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  • To Rule the Waves

  • How the British Navy Changed the Modern World
  • By: Arthur Herman
  • Narrated by: John Curless
  • Length: 29 hrs and 57 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (62 ratings)

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To Rule the Waves cover art

To Rule the Waves

By: Arthur Herman
Narrated by: John Curless
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$16.45/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

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Publisher's Summary

To Rule the Waves tells the extraordinary story of how the British Royal Navy allowed one nation to rise to a level of power unprecedented in history. From the navy's beginnings under Henry VIII to the age of computer warfare and special ops, historian Arthur Herman tells the spellbinding tale of great battles at sea, heroic sailors, violent conflict, and personal tragedy - of the way one mighty institution forged a nation, an empire, and a new world.

This P.S. edition features extra insights into the book, including author interviews, recommended reading, and more.

©2004 Arthur Herman (P)2016 Recorded Books
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about To Rule the Waves

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    5 out of 5 stars

Rule Britannia!

Enthralling history of the British at sea. John Curless is a superlative narrator. Couldn't wait to get back in the car for another reading of this book. One of the best audio books out there.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

British Naval History, what an amazing listen

British sea power shaped the world, this book is nearly 30 hours what a listen I loved every minute. Wonderfully written and superbly spoken. This book made me proud to be British. Made me very sad in places and sad how it all came to the end.
What a nation of people the British have been, the little island in the north sea would go onto dominate the world's seas. Truly an amazing work by Arthur Herman this book really is masterfully written and I highly recommend a read or listen.

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  • AC
  • 16-06-2023

What a journey!

Amazing story of the rise and fall of the British Navy along with the ways it has shaped the world today.
I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this audio book, so well written and narrated! The author and narrator should be congratulated for their works.
Even though I am not British I am left with a strong sense of nostalgia and longing for the days of the British Admiralty and their courageous captains, adventurers and sailors…….

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Excellent book and excellent narration

I listened to this in preparation for my hopeful start as a Royal Navy Officer. It didn’t disappoint! From Henry VIII to the Falklands War a sweeping epic that held me the whole way!

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A good read

A wonderful and comprehensive history of the Royal Navy with a satisfying, if sad, conclusion

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    4 out of 5 stars

Where things go wrong.

The book is a celebration of individual grit verses political masters driven by bottom lines, ideology incompetence and greed. Mixed with luck and mishap, it traces a path to competency that with lacking foresight is then th own away.

I found the book very enlightening and written in a way that held my my interest despite being a detailed and long book. I enjoyed it but may need to listen again as I am sure there will be more to gleen the second time around.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • spw
  • 13-04-2018

great talr

a very good history well told ,brilliant telling of the RN, learnt quiet a bit and explained a lot of traditions l lived by as Jacktar

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Loved this book

fantastic perspective and historical background to the rise and fall of the English Navy. The joy of this publication is the historical structure with intimate detail of major events.

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