Arnold Blumberg (1925–2006)

This book is for the general reader who want to understand the War of 1812 in a general way. It highlights the major battles that impacted the twists & turns of the war. He does cover both the British & American views in which gives the reader a sense of confusion & sometimes glaring arrogance on the part of the participants. He divides each section as phases of the war, one covering the fall of Fort Detroit, another devoted to the naval battles on the Great Lakes, & another to the Battle of New Orleans. Each phase focuses only on the major incursions, plannings, & the chaos of the battles that Mr. Blumberg covers. Washington DC's burning which exposed the utter incompetence & poor planning served as a tragic warning yet the failure of the British attack on Baltimore proved a relief for the Americans. The Battle of New Orleans ends the final phase of the battles in spite of the fact that the peace treaty had already been signed 3 weeks before.
If you want a general overview of the War of 1812, Mr. Blumberg's book is for you.… (mehr)