Michael Simpson read History at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, and recently retired as Reader in American History at the University of Wales, Swansea. He is the Honorary General Editor of the Navy Records Society's volumes and is author of seven books, including: Franklin D. Roosevelt (1989), Anglo-American Naval Relations, 1917-1919 (1991), The Papers of Admiral of the Fleet Sir James Somerville (1995) and The Papers of Admiral of the Fleet Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope, Vol. I: The Mediterranean Fleet, 1939--1942 (1999).

• Contents -- List of Illustrations -- List of Maps -- Series Editor’s Preface -- Acknowledgements -- List of Abbreviations -- 1. Apprenticed to the Queen’s Navy, 1883-1908 -- 2. Cunningham, Destroyers and the Mediterranean: A Symbiotic Relationship, 1908-18 -- 3. Cowan’s Protege, 1919-33 -- 4. The Mediterranean: Challenges and Crises, 1934-39 -- 5. The Finest Appointment: The Mediterranean Fleet, June 193 9-June 1940 -- 6. Mussolini’s War, June-December 1940 -- 7. Triumph into Tragedy, January-May 1941 -- 8. The Caged Tiger, June 1941-April 1942 -- 9. King and the King’s Navy, June-October 1942 -- 10. Return to North Africa, October 1942-May 1943 -- 11. The Invasion of Sicily, May-August 1943 -- 12. The Invasion of Italy, September-October 1943 -- 13. Becoming First Sea Lord, October 1943-June 1944 -- 14. The Pinnacle of a Career, June 1944-May 1946 -- 15. Facing the Future, January 1945-June 1946 -- 16. The Long Ebb Tide, June 1946-June 1963 -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index.

Michael Simpson read History at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, and recently retired as Reader in American History at the University of Wales, Swansea. He is the Honorary General Editor of the Navy Records Society's volumes and is author of seven books, including: Franklin D. Roosevelt (1989), Anglo-American Naval Relations, 1917-1919 (1991), The Papers of Admiral of the Fleet Sir James Somerville (1995) and The Papers of Admiral of the Fleet Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope, Vol. I: The Mediterranean Fleet, 1939--1942 (1999).

• Contents -- List of Illustrations -- List of Maps -- Series Editor’s Preface -- Acknowledgements -- List of Abbreviations -- 1. Apprenticed to the Queen’s Navy, 1883-1908 -- 2. Cunningham, Destroyers and the Mediterranean: A Symbiotic Relationship, 1908-18 -- 3. Cowan’s Protege, 1919-33 -- 4. The Mediterranean: Challenges and Crises, 1934-39 -- 5. The Finest Appointment: The Mediterranean Fleet, June 193 9-June 1940 -- 6. Mussolini’s War, June-December 1940 -- 7. Triumph into Tragedy, January-May 1941 -- 8. The Caged Tiger, June 1941-April 1942 -- 9. King and the King’s Navy, June-October 1942 -- 10. Return to North Africa, October 1942-May 1943 -- 11. The Invasion of Sicily, May-August 1943 -- 12. The Invasion of Italy, September-October 1943 -- 13. Becoming First Sea Lord, October 1943-June 1944 -- 14. The Pinnacle of a Career, June 1944-May 1946 -- 15. Facing the Future, January 1945-June 1946 -- 16. The Long Ebb Tide, June 1946-June 1963 -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index.

Michael Simpson read History at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, and recently retired as Reader in American History at the University of Wales, Swansea. He is the Honorary General Editor of the Navy Records Society's volumes and is author of seven books, including: Franklin D. Roosevelt (1989), Anglo-American Naval Relations, 1917-1919 (1991), The Papers of Admiral of the Fleet Sir James Somerville (1995) and The Papers of Admiral of the Fleet Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope, Vol. I: The Mediterranean Fleet, 1939--1942 (1999).

• Contents -- List of Illustrations -- List of Maps -- Series Editor’s Preface -- Acknowledgements -- List of Abbreviations -- 1. Apprenticed to the Queen’s Navy, 1883-1908 -- 2. Cunningham, Destroyers and the Mediterranean: A Symbiotic Relationship, 1908-18 -- 3. Cowan’s Protege, 1919-33 -- 4. The Mediterranean: Challenges and Crises, 1934-39 -- 5. The Finest Appointment: The Mediterranean Fleet, June 193 9-June 1940 -- 6. Mussolini’s War, June-December 1940 -- 7. Triumph into Tragedy, January-May 1941 -- 8. The Caged Tiger, June 1941-April 1942 -- 9. King and the King’s Navy, June-October 1942 -- 10. Return to North Africa, October 1942-May 1943 -- 11. The Invasion of Sicily, May-August 1943 -- 12. The Invasion of Italy, September-October 1943 -- 13. Becoming First Sea Lord, October 1943-June 1944 -- 14. The Pinnacle of a Career, June 1944-May 1946 -- 15. Facing the Future, January 1945-June 1946 -- 16. The Long Ebb Tide, June 1946-June 1963 -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index.