Dreadnought: A History of the Modern Battleship

The modern battleship era began with the launch of HMS Dreadnought in 1906.

In their day, battleships were the biggest and most complicated things built by human hand and they became symbols of national prestige.

Despite their crippling costs, these mighty ships were built by many of the world's navies and many remain household names.

The losses of the Hood, Bismarck, Yamato and Arizona still echo through the decades because of their fascinating stories.

The era of the dreadnought lasted little more than 40 years. By then, these majestic warriors of the sea were overshadowed by the dominance of air power.

A few lingered on, but the golden age of the battleship was over.

Richard Hough provides the reader with an informative and exciting tour through the Dreadnoughts history. From the political anxieties that the first Dreadnought inspired to the battles that the ships won and lost.

Praise for Richard Hough

"Hough is a good storyteller with a refreshing, breezy style." The Wall Street Journal

Richard Hough, the distinguished naval historian, was the author of many acclaimed books in the field, including The Fleet That Had to Die, Admirals in Collision, The Great War at Sea: 1914-18, and The Longest Battle: The War at Sea 1939-45. He was the biographer of Mountbatten, and his last biography, Captain James Cook, became a world bestseller.