Granting that maritime jargon can be esoteric, a few basic commandments have governed the English language for at least 500 years. One is: Thou shalt not confuse ships with boats. Ships carry boats, but not vice versa, and any surface vessel large enough to carry its own boats is a ship. When a layperson confuses the terms, it may seem like terminological pettifogging to correct the error but in a work of naval history, the standard is different. To call a heavy warship a boat, as is often done in these pages, is a cardinal error. Entire classes of giant battleships and aircraft carriers are introduced, for example, as Iowa-class boats, Yorktown-class boats, Illustrious-class boats and Bismarck-class boats.
In a quick look at Kennedys earlier works, no references to boats for ships are found. In Victory at Sea, the instances fall into a 70-page section of the book, in Chapters 8 and 9. The question arises: After decades of having used the terms correctly, did Kennedy write the mistaken phrases in this book? Or did he lose control of the editing process? In his acknowledgments, he names eight research assistants, seven at Yale and one at Kings College London. He claims sole responsibility for the final product, warts and all, and in a strict sense, he is right to. But with enough research assistants to organize a basketball team, one wonders whether better coaching was needed. At the very least, some part of the collective effort could have been diverted to identifying and correcting errors, for example, by searching Wikipedia.
In a mark of his confidence as a scholar, Kennedy does not gloss over his reliance on that online encyclopedia. He quotes from Wikipedia liberally in the main text, cites it more often than any other single source and regrets that he cannot acknowledge so many fine though anonymous authors by name. And indeed, Wikipedia does not deserve much of the disparagement often aimed against it. As a first look reference, it is a handy tool; this reviewer even consulted it while writing this review. Wikipedias articles on military history have improved in recent years, and many contain information not easily found elsewhere on the web. But, by Wikipedias own account, studies measuring its accuracy and reliability have been mixed, and its crowdsourced model means that any page can be edited by anyone, at any time, anonymously. For that reason, Wikipedia does not consider itself to be a reliable source and discourages readers from using it in academic or research settings. Many university professors would mark down a student paper that included uncorroborated Wikipedia citations. For a major university press to include more than 80 in one volume may be unprecedented. What on earth is going on in New Haven?
Kennedys professional legacy rests upon 50 years of distinguished scholarship. He is a legitimately great historian. No one book, much less a single faultfinding review, could dull a reputation that glitters so brightly. As the preface tells us, Victory at Sea was first conceived as an art book. After Ian Marshalls death, the project grew by degrees into something much bigger and more ambitious. If Kennedys motive in reimagining the book was to pay posthumous tribute to a dear friend, it lends a noble character to the enterprise, in which case the reviewer is a rascal who deserves to feel ashamed of the criticism offered here.
But what is true of maritime affairs is equally true in the profession of history: If you book the passage, you have to pay the freight. Scholarship progresses inexorably. Let a decade go by, and the price of updating ones expertise might be 20,000 pages of new reading. Researching and writing history is like a spinach-eating competition in which the only possible prize is another helping of fresh, steaming vegetables. In a valedictory passage in his acknowledgments, Kennedy seems to concede that some spinach was left uneaten: If I have failed to acknowledge another scholars work, I apologize; it has been a joy to give credit (in the endnotes) to so much earlier writing and research. The sentiment is generous but perplexing. To apologize seems a bit much better, perhaps, to call it a sense of regret? A consciousness of shortcoming? But if the point is to concede that Victory at Sea is based mainly on outdated scholarship, wouldnt the apology be owed to the reader, rather than the neglected scholars?
