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The Lion and the Fox: Two Rival Spies and the Secret Plot to Build a Confederate Navy
From the New York Times bestselling author of Washington's Spies, the thrilling story of the Confederate spy who came to Britain to turn the tide of the Civil War--and the Union agent resolved to stop him.
In 1861, soon after the outbreak of the Civil War, two secret agents--one a Confederate, the other his Union rival--were dispatched to neutral Britain, each entrusted with a vital mission.
The South's James Bulloch, charming and devious, was to acquire a cutting-edge clandestine fleet intended to break President Lincoln's blockade of Confederate ports, sink Northern merchant vessels, and drown the U.S. Navy's mightiest ships at sea. The profits from gunrunning and smuggling cotton--Dixie's notorious "white gold"--would finance the scheme. Opposing him was Thomas Dudley, a resolute Quaker lawyer and abolitionist. He was determined to stop Bulloch by any means necessary in a spy-versus-spy game of move and countermove, gambit and sacrifice, intrigue and betrayal. If Dudley failed, Britain would ally with the South and imperil a Northern victory. The battleground was the Dickensian port of Liverpool, whose dockyards built more ships each year than the rest of the world combined, whose warehouses stored more cotton than anywhere else on earth, and whose merchant princes, said one observer, were "addicted to Southern proclivities, foreign slave trade, and domestic bribery."
From master of historical espionage Alexander Rose, The Lion and the Fox is the astonishing, untold tale of two implacable foes and their twilight struggle for the highest stakes.
In 1861, soon after the outbreak of the Civil War, two secret agents--one a Confederate, the other his Union rival--were dispatched to neutral Britain, each entrusted with a vital mission.
The South's James Bulloch, charming and devious, was to acquire a cutting-edge clandestine fleet intended to break President Lincoln's blockade of Confederate ports, sink Northern merchant vessels, and drown the U.S. Navy's mightiest ships at sea. The profits from gunrunning and smuggling cotton--Dixie's notorious "white gold"--would finance the scheme. Opposing him was Thomas Dudley, a resolute Quaker lawyer and abolitionist. He was determined to stop Bulloch by any means necessary in a spy-versus-spy game of move and countermove, gambit and sacrifice, intrigue and betrayal. If Dudley failed, Britain would ally with the South and imperil a Northern victory. The battleground was the Dickensian port of Liverpool, whose dockyards built more ships each year than the rest of the world combined, whose warehouses stored more cotton than anywhere else on earth, and whose merchant princes, said one observer, were "addicted to Southern proclivities, foreign slave trade, and domestic bribery."
From master of historical espionage Alexander Rose, The Lion and the Fox is the astonishing, untold tale of two implacable foes and their twilight struggle for the highest stakes.
288 pages, ebook
First published December 6, 2022
About the author
Alexander Rose
6 books188 followersA little about myself. I was born in the United States, grew up in Australia, educated (to the best of my modest abilities) in Britain, and have now circumnavigated back to the U.S. I served as a writer and producer on the AMC show, "Turn: Washington's Spies," which was adapted from my book, "Washington's Spies."
You can find me on Facebook or Twitter. If you're interested in historical espionage, please do subscribe (free) to my Substack newsletter, "Spionage," at https://alexanderrose.substack.com/
You can find me on Facebook or Twitter. If you're interested in historical espionage, please do subscribe (free) to my Substack newsletter, "Spionage," at https://alexanderrose.substack.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
February 1, 2023
I liked this book.
Recounting of the Confederacy Efforts to hire English firms to build a Confederate Navy. But it was really a fascinating game of cat and mouse between the undercover spies, agents, and bad actors that maneuvered back and forth to get the new boats delivered , versus stopping this creation of a Southern navy from happening.
Great beginning explaining the port of Liverpool. It’s grime, corruption, filth and chaos … how unsuspecting drunks ended up on boats, robbed and drained of all money, and now owing debts that can only be paid by conscription on a boat.
