Review

“A full-dress history of the Seven Years’ War as a whole, from the French perspective. . . . The focus is almost entirely upon grand strategy, diplomacy, and economics and finance; as such it is a first-rate work of serious history. . . . Any serious student of the era will find this a comprehensive history.”—Peyton Moss, ForeWord Magazine (Jan Glete International Journal of Maritime History 20050701)

"[Dull] has produced a comprehensively researched history of the Seven Year (Lauren E. Heckler Journal of Colonialism and Colonial History 20050801)

"There are a great many books for English-speaking readers concerning the British Royal Navy in the 18th century, but not many that provide solid, well-researched material concerning its greatest rival, the French Navy. Dull helps fill in that gap and provides some much-needed balance with this work. Overall, this is a much-needed study for any scholar interested in this time period or in western naval and maritime history."—Choice (D.M. Hall Choice 20060323)

"A full-dress history of the Seven Years’ War as a whole, from the French perspective. . . . The focus is almost entirely upon grand strategy, diplomacy, and economics and finance; as such it is a first-rate work of serious history."—Peyton Moss, ForeWord Magazine (Peyton Moss ForeWord Magazine )

"This excellent book deserves a wide audience. It far surpasses most histories of the Seven Years'' War. . . . This book belongs on the shelf of anyone seriously interested in early American and Atlantic history, French maritime and naval history, and in the history of international relations in the eighteenth century."—James Pritchard, Journal of Military History (James Pritchard Journal of Military History )

"Those interested in learning the inside story of how governments actually conduct war will find this a fascinating work, and a sobering reflection of how they probably still carry on today."—Robert Guttman, Military History (Robert Guttman Military History )

"The author weaves diplomatic and strategic issues into the overall story of the naval war."—The NYMAS Review (The NYMAS Review )

"Dull has written a magisterial history of the war and the role of the French Navy. . . . This history will long stand as the definitive work on the French Navy of the period."—Harold N. Boyer, Sea History (Harold N. Boyer Sea History )

"An impressive and an important addition to the literature. The French Navy and the Seven Years'' War will for years to come be an essential addition to the library of specialists and students of eighteenth century naval (and diplomatic) history alike."—Olaf Uwe Janzen, Northern Mariner (Olaf Uwe Janzen Northern Mariner )

"Illuminates the conduct of naval operations by situating them in the wider contexts of the diplomatic negotiations and the land war that were unfolding simultaneously…. A firm, carefully-argued work, which turns out to be far more than a study of the French navy."—Geoffrey Symcox, H-Net Book Reviews (Geoffrey Symcox H-Net Book Reviews )

"A magnificent book, another tour de force in combined diplomatic, political, and naval history."—N. A. M. Rodger, author of The Safeguard of the Sea: A Naval History of Britain (N. A. M. Rodger )

About the Author

Jonathan R. Dull is a senior associate editor of The Papers of Benjamin Franklin series and author of the award-winning history The French Navy and American Independence: A Study of Arms and Diplomacy, 1774-1787.