Read more from the original source:
The Battle for the Seas in World War II, and How It Changed History - The New York Times
- THIS DAY IN SPORTS HISTORY: 8/20 - Region Sports Network - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- This week in Loveland history for Aug. 20-26, 2023 - Loveland Reporter-Herald - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- August 20: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY - Brooklyn Daily Eagle - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- How to Keep Track of Changes in Google Keep With Version History - MUO - MakeUseOf - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- This Week in History: Vienna Homecoming welcomes native sons ... - Warren Tribune Chronicle - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Avatar: The Last Airbender: The History of the Water Tribe - GameRant - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Edy Tavares and Cape Verde poised to make history at 2023 FIBA ... - Olympics - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- 10 all-time worst trades in Baltimore Orioles history - Birds Watcher - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Artists Komar and Melamid Give Lessons in History - The Moscow Times - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Butler welcomes the most diverse freshman class in university ... - WRTV Indianapolis - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Crow Fair 2023 packed with history and culture, and all are invited - Q2 News - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- The sunset of Sonic Youth: An oral history of the band's final U.S. show - NPR - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Russia, Ukraine and Versailles: Bogus lessons from history won't ... - Salon - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Opinion | The Georgia Indictment Speaks to History - The New York Times - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- UNC Football: A look at the 2023 schedule through the lens of history - Tar Heel Blog - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Types of public transports: Brief dive into history - Daily Sabah - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Red Sox infielder Luis Uras makes history with back-to-back grand ... - Yahoo Sports - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Ranking the top 10 running backs in Georgia football history - Red and Black - June 16th, 2023 [June 16th, 2023]
- The history of cyclical bull markets suggests the S&P 500 could rise ... - CNBC - June 16th, 2023 [June 16th, 2023]
- A history of healing | Hub - The Hub at Johns Hopkins - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- J. Harrison Ghee and Alex Newell on Making Tony History - TIME - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- Pee Dee archaeologists hope to unearth Native American history - Charleston Post Courier - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- Studying slavery and the history of Juneteenth | Rowan Today ... - Rowan Today - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- In a City of Monuments, History Lives Onstage and in the Streets - The New York Times - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- Dua Lipa's Dating History: From Anwar Hadid to Romain Gavras - PEOPLE - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- Kentucky Baseball's Homefield History In The NCAA Tournament - KSR - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- Association of international scholars turns focus to history of women ... - Global Sisters Report - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- Pat Mann Phillips makes Houston rodeo history as first woman elected to lead board of directors - Houston Public Media - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- Tom Dwan Wins Largest Pot in Live-Stream Poker History ($3.1 ... - PokerNews.com - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- The history of spy animals; 'Blue Ribbon Kitchen' offers award ... - NPR - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- LOOKING BACK: A Vicksburg home with Stamps on history - The ... - Vicksburg Post - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- The Oldest Olympic Champions In Swimming History - SwimSwam - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- 'Tenacious' Guyer softball team aims for more history at second-ever ... - Denton Record Chronicle - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- HISTORY: Tennessee Towns That Failed to Launch - Main Street Media of Tennessee - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- A look at the history and influence of downtown San Diego's ... - ABC 10 News San Diego KGTV - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- Learning the History and Customs of Martinsville Speedway - WSET - April 12th, 2023 [April 12th, 2023]
- World History Portal | Britannica - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- Abstract paintings by Cleveland native John Moore reflect erasure of personal history as part of being Black - cleveland.com - February 5th, 2023 [February 5th, 2023]
- My first day was a sex scene: the disturbing history of teen actors and nudity - The Guardian - January 10th, 2023 [January 10th, 2023]
- Local historian brings Oakland Countys history back to life with online lectures - C&G Newspapers - January 10th, 2023 [January 10th, 2023]
- VCUs medical college history found to be intimately connected with slavery, report finds - WRIC ABC 8News - January 10th, 2023 [January 10th, 2023]