Crazy entry of the South’s main character, Bulloch, who was in New York, to resign at the beginning of the war, and happened to get a letter from the Confederate Navy chief. In no time on his way to England on a “secret mission” to coordinate the building, buying, outfitting, and delivery of ships to the South, but as many things southern, some idiot leaked the “secret” and his mission was published in the Richmond paper, so the North was aware of his mission. He’s successful early on, but soon catches the attention of the US navy and consul, grandson of President John Adams.
Much details about the boats, the hiding of the true nature of the ships. How most could assume the purpose of each boat, to stop them one needed proof, and that was the problem, they could not legally tie the boats to the South OR prove they were for Military purpose.
Great cat and mouse chase until finally mistakes were made and the English attitude toward the war changes with the Emancipation Proclamation. Then the proof became much less critical.
Post - war paybacks was also an interesting segment as the US wanted it’s pound of flesh from the English (actually requesting Canada as recompense), the businesses that ran the blockade, or the man that led the Southern efforts.
Overall a very Good book
Side note - I think I’ll get to Zoom with author Alex Rose in two weeks as he’s joining the Civil War Breakfast Club’s monthly bookclub virtual meeting.
Recounting of the Confederacy Efforts to hire English firms to build a Confederate Navy. But it was really a fascinating game of cat and mouse between the undercover spies, agents, and bad actors that maneuvered back and forth to get the new boats delivered , versus stopping this creation of a Southern navy from happening.
Great beginning explaining the port of Liverpool. It’s grime, corruption, filth and chaos … how unsuspecting drunks ended up on boats, robbed and drained of all money, and now owing debts that can only be paid by conscription on a boat.
Crazy entry of the South’s main character, Bulloch, who was in New York, to resign at the beginning of the war, and happened to get a letter from the Confederate Navy chief. In no time on his way to England on a “secret mission” to coordinate the building, buying, outfitting, and delivery of ships to the South, but as many things southern, some idiot leaked the “secret” and his mission was published in the Richmond paper, so the North was aware of his mission. He’s successful early on, but soon catches the attention of the US navy and consul, grandson of President John Adams.
Much details about the boats, the hiding of the true nature of the ships. How most could assume the purpose of each boat, to stop them one needed proof, and that was the problem, they could not legally tie the boats to the South OR prove they were for Military purpose.
Great cat and mouse chase until finally mistakes were made and the English attitude toward the war changes with the Emancipation Proclamation. Then the proof became much less critical.
Post - war paybacks was also an interesting segment as the US wanted it’s pound of flesh from the English (actually requesting Canada as recompense), the businesses that ran the blockade, or the man that led the Southern efforts.
Overall a very Good book
Side note - I think I’ll get to Zoom with author Alex Rose in two weeks as he’s joining the Civil War Breakfast Club’s monthly bookclub virtual meeting.
November 16, 2023
I'm probably too enthused by the nautical, the diplomatic, the clandestine, and all things Civil War for my rating to stand in for the average reader's experience. Still, Alexander Rose can WRITE.
He constantly hones a New Yorker-ish engaging tone of wry fascination. He deftly weaves together economics, demographics and biography with the apt adjective. For instance, he says the portrait of Andrew Jackson in the office of the American consulate stares suspiciously at the range of characters who present themselves for diplomatic help, and the stationary of somebody setting up private practice in detective work is a lavender that reaches for respectability.
He constantly hones a New Yorker-ish engaging tone of wry fascination. He deftly weaves together economics, demographics and biography with the apt adjective. For instance, he says the portrait of Andrew Jackson in the office of the American consulate stares suspiciously at the range of characters who present themselves for diplomatic help, and the stationary of somebody setting up private practice in detective work is a lavender that reaches for respectability.
November 28, 2022
Sometimes a book's plot is a winner no matter who the author is. The story is so amazing and exciting that it can't help but be a winner. This is not one of those books. The Lion and the Fox could be an extremely boring slog in the wrong hands, but luckily Alexander Rose knows how to write an engaging narrative.
