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The Armada Audible Audiobook – Unabridged
In August of 1588, a Spanish fleet of 130 ships departed from La Coruña under the command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia. Its purpose was to rendezvous with the Spanish army at the Dutch port of Sluys. At this point, the fleet was to act as a screen while the Spanish army was shuttled across the English Channel in barges. Upon landing, the Spanish invasion force - the finest professional army in the world led by the finest military commander in Europe - would march to London, seize the crown from Elizabeth, avenge the execution of her Catholic Majesty (Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots), and return the English crown to a Catholic ruler.
But there was one problem: the English fleet. Though much smaller than the Spanish fleet, it was a demonstrably superior fighting force of sailors, ships, naval technology, and guns. Its admirals, among them Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Hawkins, were unsurpassed. And the Spanish admiralty was acutely aware of this. They hoped to overwhelm the English fleet by sheer weight of numbers, or at least keep it at bay long enough to allow their invincible Spanish army, led by the brilliant Duke of Parma, to be brought over to the English coast from Holland. On paper, it looked like a solid plan. As the Duke of Parma realized, however, the logistic details were going to be formidable. But Philip II of Spain insisted on sticking to a strict timetable for his "enterprise." In order for the Armada to succeed, everything must be timed to perfection, and the tactics had to be flawlessly executed.
The world's first modern naval engagement was in the making, and neither side had the foggiest idea how to fight such a battle. There were four principal nations involved in the great struggle: England, Spain, France, and the Netherlands. As events unfolded, each of these participants were to play crucial roles, some from behind the scenes. In the end, it became a logistics nightmare for both sides...and it was to change naval warfare forever.
Discover the marvelous heroism and endurance of Spaniard and Englishman. And discover the incredible narrative power of Garrett Mattingly's dramatic, Pulitzer Prize-winning history, The Armada.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
- Listening Length15 hours and 26 minutes
- Audible release dateOctober 2, 2017
- LanguageEnglish
- ASINB075ZYBKFL
- VersionUnabridged
- Program TypeAudiobook
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Product details
Listening Length | 15 hours and 26 minutes |
---|---|
Author | Garrett Mattingly |
Narrator | Charlton Griffin |
Audible.com Release Date | October 02, 2017 |
Publisher | Audio Connoisseur |
Program Type | Audiobook |
Version | Unabridged |
Language | English |
ASIN | B075ZYBKFL |
Best Sellers Rank | #57,236 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #54 in Naval Forces Military History #185 in Great Britain History (Audible Books & Originals) #291 in Naval Military History |
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book to be well-written and entertaining. They praise the masterful narrative, solid background of events leading up to the defeat of the Armada, and dramatic storyline complete with subplots. Readers describe it as a fantastic read that brings life to history. They appreciate the character development and deep understanding of key people's motives. The book is described as not boring like textbooks, with a good yarn and strong personalities.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the writing quality good. They describe it as well-written and entertaining. It is considered one of the best histories ever written and reads like a good novel.
"...are romantically inspired and the writer in me loves the wording and wordiness, but the history-buff in me wishes for the addition of more nuts and..." Read more
"...to Mary's execution, but picks up quickly beyond that and reads like a good novel...." Read more
"...'s The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich and other major achievements in historical writing." Read more
"...This is history written as novel...with a broad perspective...." Read more
Customers enjoy the storytelling in the book. They find it masterful, with a solid background of events leading up to the defeat of the Armada. The story is told as a story, complete with subplots and character development. Readers appreciate the author's ability to bring history to life with great detail.
"...and dried style, yet the approach here is history-as-story, complete with subplots, character development, and personalities...." Read more
"...the King Philips campaign to convert Europe to Catholicism and provides great detail that enhances the storytelling rather than putting the reader..." Read more
"...The author gives a solid background of the events leading up to the defeat ofvthe Armada." Read more
"Written by a noted historian Garrett Mattingly brings life to history." Read more
Customers find the book an enjoyable read and a must-have.
"...It was a fantastic read. Then I found "The secret voyage of Sir Francis drake", which picks up right from where the first left off...." Read more
"Essential reading...." Read more
"Good book..." Read more
"fine book..." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's character development and deep understanding of key people's motives. They find the writing engaging.
