The age of the ship of the line : the British & French navies, 1650-1815 /Jonathan R. Dull.

"For nearly two hundred years huge wooden warships called "ships of the line" dominated war at sea and were instrumental in the European struggle for power and the spread of imperialism. Foremost among the great naval powers were Great Britain and France, whose advanced economies could support large numbers of these expensive ships. This book, the first joint history of these great navies, offers an impartial and comprehensive picture of the two forces, their shipbuilding programs, naval campaigns, battles, and their wartime strategies and diplomacy."--Provided by the publisher. Book contains maps and battle diagrams.