For those who are interested in the history of the Navy, Marine Corp and/or early 19th century American politics, I suggest "Six Frigates" by Ian W. Toll.
Some things that I took away from it, without giving away the ending
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
1) Life was hard.
2) How close the United States came to not having warships in 1812.
3) Politics today are polite and civilized in comparison.
4) Sailors and Marines were rugged and combat was close quarter, gruesome and very bloody.
5) Cowardice and treason were punished immediately and in the most cruel fashion.
6) How well the tiny US Navy stood up the overwhelming might of the British, who dominated the seas.
7) Did I mention that life was hard?
Being naive when I took American history, I took for granted the jingle "millions for defense and not one penny for tribute"
The biggest surprise for me was that the United States paid tribute to Barbary Pirate States of North Africa and would have continued to do so, if only they would have stayed bought.
C'est la vie