A Maritime History of Scotland 1650‐1790

Seldom have I seen a book for which there is such a contrast between the description by its author, and the description on its dust jacket. The latter breathlessly informs us that “much of this fast‐flowing narrative reads like Treasure Island. Colourful characters abound in a story teeming with incident and excitement …” whereas the former tells us more soberly that “This study seeks to demonstrate how state intervention and warfare in the pursuit of mercantilist goals largely determined the development of the Scottish marine and its institutions during the period 1650‐1790”. It is, of course, the author’s description...