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  • To Rule the Waves

  • How the British Navy Changed the Modern World
  • By: Arthur Herman
  • Narrated by: John Curless
  • Length: 29 hrs and 57 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (307 ratings)
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To Rule the Waves cover art

To Rule the Waves

By: Arthur Herman
Narrated by: John Curless
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Summary

To Rule the Waves tells the extraordinary story of how the British Royal Navy allowed one nation to rise to a level of power unprecedented in history. From the navy's beginnings under Henry VIII to the age of computer warfare and special ops, historian Arthur Herman tells the spellbinding tale of great battles at sea, heroic sailors, violent conflict, and personal tragedy - of the way one mighty institution forged a nation, an empire, and a new world.

This P.S. edition features extra insights into the book, including author interviews, recommended reading, and more.

©2004 Arthur Herman (P)2016 Recorded Books
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about To Rule the Waves

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I thought i'd like this and boy did i ever.

as a British patriot who loves hearing about our history, i thought i'd like this. i loved it. i loved the focus on people and places and the well woven historical threds between them. sadly the naration was a bit ropy in places but i got the impression the narrator enjoyed himself and his pride in our heritage seemed obvious. If you've ever seen the documentary series "Empire of the seas" with Dan Snow you'll recognise many of the themes and stories but as that's among my favourite series i think that's no bad thing.

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8 people found this helpful

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excellent book, well read.

Gives a great overview of the Royal Navy's history with additional detail on defining moments. With the Royal Navy being such an integral part of Great Britain's politics and policy this book also provides the reader with a great understanding of the history of Great Britain's geopolitics. I would highly recommend for anyone interested in global and British history, warfare, the Royal Navy, and geopolitics. This book may change your view on the world.

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7 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Fabulous book telling a fascinating story

Tracing the development of the navy from Tudor privateers to the falklands war this unusual perspective on world history kept me fascinated. Wonderful detail and biographical sketches brings many extraordinary characters to life. I loved it

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Expansive penetrating view into Britain's past

Highly recommended to those seeking adventure and fortune! Excellent, fascinating details, myths dispelled. There's a real understanding of the motives and personalities of pioneering historical monoliths.

Power, politics, adventure, suffering, European war-mungering, peace treaties, daring piratical forays into enemy strongholds, cunning strategies, evolution of tactics and technologies at sea, the creation and destruction of piracy, the early economics of war and piece, the precarious position of monarchs and the Ballance of power in Europe, the Mediterranean, the Americas and then the whole world.

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2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Good but not sensational

Fairly comprehensive history of navy. Story lacks continuity at times. But overall, worth a listen.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Broad in content but with wonderful focus on the key turning points of the RN

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Authur Herman covered the 500+yr history of the Royal Navy in Great detail with enthralling focus on key characters and interesting facts.

I had google to hand so I could see the ships and men he spoke about.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great piece of history; told very well

A very useful and educational piece of history that many more Brits would do well learn.

Only two problems:
1. Brushes over British involvement in the Slave Trade with a simple "everyone else was in on it".
2. It appears to have been recorded off a tape that was chewed up for a half-hour segment of the Armada!

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Billiant

This book was very informative, interesting and well narrated. Made me want to keep listening at every twist and turn. A must read for historians of all types and layman alike

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2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting book with lots of detail.

Interesting book with lots of detail. The narrator was not good. He seemed unable to finish a lot of the words which was rather annoying.

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1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Variable sound levels

I found this book marred by variable sound levels...word volume tailing off. I listen in the car and had to have the volume up much higher than other audiobooks so that I could hear all the words.

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1 person found this helpful