David Hanna teaches history at Stuyvesant High School in New York.
“A wonderful read, brings the War of 1812 to life.”—Ken Burns
“Highly readable, this book will appeal to those interested in
naval warfare and the War of 1812 as well as those with any
interest in early U.S. history. Strongly recommended.”—Library
Journal
“David Hanna’s Knights of the Sea is the finest kind of narrative
history—thoroughly researched, informative and a plain good read.
Hanna takes a dramatic but little known incident, the battle
between the small men-of-war Boxer and Enterprise, and uses that
event to explore the lives of two men, the captains of the ships,
and two navies, the British navy at the peak of its power and
domination, and the nascent navy of the United States, just feeling
its oats. Knights of the Sea will not disappoint any who love a
good rousing history, or any who are drawn to the fascinating world
of combat under sail.”—James L. Nelson, author of George
Washington’s Great Gamble
“Through the prism of a single battle between two sailing warships,
David Hanna focuses on the stories of the opposing commanders and
unearths their opinions, principles and motivations—the very
essence of their lives. Woven into this narrative is a skillful
exploration of the politics and events behind the War of 1812,
alongside a vivid portrait of wartime experiences on land and sea.
A fine 1812 anniversary book.”—Roy Adkins, author of Nelson's
Trafalgar, The War for All the Oceans
“David Hanna establishes his credibility both as a writer and with
the quality and depth of his historical research in Knights of the
Sea. His capturing of a little-known maritime battle during the War
of 1812 is surprisingly relevant in modern-day exploration of
military strategy.”—Captain Philip Kasky USN (Ret), former
commander, USS Suribachi
“Knights of the Sea is the stirring tale of two warships, one
American and one British, that clashed in a legendary battle during
the War of 1812. It is also the highly engaging story of the two
gallant captains of those ships, both of whom were as intrepid as
C.S. Forester’s fictional creation, Horatio Hornblower. The book
provides a wonderful blend of fascinating historical detail about
the maritime war and the men who fought it. Meticulously researched
and thoroughly enjoyable.”—Robert J. Mrazek, author of A Dawn Like
Thunder
“Much more than a book about a battle, Knights of the Sea is a fine
meditation on the culture, politics, and several key charismatic
individuals who shaped the Early Republic.”—Christopher Pastore,
author of Temple to the Wind “A fascinating look at a pivot point
in naval warfare.”—Time
“In Hanna’s skilled storytelling, heroic seamen and stout ships
come alive in this rousing tale and converge on the Maine coast for
a short, bloody sea battle...The well-illustrated Knights of the
Sea is a great read for folks interested in Maine or maritime
history. Hanna does his heroes and their forgotten war
justice.”—Bangor Daily News
“Beautifully written, Knights of the Sea delves deeply into the
lives and motivations of the two young, but experienced captains
who dueled to the death in the famous sea fight between the HMS
Boxer and USS Enterprise, shedding new light on the British and
American navies during a critical period in their
histories.”—George C. Daughan, author of 1812: The Navy’s
War
“In a compact, well-organized and carefully illustrated book, Hanna
propels the reader both general and scholarly with sure, swift and
colorful prose.”—Portland Press Herald
“When wars two hundred years in the past sound eerily like today’s
contemporary events, it’s time to sit up and take notice. And even
when that history is about a relatively obscure naval engagement
off the coast of Maine, the lessons it offers about individual
sacrifice can be far-reaching, compelling—and also a bit
unsettling. In his newly-published book, David Hanna has taken a
potentially dry subject and given it new life with a modern
perspective and sympathy for the men directly involved in the
forgotten Maine conflict.”—DownEast magazine
“This book is academically rigorous, yet the narrative is engaging
and thrilling to read. In short, Hanna makes history fun and I
highly recommend this book to anyone who thinks that history ‘has
to be’ dull and boring. As well, I highly recommend this book to
anyone interested in the War of 1812, maritime history and warfare,
or who is simply looking for an interesting and factual story to
read.”—History in Review
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