Centered on two men in Liverpool, England during the Civil War, The Lion and the Fox follows the story of how these two men face off. One is trying to create a formidable Confederate navy while the other tries to stop him. Their main method of battle: paperwork. Yes, paperwork. This is ostensibly a game of cat and mouse but not of the James Bond ilk. If that sounds like a letdown, don't worry, Alexander Rose makes this a page turner somehow. I flew through the book because even though the final outcome was preordained, the story of these two men was not.
(This book was provided to me as an advance copy by Netgalley and Mariner Books.)
Centered on two men in Liverpool, England during the Civil War, The Lion and the Fox follows the story of how these two men face off. One is trying to create a formidable Confederate navy while the other tries to stop him. Their main method of battle: paperwork. Yes, paperwork. This is ostensibly a game of cat and mouse but not of the James Bond ilk. If that sounds like a letdown, don't worry, Alexander Rose makes this a page turner somehow. I flew through the book because even though the final outcome was preordained, the story of these two men was not.
(This book was provided to me as an advance copy by Netgalley and Mariner Books.)
April 16, 2023
Really interesting book about the importance of the UK to the Civil war. Little did I know Liverpool played such a vital role in the cotton industry, as well as the shipbuilding industry. I wish I would have read this book before my trip over there! #YNWA
October 6, 2022
-4.25- Full disclosure this was a goodreads winner. I can honestly say I put in for this book as a bit of an after thought and was pleasantly surprised by how good the book was. The author has meticulously researched the topic and conveys his arguments and point of view with humor and peppers the narrative with historical references. As a history graduate from college, I enjoyed both his sense of humor and his writing style. Now on to the meat of this review. The author takes us to the earliest stages of the American Civil War. Some prior knowledge is expected, not unreasonably on the part of the reader. Early in the war The North led by President Lincoln realizes that cotton aka as "white gold" is the economic life blood of the south and the confederacy. In order to choke off the South's money Lincoln orders the embargo and blockade of all major southern ports, effectively strangling the souths ability to raise money. With this backdrop the author takes us to merry old England where a game of cat and mouse is afoot between agents of the South and the North in classic Sherlock Holmes style. The south is trying to procure ships to break the blockade and raiders to cause havoc on Northern shipping. The north is doing everything possible to maintain British neutrality and prevent the British from assisting the southern cause. Over the course of a few hundred pages the author takes the reader on a fascinating journey of victories and defeats for both sides, with the inevitable defeat of the Confederacy. I was unfamiliar with this bit of history and enjoyed reading about it, towards the end I felt the narrative slowed somewhat as legal challenges were brought forth by the north. The author did do a yeoman's job of making this aspect as interesting as possible under the circumstances. Overall I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about the behind the scenes battles for the high seas during the Civil War.
December 24, 2022
I didn’t enjoy this as much as I had hoped since I have usually enjoyed historical information. There was almost too much information, with too many different names. But in order to tell the full story you need to offer all the facts. Maybe a list of characters at the start would have helped to keep it all straight. Having said all that, it did offer a lot of interesting information, with names, dates and background information. I can’t begin to imagine how much research was required to write this book. Overall, I’m glad I read the book, it just took me a long time to do it.
February 23, 2023
The American Civil War is filled with stories. There are battles, there are personalities, and then there are the less well-known tales. These tales tend to be small stories, but not always and Alexander Rose is providing one of those tales in The Lion and the Fox. Thomas Dudley, a Union consul, was trying to catch and/or thwart James Bulloch, a Confederate agent, in Liverpool England. Their struggle in England helped shape the conflict in America.
Captain James Bulloch left the service of the New York and Alabama Steam Ship Company in April 1861 to become an agent of the Confederate States of America. His job - hire and/or have built blockade runners, commerce raiders and warships in Liverpool using smuggled funds, subterfuge and the promise of cotton. He enlisted several shipbuilders in Liverpool in his endeavors and skirted the British neutrality act by arming the ships after they left English waters.
