THE TRUE GLORY: THE STORY OF THE ROYAL NAVY OVER A THOUSAND YEARS.

New York: Harper & Row, 1983. 288 pp, large 8vo (9 3/4" H). Map endpapers, b&w and colour photographs, reproductions. "A carefully planned and beautifully illustrated history of the Royal Navy and its origins from the time of King Alfred to the present day - a panoramic view of the ships, seamen, organisation and fighting records of the unique force that for a thousand years has stood between England and her foes. As the Falklands Task Force has recently demonstrated, the Royal Navy of today is capable of operating efficiently and effectively wherever it is required. In its history there have been many lengthy periods when this has been brilliantly demonstrated, notably in the time of Queen Elizabeth I, during the Napoleonic Wars and during large parts of the First and Second World Wars. Yet there have also been times when governmental cheese-paring, faulty design criteria, service squabbles or an unwillingness by those in charge to accept new ideas - such as steam power or the vital importance of air cover - have resulted in appalling temporary reverses only compensated for, in the long run, by the determination, skill and discipline of the crews of the Navy's fighting ships. Both sides of this history, the successes and the failures, are dealt with fully and frankly." Minor browning to edges of text block, slight fading to top/bottom edges of boards, crease/fold with small piece missing on rear pastedown. Dust jacket has has been price-clipped, has very light edge wear at top/bottom of spine and flap-fold, small area of surface paper loss at top of front flap-fold, very light edge browning.. First American Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good/Very Good.