"...the approach here is history-as-story, complete with subplots, character development, and personalities...." Read more
"Deep understanding of key people and their motives. Well written and entertaining." Read more
"Religious war, strong, opposing personalities; espionage; intrigue...this book has it all...." Read more
Customers find the book readable and engaging. They say it's not as boring as a textbook but not quite a novel.
"...Well written and entertaining." Read more
"Wonderfully put together piece of writing. Not as boring as textbook, but not quite a novel...Mattingly's piece is extremely readable and easier to..." Read more
"After a slow start, a great read!..." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's yarn quality. They appreciate the slow, easy marches, well-stocked countryside, and strong personalities.
"...kind of campaign mercenary soldiers liked, slow, easy marches, a well-stocked, open countryside to live on, lots of plunder and very little fighting..." Read more
"Religious war, strong, opposing personalities; espionage; intrigue...this book has it all...." Read more
"Good Yarn..." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2024I note with considerable amusement some of the lower-star reviews complaining about Mattingly’s prose style, which is among the glories of this book. “And to get the sense out of most sentences,” laments a disappointed reader, “these had to be read at least twice.” This was, I imagine, a hardship to the kind of customer who moves his lips as he reads (why yes, I *am* a Coastal Elite, since you ask). Other five-star reviewers have done my work for me. I’ll merely enlist passages from the Mattingly’s pages to either seduce or repel anyone contemplating its purchase:
(On James VI): His purest feeling on hearing of his mother’s death was probably relief. It is awkward, however, for a king to have his mother the victim of a public executioner, and not least awkward for a king of Scots whose turbulent people did not relish seeing their ancient privilege of exterminating their own kings usurped by the hereditary enemy across the border.
(On an armed merchantman attempting to fight its way out of the Bay of Cadiz during a raid by Drake’s fleet): We do not even know the Genoese captain’s name, or what became of him. Had he been a Spaniard, the commander of one of King Philip’s galleons, who thus deliberately took on the whole English fleet and fought his ship until it sank beneath him, his gallantry would have been properly celebrated. But one doubts whether his Genoese owners appreciated it. If he got back to Genoa at all, it was probably to hear that Genoa was not at war with England, and to ponder on the beach the axiom that it is easier to get a neutral ship out of a prize court than off the bottom of a bay.
(On German and Swiss mercenaries in France): It was the kind of campaign mercenary soldiers liked, slow, easy marches, a well-stocked, open countryside to live on, lots of plunder and very little fighting. [However] whether it was the hot, late summer, or the strange food, or the strong red wines, there was a steadily lengthening sick list, and since invalids left behind were likely to be knocked on the head by the justifiably irritated peasantry, the long unsoldierly trains of wagons loaded with plunder were further burdened with men unfit to march.
(On the Holy Roman Empire): However many kings might call themselves emperors these days, Rudolph himself was The Emperor. His dignity descended in uninterrupted succession, as Rudolph was fond of reminding people, from the emperor whose authority Christ, by His death, had acknowledged. It seemed alarmingly probable that such unusual portents threatened nothing less than the eternal empire of the Roman people. It was established in the nature of things, and could not disappear. But if it waned much more it would be almost invisible to the naked eye.
(On being refused permission to assassinate one of his employer’s political foes): Brave Crillon, bound by specific orders, could only fume and exercise the vocabulary for which, in an age of picturesque blasphemy, he was famous.
(On infighting among the English naval commanders): We don’t know whether Frobisher wanted to be rescued. Perhaps we should, if we knew whether Drake’s Revenge was one of the rescue party, for some three weeks later at Harwich, the irascible Yorkshireman was saying that Drake thinks to cozen us of our shares in the loot of the Rosario, but we will have them, or “I will make him spend the best blood in his belly,” which does not sound as if he was laboring under any insupportable burden of gratitude.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2009Pros: History is so much more than dates, and the depth of Mattingly's work is staggering. The history of England, Spain, and the U.S. are all linked in what occurs between the covers of this book.
The defeat of the Armada is placed within the spell of personal and political intrigues that are partially glossed over or hinted at in the movie "Elizabeth, The Golden Age". Elizabeth: The Golden Age (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD) [HD DVD] Very glad I bought THE ARMADA.
The subject matter might have been handled in a more cut and dried style, yet the approach here is history-as-story, complete with subplots, character development, and personalities.
Cons: My only complaint is that if you are searching for just the dates, names, bare-bones facts, you have much to wade through. (Sometimes you just want the date.)
