REVIEWS A new book entit led
We Were There The USS Indianapolis Tragedy By L. Peter Wren, a rescue o ffi cer who pu lled th e men from th e sea. Th is is the rest of the story-a compilation of neve r befo re to ld oral histo ri es-as to ld by airmen, sailo rs, and oLh ers w ho were there.
So ft Cover: $ 15.95 Hard Cover: $25.95 +$3 s/h Make Checks or money orders payable ro:
WREN ENTE RPRIZES tOt I Ridgetop Road, Richmond, VA 23229-6733
MARITIME
BOOKS 1806 Laurel Crest Madison, Wisconsin53705-1065 (608) 238-SAIL FAX (608)-238-7249 Email: tu ttlemaritime@charter.net h ttp:/ /tuttlemaritime.com
German Pocket Battleships, by Roger C hesneau (Chacham Publishing, London; Scackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, PA, 2004, 64pp, ill us, photos, ISBN 1-861 76209-7; $24.95pb), and King George V Class Battleships (2004, photos, diagrams, ISB N 1-86 176-211-9; $24.95pb) These books are che firsc and second volumes in che Shipcrafr series designed to provide ship modelmakers wich derailed ship characceriscics. Each book begins wich informacion abouc che designs of che Deutsch/and class and King George V class batdeships respectively and a brief summary of the operational careers of each. The balance of chese books, nearly seven ty-five percent, is devoted to chapters entided "Model Products," "Modelmakers' Showcase," "Schemes," ''Appearances," and a "Plans" section of line drawings . A selected bibliography including video products and Internee web sites is included. Each book is profusely illustrated with phorographs of the ships themselves and cheir models. For th e ship modelmaker ch ese books provide a guide ro boch products and model kits. These are not detailed "howto" guides to the art of ship modelling. Similiarly, chose looking for info rmacion on the history of individual ships of these classes need ro look elsewhere. HAROLD N. B OYER Fo lsom, Pennsylvania Encyclop edia of the W'ar of 1812 , edited
SHIPS
on banknotes, postcards, stocks, bonds, yachting medals. Nautical books, and objects re lating to the sea. See us online, or visit us in person at our downtown Ma nhattan sales gallery.
a
1;,t\ J:::at:J
. ,.
2 R ector St., 12th Floor New Yo r k, NY 10006
JE
l= I smytheonline.com llll 800-622-1880
212-943-1880
We buy, sell and auction coins, paper money, stocks, bonds, autographs.
42
by D avid S. H eidler and Jeanne T. Heidler (Naval Insticute Press, Annapolis, MD, 636pp, illus, gloss, biblio, index, ISBN 159 11 4-362-4; $34.95pb) The Naval Institute Press's release of a paperback edition of Encyclopedia of the War of 1812 (originally published by ABCC LIO in 1997) provides an affordable desk reference for a frequently neglected (and more often misinterpreted) period of American hisrory. Linle has changed from the original edicion ; the screngchs of chis volume still far outweigh ics weaknesses . A series of twen ty-five maps, ranging from cheaters of operation to individual battles, support che articles. Three appendices address the congressional vote for war, the executive officers of the American government during the wa r (a simi lar
treatment of Bricish officials would have been nice), and provide a small selection of key documents. These are accom panied by a highly useful chronology, bibliography, and a brief glossary. All told, the supporting elements of the encyclopedia exceed che norm fo r such wo rks.
Individual articles are generally very well done, especially considering the dilemma of wricing encyclopedia entries ("But I need a chousand wo rds, M s. Editor, not five hundred! "). The articles vary slighdy in quality, as wo uld be expected of any effort featuring over sevenry-five contributors. The only concern regarding the individual articles are some curious omissions. For example, though a reasonably sound article on "Privaceering" appears, there is no entry fo r "Blockade"-the centerpiece of British naval strategy. Similarly, while some British bases enjoy brief scrutiny (H alifax and Jamaica), the important British base at Bermuda, the American bases and stations, and naval basing and logistics in general fail ro receive attention. Even with these racher small concerns, edi rors David and Jeanne Heidler, as well as the Naval Institute Press, deserve a vote of chanks from students of the War of 181 2, both for compiling chis m uchneeded encyclopedi a and fo r bringing ic to the readers in paperback formac.
Dr.
WADE
G.
D U DLEY
Gree:nville, No rth Carolina SEA HI STORY 111 , SU MMER 2005