The War of 1812 and the Rise of the U.S. Navy

Discover the epic naval story of the war that threatened to undo our nation in 1812. Riveting firsthand accounts enliven this official sea-level view of the conflict that proved American naval prowess a force to be reckoned with. Explore historic documents, letters, ephemera, and artifacts, including fascinating finds from the Navy's most recent underwater excavation of the war's lost ships. Featuring a colorful, diverse cast of characters--from sailors, spies, and ship's surgeons to commodores, Navy wives, and privateersmen--and incorporating hundreds of photographs, period illustrations, and contemporary and original maps, The War of 1812 and the Rise of the U.S. Navy is a sweeping panorama of a defining moment in U.S. history and a must-read for maritime aficionados and general history buffs alike.

MARK COLLINS JENKINS is the author of 4 previous books of history, including Worlds to Explore: Tales of Exploration and Adventure from National Geographic; The Book of Marvels; High Adventure: The Story of the National Geographic Society; and Odysseys and Photographs. The former archivist of the National Geographic Society, he lives in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

DAVID TAYLOR is the author of three previous books of history, including Soul of A People, which the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette named among Best Books of 2009, Tall Ship Odysseys, and Ginseng, the Divine Root, published by Algonquin Books. His articles appear in The Washington Post, The American Scholar, Smithsonian, and Oxford American. He teaches at The Writer’s Center in Bethesda, MD.