- Dolphins Super Bowl history: When is the last time Miami made it to, won the Super Bowl? - NBC Sports - Misc. - January 10th, 2023 [January 10th, 2023]
- At the San Diego History Center, a historic donation - The San Diego Union-Tribune - January 6th, 2023 [January 6th, 2023]
- Arrest of squeegee kid reveals history of run-ins with drivers and police, records show - Fox Baltimore - January 6th, 2023 [January 6th, 2023]
- Tesla is now worth less than Exxon as stock plunges toward worst month, quarter and year in history - MarketWatch - December 21st, 2022 [December 21st, 2022]
- On this day in history, Dec. 21, 1945, Gen. Patton dies in Germany after he was paralyzed in auto crash - Fox News - December 21st, 2022 [December 21st, 2022]
- Vikings stun Colts: Matt Ryan has now been on the losing end of these four biggest blown leads in NFL history - CBS Sports - December 18th, 2022 [December 18th, 2022]
- What time will National Treasure: Edge of History air on Disney+? Release date, plot, and more details about the action-adventure series - Sportskeeda - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- Mendocino County history: Willits Grade lumber spill, and other news from November 1948 - Ukiah Daily Journal - November 23rd, 2022 [November 23rd, 2022]
- The Renaissance Run: Bruce Boudreau Named 14th Head Coach in Franchise History On This Day 15 Years Ago - NoVa Caps - November 23rd, 2022 [November 23rd, 2022]
- Qatar Make World Cup History As First Host Nation To Lose In Opening Game - Sports Illustrated - November 21st, 2022 [November 21st, 2022]
- History is best told through relatable human stories. - Monterey County Weekly - October 23rd, 2022 [October 23rd, 2022]
- History made in China as Xi Jinping to serve third term - breaking decades-long precedent - Sky News - October 23rd, 2022 [October 23rd, 2022]
- No matter who wins, the next Governor of Arkansas will make history - KNWA - October 21st, 2022 [October 21st, 2022]
- Ole Miss vs. LSU history: Last time they played, who has won the most games, best moments - DraftKings Nation - October 21st, 2022 [October 21st, 2022]
- What is witchcraft? The definition, the types and the history. - USA TODAY - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Women Reflected in Their Own History - Notes - E-Flux - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- History in the making: Wells is new museum director - Sent-trib - Sentinel-Tribune - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- And the West is History: Train Crossing 12th Street - 1966 - The Durango Herald - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- The Intimate and Interconnected History of the Internet - The Nation - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- The Haunted History of New England Presentation ~ October 23 - thebedfordcitizen.org - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- An Oil Company Planned to Bulldoze Black History. This Community Fought Back. - Earthjustice - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- New Tourist Attraction to Educate Tourists, Community on Manistee History - 9 & 10 News - 9&10 News - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- WATCH: Phillies' J.T. Realmuto hits inside-the-park home run, first catcher in postseason history - CBS Sports - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Mother-daughter race duo make history in Las Vegas: 'I hope we do it again' - Fox News - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- This week in history Oct. 14, 1922: Winter arrives and slows seasonal mining business - Summit Daily - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- LeBron James record watch: Where the Lakers star stands in history books before the season - CBS Sports - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- The history of Quinsippi Island | History | whig.com - Herald-Whig - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Miles grad makes largest alum donation in school history, hopes to be catalyst for giving to HBCUs - AL.com - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Investor Optimism Drops to One of 60 Lowest Readings in History - The Epoch Times - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Will short week hurt Chiefs vs. the Bills? Heres what history tells us - syracuse.com - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- The untold history of UC San Diego's terrible, weird and glorious single season of football - The San Diego Union-Tribune - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- The History Channel - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- What we risk by narrowly restricting our kids view of history and culture - Idaho Capital Sun - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- The history of Jewish admissions and experience at Stanford - Stanford Report - Stanford University News - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Snapshots of history coming to Glens Falls - NEWS10 ABC - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- How one Santa Cruz teacher teaches U.S. history and how she sees her role as a history teacher today - Lookout Santa Cruz - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- SDMHA Announce Cherokee History Event Oct. 15 And Other Upcoming Programs - The Chattanoogan - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- History book contest winners announced | The American Legion - The American Legion - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Christian Bale and Margo Robbie's 'Amsterdam' is on pace to lose $100 millionthese are the 10 biggest box office bombs in history - CNBC - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]