Lardas, Mark/Groult, Edouard A. The Glorious First of June 1794

A highly illustrated account of the first and largest fleet action between the navies of Great Britain and France during the French Revolutionary Wars. As 1794 opened, Revolutionary France stood on a knife's edge of failure. Its army and navy had been shaken by the revolution, with civil war and famine taking its toll on their resources. Seeking to bring a revitalizing supply of food from its Caribbean colonies and the United States, the French government decided to organize a massive convoy to bring the New World's bounty to France. However, in order to succeed in their mission, the French Navy would have to make a deadly crossing over the North Atlantic, an ocean patrolled by the Royal Navy, the most powerful navy force in the world, whose sailors were eager to inflict a damaging defeat on Revolutionary France and win their fortune in prize money. Illustrated throughout with stunning full-color artwork, this is the full story of the only fleet action during the Age of Fighting Sail fought in the open ocean, hundreds of miles from shore. Taking place over the course of a month, the inevitable battle was to be a close-run affair, with both sides claiming victory. To the French, it was le Bataille du 13 prairial, a notable day in their new, scientific Revolutionary calendar. For the British, it was the Glorious First of June.

However, in order to complete their mission successfully, the French fleet would have to attempt a dangerous crossing of the North Atlantic, an ocean that was heavily patrolled by the Royal Navy, the most powerful naval force in the world. The British ship commanders were not only anxious to inflict damage on the French enemy, but also to capture lucrative prizes. Illustrated with contemporary images and full-page colour illustrations, this is the story of the only major naval battle in the age of sailing warships, fought in the vastness of the open ocean, hundreds of miles from the nearest coast. The struggle between the French convoy and the British pursuers dragged on for over a month, with both sides claiming victory in the end.