Penguin The Price of Victory: A Naval History of Britain: 1815 – 1945 | Paperback | English

The final instalment of N.A.M. Rodger's definitive, authoritative trilogy on Britain's naval history, The Price of Victory covers the critical period from the apogee of British sea-power following the Napoleonic wars through to the conclusion of World War II. This magnificent book refuses standard assumptions, exploring how the Royal Navy reformed and reinvigorated itself across the nineteenth century and beyond.

Rodger masterfully details the evolution of naval warfare, strategy, and the social fabric of the service, setting it all within the essential context of politics and geo-strategy. This work is the culmination of a lifetime’s learning and stands as one of the most significant British historical works in recent decades.

Key Features/Benefits

• The final volume in N.A.M. Rodger's authoritative trilogy on British naval history.
• Covers major actions from Navarino (1827) through to Jutland, D-Day, the Battle of the Atlantic, and Pacific engagements (1944/45).
• Superbly describes the development of submarine and navy air forces.
• Traces the rapid evolution of ships, from Nelsonic types to hybrid steam/sail, armour-clad vessels, and Dreadnoughts.
• Assesses the character and importance of leading admirals including Beatty, Fisher, and Cunningham.
• Includes the social history of officers, men, and sometimes women within the Navy.
• Rewarding for naval specialists and anyone interested in a central thread of British history.

Specifications

• Author: Rodger, N A M
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Print Length: 976 pages
• Publication Date: May 28, 2026
• ISBN-13: 978-0140288971
• Dimensions: 12.9 x 4.5 x 19.9 cm
• Weight: 680 g
• Book Position: Book 3 of 3 in the Naval History of the Sea series (V. 1, 660-1)

Naval specialists will find originality in Rodger’s judgements, while all readers interested in maritime history will find this comprehensive analysis deeply rewarding.