Leviathan: The Rise of Britain as a World Power

(Paperback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

In this paperback of his acclaimed and wide-ranging study, David Scott challenges traditional assumptions about how Britain achieved her global might.
Shortlisted for the Duke of Westminster Medal for Military Literature 2013

Navigating the 300 years between the Tudor accession and the loss of the American colonies Leviathan charts one of historys greatest transformations: the rise of Britain as the worlds most formidable maritime power. From the chaos of the Wars of the Roses, Henry VIIIs split with Rome and Oliver Cromwells Parliamentary regime, David Scotts masterly narrative explodes traditional assumptions to present a much darker interpretation of this extraordinary story.

Powered by a rapidly growing navy, a rapacious merchant marine, resilient politics, bigotry and religious fanaticism, warmongering and slavery, this candid book is required reading for all those wishing to understand how Britain achieved her global might.

Reviews

Thoughtful, entertaining and elegantly written Amid the flood of new books on the making of the British Empire, Leviathan stands out as one of the best Sunday Times

Brilliant Scott covers several hundred years, and yet the pace never flags. Much of Scotts picture is familiar from the existing literature but it has never before been put together as such a compelling ensemble. Leviathan should be on every school and university booklist Sunday Telegraph

A sweeping and illuminating account of how English political tumult, economic progress and European overseas exploration drove Britains emergence as an imperial power Financial Times

Epic in scale, shrewd in judgment, utterly convincing, Leviathan demands the widest possible readership Literary Review

One of the best books on the rise of the British Empire Sunday Times

Magnificent Scott covers several hundred years and yet the pace never flags, and his pages are lit up with brilliant pen-portraits of the protagonists Sunday Telegraph

Author Bio

David Scott is currently a Senior Research Fellow at the History of Parliament Trust and has formerly taught at both York and Yale Universities. His previous book (for Palgrave) 'Politics and War in the Three Stuart Kingdoms 1637-49' was chosen by the Sunday Telegraph as one of its Books of the Year in 2004.