Thomas Dudley arrived in Liverpool as American consul on 19 November 1861 with his family after turning down the job as ambassador to Japan. When he accepted the job, he did not realize the massive job ahead in trying to curb Confederate influence peddling and shipbuilding activity. It took him time to realize how the Confederate side has enlisted folks in blockade running as a lucrative business that then financed the building of commerce raiders. But once he realized the scope of the job, Dudley was relentless in getting agents to spy on shipbuilding, bring lawsuits, and ultimately thwart Bulloch's scheme to build ironclad dreadnoughts that would break the Union blockade once and for all.
Alexander Rose in The Lion and the Fox has written an exciting tale of intrigue, lawsuits, espionage, and diplomacy that shaped the war in America involving lesser known figures of American history. Then he adds an interesting twist at the end the shows how entwined Americans are with Civil War history. Read The Lion and the Fox to be entertained and enlightened!
Captain James Bulloch left the service of the New York and Alabama Steam Ship Company in April 1861 to become an agent of the Confederate States of America. His job - hire and/or have built blockade runners, commerce raiders and warships in Liverpool using smuggled funds, subterfuge and the promise of cotton. He enlisted several shipbuilders in Liverpool in his endeavors and skirted the British neutrality act by arming the ships after they left English waters.
Thomas Dudley arrived in Liverpool as American consul on 19 November 1861 with his family after turning down the job as ambassador to Japan. When he accepted the job, he did not realize the massive job ahead in trying to curb Confederate influence peddling and shipbuilding activity. It took him time to realize how the Confederate side has enlisted folks in blockade running as a lucrative business that then financed the building of commerce raiders. But once he realized the scope of the job, Dudley was relentless in getting agents to spy on shipbuilding, bring lawsuits, and ultimately thwart Bulloch's scheme to build ironclad dreadnoughts that would break the Union blockade once and for all.
Alexander Rose in The Lion and the Fox has written an exciting tale of intrigue, lawsuits, espionage, and diplomacy that shaped the war in America involving lesser known figures of American history. Then he adds an interesting twist at the end the shows how entwined Americans are with Civil War history. Read The Lion and the Fox to be entertained and enlightened!
November 22, 2022
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Mariner Books for an advanced copy of this history book focused on the espionage war between the North and the South during The Civil War.
Covert wars between governments at war and at peace is little understand by people. Most think of espionage as slick James Bond types with numerous gadgets or burly bearded covert operators who loot, shoot and scoot in dangerous countries all over the world. Media bares some responsibility, as how can you have streaming shows with hot leads in exotic lands, without a modicum of hyperbole. Governments don't mind this image easier as it is easier to ask for government funding for proactive forces, rather than point out most spying is based on the boring task of gathering information, listening to people talk, paying the right people, and having lawyers ready to swoop in when they can. This was the state of play between the North and the South during the American Civil War in a battlefield not much discussed, Liverpool, England. In The Lion and the Fox: Two Rival Spies and the Secret Plot to Build a Confederate Navy, historian, writer and television producer Alexander Rose tells of this important battle and how it might have effected the war effort for both sides if the results had been different.
Liverpool, England was one of the busiest, most up-to-date and yet dingy shipping cities on Earth. A crowded area, filled with seafarers, ex-sailors, public houses and houses of ill repute, Liverpool was home to many who made fortunes at sea, financed these fortunes and built the ships that made them. In 1861 two Americans, one a diplomat from the North, the second proud son of the South landed in the city with different agendas, but fated to vie against each other. Thomas Dudley was a Quaker, sent to England to work with the American delegation, and soon found himself in a shadow world that despite a few setbacks found that he was quite good at. James Bulloch was a mariner by trade who made his way to Liverpool on an important mission for the South. Build a fleet of ships that could evade the Northern blockade of Southern ports, and if possible ships that could destroy the ad hoc Navy the Union had brought together. Both men would scheme, spy, pay people, lie, cheat, deceive, sue, counter sue and use all their skills to block their respective war efforts, efforts that could change the way was going for both sides.
