Paul Kennedy's absorbing and detailed book traces Britain's rise and fall as a sea power from the Tudors to the present day. Challenging the traditional view that the British are natural sons of the waves, he suggests instead that the country's fortunes as a significant maritime force have always been bound up with its economic growth. In doing so, he contributes significanty to the centuries-long debate between continental and maritime schools of strategy over Britain's policy in times of war. Setting British naval history within a framework of national, international, economic, political and strategic considerations, he offers a fresh approach to this fascinating subject, ensuring that his book is of great value not only to naval historians, but also to anyone with an interest in Britain past and present.