• Six Frigates

  • By: Ian W. Toll
  • Narrated by: Stephen Lang
  • Length: 7 hrs and 10 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (1,366 ratings)

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Six Frigates  By  cover art

Six Frigates

By: Ian W. Toll
Narrated by: Stephen Lang
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Publisher's summary

Before the ink was dry on the U.S. Constitution, the establishment of a permanent military had become the most divisive issue facing the new government. Would a standing army be the thin end of dictatorship? Would a navy protect American commerce against the Mediterranean pirates, or drain the treasury and provoke hostilities with the great powers? The founders, particularly Jefferson, Madison, and Adams, debated these questions fiercely and switched sides more than once. How much of a navy would suffice? Britain alone had hundreds of powerful warships.

From the decision to build six heavy frigates, through the cliffhanger campaign against Tripoli, to the war that shook the world in 1812, Ian W. Toll tells this grand tale with the political insight of Founding Brothers and a narrative flair worthy of Patrick O'Brian. According to Henry Adams, the 1812 encounter between the USS Constitution and HMS Guerriere "raised the United States in one half hour to the rank of a first class power in the world."

©2006 Ian W. Toll (P)2006 Simon and Schuster Inc. All rights reserved.
  • Abridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic reviews

"Toll provides perspective by seamlessly incorporating the era's political and diplomatic history into his superlative single-volume narrative, a must-read for fans of naval history and the early American Republic." (Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about Six Frigates

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Amazingly well done!

Great book! Amazingly engaging writing! Brings this wonderful part of history to life! Can’t wait for Toll’s next work!

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Engaging and entertaining

A very well written book that was narrated by a top notch performer. Highly recommended to those who enjoy naval history.

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Abridgment

This is a wonderful book. An unabridged version needs to be made. Much more in the book to be learned and enjoyed.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Abridged way too much.

This is the book that rekindled my interest in history. What makes history great for me are details that make the people involved real. As originally written by Ian Toll, this book is rich with those details.

I will not be returning this audio book. However I think that too much detail was cut out of the original text.

Even with the heavy abridging this is a great audio book.

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18 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Abridged Version

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but I would've like too have listened to an unabridged version.

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4 people found this helpful

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  • 08-18-22

Great book

This is a great history of the start of the US Navy through the end of the War of 1812. Well written and narrarated. Wish it was not abridged.

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Incredible!!

I just built a 1/96 scale model of the USS United States so I was RIP roaring ready to light a cigar and listen to an amazing account of the American Navy's first 6 frigates! This is a Highly intriguing account of the tales of each of America's frigates the USS United States, the Constitution, Chesapeak, President, Congress, Constellation. Highly detailed and right to the point! Stephen Lang is a favorite of mine so with his narration I was even more drawn in. It's only 11 hours so it's not too long at all. I highly recommend it!

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Outstanding Book

Very good book and puts a perspective of not only naval warfare but the dynamics of politics.

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Great Book

This is a great look into the history of the US Navy up through the war of 1812. My only complaint is an occasional mispronunciation of nautical terms.

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Great read

I really liked every aspect of this book. Interesting, informative, excellent performance by Stephen Lang. a great endow into the early American republic and the some incredible naval leaders. I highly recommend this book.

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