I'm not much a fan of Civil War history, but I do love nautical history, and thought this might be interesting. I am so glad I tried this as this is fascinating history, with writing that really carries the reader and once it starts moving never really slows down. Rose is a very good writer. The book is well sourced and full of interesting facts about sailing, ships and shipbuilding, politics, and even life in Liverpool. The book does a very good job describing what espionage really is, working with people you might not trust, trying to get information on people that are your enemies, who might sell you out just as quick. Rose has a skill making life at sea, as interesting as life in a courtroom, or a coffeehouse listening to chatter. What never ceases to amaze me is how quickly people just throw away scruples, or even laws at just a little bit of lucre. And also how quickly after the war both sides had a vested interest in not prosecuting anyone, which sounds very familiar. One of the better histories I have read in quite a while, especially dealing with the Civil War.
Recommended for fans of nautical history, and for fans of both the Civil War and espionage. A very well written account of spies, diplomats, curs, tars and the people who make money no matter who wins or loses.
Covert wars between governments at war and at peace is little understand by people. Most think of espionage as slick James Bond types with numerous gadgets or burly bearded covert operators who loot, shoot and scoot in dangerous countries all over the world. Media bares some responsibility, as how can you have streaming shows with hot leads in exotic lands, without a modicum of hyperbole. Governments don't mind this image easier as it is easier to ask for government funding for proactive forces, rather than point out most spying is based on the boring task of gathering information, listening to people talk, paying the right people, and having lawyers ready to swoop in when they can. This was the state of play between the North and the South during the American Civil War in a battlefield not much discussed, Liverpool, England. In The Lion and the Fox: Two Rival Spies and the Secret Plot to Build a Confederate Navy, historian, writer and television producer Alexander Rose tells of this important battle and how it might have effected the war effort for both sides if the results had been different.
Liverpool, England was one of the busiest, most up-to-date and yet dingy shipping cities on Earth. A crowded area, filled with seafarers, ex-sailors, public houses and houses of ill repute, Liverpool was home to many who made fortunes at sea, financed these fortunes and built the ships that made them. In 1861 two Americans, one a diplomat from the North, the second proud son of the South landed in the city with different agendas, but fated to vie against each other. Thomas Dudley was a Quaker, sent to England to work with the American delegation, and soon found himself in a shadow world that despite a few setbacks found that he was quite good at. James Bulloch was a mariner by trade who made his way to Liverpool on an important mission for the South. Build a fleet of ships that could evade the Northern blockade of Southern ports, and if possible ships that could destroy the ad hoc Navy the Union had brought together. Both men would scheme, spy, pay people, lie, cheat, deceive, sue, counter sue and use all their skills to block their respective war efforts, efforts that could change the way was going for both sides.
I'm not much a fan of Civil War history, but I do love nautical history, and thought this might be interesting. I am so glad I tried this as this is fascinating history, with writing that really carries the reader and once it starts moving never really slows down. Rose is a very good writer. The book is well sourced and full of interesting facts about sailing, ships and shipbuilding, politics, and even life in Liverpool. The book does a very good job describing what espionage really is, working with people you might not trust, trying to get information on people that are your enemies, who might sell you out just as quick. Rose has a skill making life at sea, as interesting as life in a courtroom, or a coffeehouse listening to chatter. What never ceases to amaze me is how quickly people just throw away scruples, or even laws at just a little bit of lucre. And also how quickly after the war both sides had a vested interest in not prosecuting anyone, which sounds very familiar. One of the better histories I have read in quite a while, especially dealing with the Civil War.
Recommended for fans of nautical history, and for fans of both the Civil War and espionage. A very well written account of spies, diplomats, curs, tars and the people who make money no matter who wins or loses.
June 22, 2023
When civil war comes to the United States, the Union possesses forty-two warships of various sizes. The Confederate States of America have one. Their attorney general, Judah Benjamin, wants to change this and he knows just the man to accomplish this, James Bulloch is not your run-of-the-mill sea captain; in addition to the usual skills of an officer, he is knowledgeable about the latest nautical technology (steam) and has helped to build ships. More importantly, he is least likely to be seen as someone the Union should be leery of. He works for a Northern steam company. He’s a civilian. He has no land in the South. He seems innocuous, because he keeps personal opinions to himself. In reality, he is Southern born and bred and he possesses just the right traits to make him the right man for the job: guile, cunning, restraint, and obscurity.