The chapter titles are romantically inspired and the writer in me loves the wording and wordiness, but the history-buff in me wishes for the addition of more nuts and bolts - a timeline - a summation, something that would enhance the work by filling the scope more fully while distilling the mountain of words into bite sized pieces.
Summary: It's a marvelous reading of history but a bit troublesome for a quick glance to dig up something for a factual reference.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2009I would definitely recommend this book. The first 2 or 3 chapters were a little slow as he describes how everyone reacts to Mary's execution, but picks up quickly beyond that and reads like a good novel. He delves into various parts of the King Philips campaign to convert Europe to Catholicism and provides great detail that enhances the storytelling rather than putting the reader to sleep. This is definitely not a "text book" about 1588. He says he wrote this for the layman rather than for academics, which is why I bought it.
My journey to find this book began after I read "The defeat of John Hawkins". I am a descendant of John Hawkins and was interested in reading about him. It was a fantastic read. Then I found "The secret voyage of Sir Francis drake", which picks up right from where the first left off. Drake is a cousin of John Hawkins and accompanied him on his journey in the first book. These two books take place about a decade before 1588 and provide great context for "The Armada". Drake more than Hawkins is talked about in "the Armada", but he does describe how both were instrumental in the battle. I would recommend all three to be read -in order- for a nice make-shift trilogy.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2024It should be considered a work on the same level as Shirer's The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich and other major achievements in historical writing.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2024I wanted this book, You addressed this matter
- Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2022The quality of the print makes it difficult to read.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2016This book grabbed me in the first sentences and held me til the end. While ostensibly about the battle between England and the Spanish Armada, it is really about the political situation in Europe at that time...with emphasis not so much on the naval aspects of the battle (though these are covered) but rather on the people and political / religious forces which brought the battle about. This is history written as novel...with a broad perspective. I saw many analogies to today's world situation...religious war; strong, opposing personalities leading countries; espionage; intrigue; differing military strategies and weapons..... This is not so much a book for people who are interested in military history as for people interested in basic forces ...religious, political, interpersonal...and how they shape our world.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2018This book is part of the Military Heritage series from Easton Press. The author gives a solid background of the events leading up to the defeat ofvthe Armada.
Top reviews from other countries
- Amazon CustomerReviewed in Canada on March 10, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars A masterpiece of history writing
This book was written by a man who had every detail at his fingertips and could situate the Armada in its place in 17th century European politics. He makes several points I had never fully understood before. How the execution of Mary Queen of Scots started the King of Spain down the path to invasion; how the goal was to bring France over to Spain's side in the Counter-reformation; how well the Spanish sailed and maintained order; how much better English ships were designed for the new type of cannon-based naval warfare; and finally, how badly the Spanish had planned the conjunction of the Duke of Parma's army in Flanders with the fleet that was supposed to transport it to England. It was a very good book indeed, and once you have read it you need never read more about the subject again.
- IronmongerReviewed in Italy on December 27, 2014
2.0 out of 5 stars Purple prose and the armada
Several positive and some enthusiastic reviews had induced me into ordering the book. Alas, it came as an unpleasant surprise. The way it is written has been giving me a hard time in following the historical plot. And to get the sense out of most sentences, these had to be read at least twice. What I expect from a history book is thourough documentation and pleasant style, so that even a rather complicated subject can be grasped without effort and the reader is keen to follow the scheme.
Unfortunately, at least to me, the book is written in "purple prose", a style that I would not like in any language, and even less in English, which, by its own nature, is simplicity itself. The two just do not match.
Further, the printing is very bad indeed. Character dimensions change from line to line, up to 50%. This is something that had never occurred to me before. Some other characters are blurred, and it looks that quality of ink is fairly poor.
So, I am sorry, but can't score this book more than two stars.
- Henrique Fonseca RodriguesReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 29, 2013
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
It is an interestingly written book about one of the most fascinating historical episodes of England and indeed of Europe. The prose and narrative are gripping. It is a factual story full of wonderful details and insights.
- Gareth LlewellynReviewed in Canada on June 14, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Best Armada reference I know of
The author was astonishingly comprehensive in his analysis. I recommend him more than Hutchinson, but why not read them both?
- William CostelloReviewed in the United Kingdom on February 6, 2016
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Best history available on the Amarda