Review of Five Flags

[Elavarasi Charles]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Five Flags" by Stuart Buxton.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Five Flags by Stuart Buxton is an epic saga where passion meets incredible storytelling. It is the story of a warship that bore five different flags and seven unique names and sailed across continents to find itself at crucial, decisive points in history.

The American Civil War on land is a well-known part of history. What about on water? The author perfectly captures the race for advanced warships, which came with iron hulls and rams. Commissioned by Bulloch for the Confederate Navy, the warship Stonewall’s birth was full of political complexities. Its builders and contractors had to forge documents and take chances on deception before they could get her to sail. Even then, the Confederate forces had to wait until her service in the German-Danish naval war. Countless accusations, bribery, and modifications later, the diplomatic Confederate politicians succeeded in launching her from the French shipyard across the rough Atlantic tides. She was a little late to prove her worth in America, but not too late to live up to expectations. She crossed continents again to serve in Japan's Boshin Civil War. In the era of wooden warships, she emerged as a precursor to ironclad armor with ram technology and made the world witness a new age in naval warfare.

To say that I was astonished throughout the read wouldn’t do it justice. In essence, the book is more or less an entire nineteenth-century war history, especially naval combat. Well-researched and accurate, it leaves no significant conflict unmentioned. The interesting part is how the author gives us a bird's-eye view and makes us see how it’s all connected. I was captivated by how Stonewall rocked and endured in the midst of it all.

War histories can’t be written without harrowing tragedies. Even with watered-down gore and violence, it is still a gut-wrenching read. But it is also full of honor, pride, and engaging political discussions. The author’s what-ifs are all interesting food for thought. This book is informative and celebrates the veterans of every nation without bias. I also loved the rise-and-fall history of the shogunate and samurai culture. Particularly, the inspiring last stands and seppuku (honorific suicide) in Japanese tradition were chilling to read. So was the rebel Ezo’s attempt to steal ‘Kotetsu’ (Stonewall’s Japanese name) under Takeaki’s command and their brave interception of her at the naval battle of Hakodate Bay. It was horrid and, as historians rightfully called it, unparalleled. “The knowledge of how much difference a few thousand tons of wood and iron and a few hundred men could make” is indeed mind-blowing.

Turning a blind eye to a few typos, I found the editing to be gorgeous and smooth. All the ship names were italicized, a commendable choice that provided a much-needed break for the eyes. The confusion with following the names of people and places is inevitable, given the context. Apart from that, not a single moment in the author’s narrative felt tiring or unimportant. So much happened in so little time, and it constantly kept me hooked. The fleeting use of profanity means this book can be introduced to readers of all suitable ages. Fans of maritime history can find conversation starters in every carefully sectioned chapter. And if one doesn’t mind a heavy load of information, this book can pull any reader into the enthusiasm of learning history. Then again, this book is a must-read if you are into the American and Japanese Civil Wars. I wholeheartedly give Five Flags a 5 out of 5.

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Five Flags
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[Onyemuwa-dave]

I'm particularly struck by your astonishment at how the author connects the ship's journey to a broader "nineteenth-century war history," highlighting its role in the American Civil War and Japan's Boshin Civil War. Your appreciation for the research, smooth editing, and engaging narrative, despite the heavy information load, speaks volumes. Thanks for this fantastic and comprehensive review.

[Kibet Hillary]

I have read many stories, including historical fiction, on the civil war, but I cannot remember any that touched on the war at sea, and hence this book is indeed unique. I would definitely like to read it. Thanks for the review, @Elavarasi Charles.

[Priya Murugesan]

I almost picked this book up, but chose another one. Based on your review, I believe I would have immensely enjoyed reading this. Will surely pick this book if I get a chance again!

[Stephen Christopher 1]

It sounds like this book has a nice audience, Japanese and American war and naval ships. I think I'd get bogged down in the descriptions too much. It seems like you really enjoyed it.