also get to meet the commanders of the frigates and root for our favorites. Egos, intellects, moods; everyone's got 'e More...
Oct 17, 2009
William
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"Six Frigates" by Ian Toll is more than your average book on The War of 1812. Usually such books are packed with many good chapters describing frigate actions and the exploits of various sloops and brigs, all exciting stuff. But Toll takes a detour here, placing early naval history within the context of the early American republic.
Here the president and congress debate the most fundamental question: do we need a navy, and what is it for? That political debate is framed by More...
Here the president and congress debate the most fundamental question: do we need a navy, and what is it for? That political debate is framed by More...
Dec 28, 2010
Snicks
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Sitting in the waiting area to board the Constitution in Boston, I overheard a man comment that he read Ian Toll's "Six Frigates" and found it extremely insightful as to how the US Navy began and impacted the early development of the United States. Knowing little to nothing about the early Navy, the Barbary Wars, or why the War of 1812 even occurred, let alone what happened during the war, I took this indirect recommendation to heart and purchased it in the harbor's bookstore. While it
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May 19, 2008
Joel
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This is a historical book, not a novel, so my interest is in the amount of history I learned from it. For example, I was quite surprised to discover that the U.S. used to pay tribute to the kingdoms of the Barbary coast so they wouldn't pirate our merchant ships, also that there was a very strong political movement opposed to the U.S. owning any military ships. It was also interesting to learn that the British used to capture ships of all nations and "impress" sailers into military d
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Apr 02, 2008
Carrie
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I listened to this on audio CD so perhaps some of my criticism would have been mitigated by reading the book, or perhaps it would have been even more substantial.
There were portions of this that were really interesting, including some of the sea battles, but overall it was very uneven. There was an extensive lead-up about British sea power, reasons the United States would or wouldn't want a navy, etc. And an extensive segment about the building of the frigates, and a fairly detailed More...
There were portions of this that were really interesting, including some of the sea battles, but overall it was very uneven. There was an extensive lead-up about British sea power, reasons the United States would or wouldn't want a navy, etc. And an extensive segment about the building of the frigates, and a fairly detailed More...
Mar 30, 2008
Paul
rated it:
An engaging narrative history of early America - from the revolution to the end of the War of 1812 - focussed on how political, economic and cultural conditions affected the development of the US Navy. The technology and terminology of sailing is gently introduced, so that one can enter into and imagine the challenges of it - for me, that made the narrative richer and more pleasant.
Toll begins, helpfully, by describing the larger picture of British naval supremacy and empire within w More...
Toll begins, helpfully, by describing the larger picture of British naval supremacy and empire within w More...
Nov 13, 2010
Josh
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This book follows the history of the original six frigates of the US navy through the first few decades of their existence. It's an extremely well-written book (although a few repetitions slip in about halfway through) and a fascinating read for anyone interested in naval history. My only real complaint is that there are many era-of-sail terms used without adequate explanation. Many of these can be puzzled out from context, but it still makes the book a little more confusing than it needs to
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Sep 22, 2011
Jerry
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An impressive attempt at detailing the founding and early days of the US Navy up to 1815 and the end of the War of 1812, Toll's Six Frigates is a book that I would recommend to novices (such as myself) in naval history. While it did take me some time to get through this book due to my lack of prior knowledge of naval history/terminology, I think that Toll did a good job at making the story of the beginning of our navy accessible to the average reader. The only reason that this book did not earn
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Feb 08, 2011
Rob
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Really good, especially the battle scenes. The slightly ornate and antiquated language went well with the quoted historical accounts. I only wished that the author had assumed the same background in American historical background to described events as he did with the technical parts of blue water sailing. I felt a bit spoon-fed on historical context (only slightly) and a bit out of my depth (like when discussing points off of the wind) in the technical aspects of sailing. A very interesting
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