Cassell, 2002, $29.05, ISBN 0-304-35263-2, 224 pages, hardback

What I know about galleons and galleys I learned mostly from Errol Flynn movies--at least before I picked up this book. Well, that's not exactly true, as I've read a couple of the classics regarding the Armada and multiple articles in Magweb.com, but on the whole, I don't know a whole lot about this period.

Guilmartins' Galleons and Galleys is a superb introduction to the changeover in naval warfare, between medieval cog and age of sail ship of the line. This colorful panoply of paintings, illustrations, and photographs provide exquisite visual material to supplement the eminently readable text.

Cogs, carracks, caravels, galleys, galiots, galleasses, and galleons receive extensive explanations regarding construction, weaponry, tactics, and of course, accounts of pivotal battles, And what battles. Each major battle gets a succinct overview, various paintings of book illustrations, and then, quite often a custom 3/4 view modern rendition of the battle. Battles receiving this full treatment include: Sluys 1340, Chioggla 1379, Malabar 1503, Lepanto 1571, Armada 1588, Hansan Strait 1592, and Downs 1639.

By the time you finish with this book, you'll have an excellent overview of naval warfare 1300-1700. Cassell has turned out another superb volume in its History of Warfare series. If you have the slightest interest in naval warfare of the period -- or even if you do not -- hurry up and pick up this book. It's that good.

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