National Geographic publishes U.S. Navy commemorative book on War of 1812

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• Category: Non-Fiction
• Published on Thursday, 26 January 2012 08:10
• Written by National Geographic Society
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Washington, DC — The War of 1812 and the Rise of the U.S. Navy (National Geographic Books; on sale March 27, 2012; hardcover; $30) is the U.S. Navy's official commemorative book of the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. It presents a sweeping panorama of a defining moment in the American story and is a must-read for maritime aficionados and general history buffs. The book depicts the first true global conflict of a young and expanding nation and was produced by the Naval History and Heritage Command as an authoritative history of the naval War of 1812.

Renowned historian Douglas Brinkley states in his foreword that this is the most "intellectually engaging" book he has encountered on the War of 1812. With its spectacular illustrations — from privateer recruiting posters to prints depicting famous naval duels to frigate ship models chiseled out of bone by prisoners of war — "every page brings the War of 1812 vividly to life," he writes. The book, broken into chapters covering the periods 1812 to 1815, shares fresh historical recollections, personal reminiscences of the war and detailed histories through vibrant images and intimate stories.

The preface is provided by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, and the afterword is written by Admiral Gary Roughead, chief of naval operations.

The U.S. Navy's commemoration of the bicentennial of the War of 1812 and the Star-Spangled Banner will comprise a series of public events in historically significant locations in partnership with OpSail. Highlights include visits by U.S. and foreign warships and tall ships, as well as air shows. Dates and locations:

• New Orleans: April 17-23
• Fort Lauderdale, Fla: April 25-30
• New York City: May 23-30
• Portland, Maine: Dates TBD
• Norfolk, Va: June 2-12
• Baltimore: June 13-19
• Boston: June 29-July 6
• New London, Conn: July 7-9

About the Authors

David A. Taylor is the author of the award-winning books "Soul of a People: The WPA Writers' Project Uncovers Depression America," "Ginseng, the Divine Root" and "Success: Stories," a fiction collection. His work has appeared in such publications as Smithsonian, The Washington Post, Village Voice, The American Scholar and Outside. Taylor has written and co-produced documentary films for PBS, the National Geographic Society, Discovery Channel and the Smithsonian Channel, including "Soul of a People," which was nominated for a 2010 Writers Guild award.

Mark Collins Jenkins, a former archivist at the National Geographic Society, has written on a wide range of historical topics. His books include "The Civil War: A Virtual History," "Vampire Forensics: Uncovering the Origins of an Enduring Legend," "The Book of Marvels: An Explorer's Miscellany," "Odysseys and Photographs: Four National Geographic Field Men" and "Worlds to Explore: Classic Tales of Travel and Adventure from National Geographic."

Douglas Brinkley is professor of history at Rice University and the author of a number of award-winning and bestselling books, including "The Mississippi and the Making of a Nation" (with Stephen Ambrose), "The World War II Memorial," "The Great Deluge" and "The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America." Six of his books have been selected as New York Times Notable Books of the Year. He is a regular commentator for CBS News and a contributing editor to Vanity Fair magazine.