There is a lot more of interest in this well-produced book – the birth of the WRNS, spy mania, rationing, censorship and more. The 14 Appendices include the full texts of the Defence of the Realm Act and Chapter 1 of the Convention No. 9, Second Hague Conference, forbidding the bombardment of undefended ports. It’s heavy in the hand and a credit to Seaforth Publishing. The numerous photographs are remarkable for their historic interest and for the large proportion that come from the ‘Author’s Collection’. Highly recommended. Read the full review [link=https://www.naval-review.com/book-reviews/spectre-of-invasion-the-royal-navy-and-the-defence-of-britains-coast-1900-1918/]here[/link]
The Naval Review

...succeeds in providing readers with informative, readable, and compelling true first-person stories that show the reality and complexity of the strife between North Africans and Europeans. Equally noteworthy are that some of these primary accounts have not appeared in English before, and that Nichols includes tidbits of information not found in other books on the Barbary corsairs and how they operated. Read the full review [link=http://www.cindyvallar.com/Nichols.html]here[/link]
Cindy Vallar, Editor of 'Pirates and Privateers

"BOOK OF THE MONTH" As featured
NavyBooks

From the laying of minefields to the early tactics of protecting merchant shipping from U-boats. The wide-ranging subjects that are covered and the vast amount of information in the many Appendices makes this book a valuable resource for both readers and researchers. Another fascinating read from Mr Haarr. Read the full review [link=https://historybookchat.blogspot.com/2025/03/the-gathering-storm.html]here[/link]
History Book Chat

"This is a delightful, understated account of wartime life at sea from an Able rate Gunnery rating... A real gem of a book."
Peter Wykeham-Martin, Warship World