His description of the naval architect Josiah Humphreys's conception and construction of the 44-gun frigates is enlightening.

Commendably, his pen portraits of the likes of Thomas Truxtun, William Bainbridge, and Stephen Decatur fully examine their subjects, illustrating, among other things, their considerable touchiness in matters regarding rank, seniority, and honor, which characterized many Navy officers of the time. Toll has a sure grasp of the personalities of the men who were involved in the life of these frigates, including their designers, the Navy's political heads, and the officers who commanded the ships, strove for glory, and fought for preferment during the Navy's early years. Except when he inexplicably cedes the story of the Constitution's magnificent action against HMS Java to the novelist Patrick O'Brian, he confidently handles all aspects of this stirring story, from ship-to-ship actions to political machinations.

He takes these ships from their conception and construction to their actions during the Quasi War with France, the early operations against the Barbary Pirates, the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair, and on to the end of the War of 1812.Īlthough he breaks no new ground in regards to sources, Toll comes to the task of telling this oft-told tale with a strong narrative style, a firm command of available material, and an obvious love of the subject. Toll's Six Frigates relates the story of the early American Navy largely through the histories of the first six frigates built by the United States, among which were the illustrious Constitution and the ill-fated Chesapeake.

Ian toll six frigates