End of Glory

The career of the legendary British battlecruiser is vividly recounted from its commissioning to its tragic end in this naval history. The HMS Hood was the glory of the Royal Navy. In The End of Glory, historian Bruce Taylor combines in-depth research and thrilling narrative to tell its story. For twenty years Hood symbolized the Royal Navy during the twilight years of the British Empire. Yet in 1941, it was destroyed in seconds by the battleship Bismarck, a catastrophe that shattered the morale the British public. Through official documents as well as the personal accounts and reminiscences of more than 150 crewmen, this volume offers a vivid portrait of this naval icon. An insider's view of a warship in peace and war, The End of Glory not only paints an intimate picture of everyday life but deals with controversial issues such as the Invergordon mutiny, escapades ashore and afloat, the Christmas mutiny of 1940 and the terrible conditions onboard in war. This coverage, based on so many original sources, makes for a truly compelling story that neither historian, enthusiast nor general reader will find easy to put down.