A good book for glory of Kings

Thanks Ardagor,

a couple of unusual books on naval issues you might enjoy:

The Line of Battle (The Sailing Warship 1650-1840)
ISBN 0-85177-954-9
Part of the Conway History of the Ship series, edited by Robert Gardiner
This book is excellent on ship design, covering not only SoL and Frg, but also some of the smaller and more unusual vessels we come across in LGDR such as Xebecs and other oared warships. Excellent diagrams. It also has a very full bibliography with summaries of each title.

Naval Warfare in the Age of Sail (The Evolution of Fighting Tactics 1650-1815)
ISBN 0-7858-1426-4 by Brian Tunstall
Another volume in the same series, edited by Robert Gardiner
This incredibly detailed look at tactics, signalling, fighting instructions, mainly from the English viewpoint, but also includes French innovations, detail on Hoste's treatise and analysis of major combats. Unfortunately no bibliography, though sources are acknowledged throughout the text.

One very interesting aspect he mentions is the appreciation of some British Admirals of French techniques. Admiral Vernon, who was made Captain in 1706 and served until the mid 1740s strongly advocated firing at the rigging rather than the hull. French signalling based on a scientific approach was also far in advance of the myriad of English books which their own officers found confusing. English tactics seemed to ossify after the Battle of Malaga (1704) and the French seemed to lose interest in tactical development concentrating instead on ship design and the strategic use of their fleets to expand their Empire. The adoption of a professional approach on both sides seemed to close off debate and frustrated improvement, the exact opposite of its intention. According to contemporary papers Lord Howe faced the opposition of many of his officers when he planned to cut the French line in the Battle of the First of June, so dazzled were his officers of French tactics. Howe's brilliant manoeuvre would have failed had the French admiral who had achieved his strategic objective of protecting the grain convoy, decided not to risk his untrained fleet in a hazardous pell-mell battle. The conservative English officers may have never tried such a risky tactic again.

I used to have the same problem until I found I was buying multiple copies of some books!

What cured me was selling off half the library, only keeping the most useful 2 or 3 books on each subject. Now I am incredibly selective about adding new books. Of course it also helps that I've found a very good source which sells hardbacks at £1 and paperbacks at 50p!

I'll certainly look out for the fireships book and the Wooden Ships & Iron Men game which I vaguely remember being made into a computer game many years ago.

From a French perspective A History of the French Navy by E.H.Jenkins (ISBN0356041964) is well worth buying. Using mainly untranslated French sources it was the standard book on French ships until very recently when a very expensive encyclopaedia type book came out with a huge price tag! Can't remember the title, but then it was way beyond my budget!

One of the best books I've ever read on China is A History of Chinese Civilisation by Jacques Gernet. Anyone who plays China in a game of LGDR must have a massive task to get to grips with the country and its vast history.