"Castles of Steel"

"Castles of Steel" by Robert K Massie.

ISBN: 0 345 40878 0

While the armies struggled against each other, in France, Russia and the Middle East, the Royal Navey held the line in the ocean. With an implacable blockade which was slowly strangling Germany, the two navies battled each other across the globe.

While early battles took place in the North Sea, the Pacific ocean, the Falklands Islands and the Dardanalles, it was off the coast of Jutland that fifty-eight dreadnought's clashed, each the home of 1,000 men. These where the "Castles of Steel" referred to in the books title.

Although unbroken the German High Seas fleet, fled back to its ports while the British Grand Fleet waved its flag across the north sea for twenty four hours before returning to port. As a result of this battle, The Kaiser accepted the request of the navy to unleash unrestricted U-boat warfare, with the result that an reluctant America was brought into the conflict.

Robert K. Massie has drawn a picture with an artists brush, bringing out the conflicts and personalties and the passons which played on the highest direction of war. He has also brought out the tragedy of this momentous sea war, not the least of which was the disgraceful treatment of Admiral John Jellicoe.

A very good read!