To mark the war's bicentennial, Jenkins (The Civil War: A Visual History) and Taylor (Soul of a People) raise the 3-year conflict's profile with this encyclopedic survey of how a fledgling navy fared against "the mightiest fleet on the globe." ... The result is an engaging series of narratives filled with fascinating historical flotsam (and facsimiles), such as a gruesome exploration of surgery at sea, and a brief look at the women who disguised themselves as men so they could fight... Jenkins and Taylor seldom engage in cheerleading, offering instead a captivating story that will entice military and American history buffs.

This handsome, oversize book ... Jenkins and Taylor arrange the book chronologically into five chapters and include naval actions on the Great Lakes as well as the final action at New Orleans. The narrative is enlivened by the inclusion of a whole range of primary source recollections of the war by marines and sailors, their wives and families, and civilians .. an impressive visual array, with many never-before-published selections. Text and images support each other impressively. A fine choice as a colorful and accessible introduction to the war and to the navy’s role in it. Highly recommended...