Jean Boudriot, "The history of the French frigate, 1650-1850" (repost)

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Jean Boudriot, "The history of the French frigate, 1650-1850" (repost)

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Jean Boudriot's ship books are absolute gems, and particularly prized when available in English. This oversized volume, translated as usual by David Roberts, covers the entire development of the French frigate from 1650 to 1850. Along with a concluding chapter arranged topically, various frigate types are discussed chronologically, ranging from the early 8-pounders through the 12-pounders of the American Revolutionary War period, to the famous 18-pounders of the Napoleonic era and the 24- and 30- pounders of the Restoration. La Renommee (1744-1747), La Belle-Poule (1765-1780), and La Venus (1782) are called out for detailed examination, with full sets of plans reproduced (note, however, that these are smaller than the modelmaker's plans available separately in Boudriot's single-ship monographs). Many other plans, both original and reconstructed, are reproduced, along with a section of stunning photographs of ship models in the collection of La Musee de la Marine in Paris. As is usual in Boudriot's books, every aspect is first-rate (despite frigates being the subject). This volume contains virtually everything a sailing navy fan would want to know about the development, construction, fitting, decoration, arming, masting, rigging, and sailing of the French frigate. Any Royal Navy chauvinists out there should remember that the Brits greatly admired French design and frequently employed captured frigates. More importantly, Jean Boudriot's scholarship and draftsmanship is unsurpassed by any authority writing today. In the case of a Boudriot book, more and bigger is always better.