Late in 1861, Thomas Dudley and his family arrive in Liverpool, England. It is a city with a vicious and volcanic reputation, teeming with people of ill repute. It is the last place the devout Quaker wants to be, but he has little choice. He is the new American counsel and is determined to do whatever he can to abolish slavery. One of his tasks is to doggedly pursue Bulloch and prevent him from carrying out his mission for the Confederacy.
Lacking the necessities to build their own navy, the Confederacy must go overseas to gain a fleet of modern, deadly vessels. To that end, Bulloch and Benjamin devise a three-point plan. Bulloch’s first objective is to purchase blockade-runners that will smuggle in needed weaponry and ammunition. Then he will acquire commerce-raiders capable of harassing Union merchant ships to such an extent that President Lincoln will have to reassign vessels currently on blockade duty to hunt down enemy ships. Finally, Bulloch will design and have built two ironclad warships capable of causing untold damage and confusion to the United States Navy. The ultimate goal is to gain British support as a Confederate ally. He and Benjamin think these are highly achievable outcomes. There is just one flaw: the Union knows the who and what. They just don’t know where Bulloch is. But Dudley is determined to thwart them no matter what.
This book contains a few pictures of key people and ships, as well as a double-page spread showing 1860s’ Liverpool. Notes, a bibliography, and an index are also included. Readers get to see how Bulloch operated and how Dudley finally pierced his “wall of secrecy.” The final chapter explains what happened to each principal player.
Readers familiar with the history of the Confederate navy may know about some of the ships that Bulloch acquires. After all, one of them is the most famous and successful commerce raider CSS Alabama, captained by Rafael Semmes. What may be both new and illuminating are the behind-the-scenes sly scheming and artful trickery, or the Union’s diligent pursuit of Bulloch. Rose deftly weaves together characters and elements to craft a true account of espionage and counterespionage: a quintessential maverick, a lace-and-chandelier front man, a private investigator, a mole in the Foreign Office, a drunk captain who runs into a coal brig, a rooster that crows at a critical moment, legal manipulation, arms trafficking, racism, phantom ships, mutiny, a sea duel, bigamy, and betrayal.
(This review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/adultpirat...)
Late in 1861, Thomas Dudley and his family arrive in Liverpool, England. It is a city with a vicious and volcanic reputation, teeming with people of ill repute. It is the last place the devout Quaker wants to be, but he has little choice. He is the new American counsel and is determined to do whatever he can to abolish slavery. One of his tasks is to doggedly pursue Bulloch and prevent him from carrying out his mission for the Confederacy.
Lacking the necessities to build their own navy, the Confederacy must go overseas to gain a fleet of modern, deadly vessels. To that end, Bulloch and Benjamin devise a three-point plan. Bulloch’s first objective is to purchase blockade-runners that will smuggle in needed weaponry and ammunition. Then he will acquire commerce-raiders capable of harassing Union merchant ships to such an extent that President Lincoln will have to reassign vessels currently on blockade duty to hunt down enemy ships. Finally, Bulloch will design and have built two ironclad warships capable of causing untold damage and confusion to the United States Navy. The ultimate goal is to gain British support as a Confederate ally. He and Benjamin think these are highly achievable outcomes. There is just one flaw: the Union knows the who and what. They just don’t know where Bulloch is. But Dudley is determined to thwart them no matter what.
This book contains a few pictures of key people and ships, as well as a double-page spread showing 1860s’ Liverpool. Notes, a bibliography, and an index are also included. Readers get to see how Bulloch operated and how Dudley finally pierced his “wall of secrecy.” The final chapter explains what happened to each principal player.
Readers familiar with the history of the Confederate navy may know about some of the ships that Bulloch acquires. After all, one of them is the most famous and successful commerce raider CSS Alabama, captained by Rafael Semmes. What may be both new and illuminating are the behind-the-scenes sly scheming and artful trickery, or the Union’s diligent pursuit of Bulloch. Rose deftly weaves together characters and elements to craft a true account of espionage and counterespionage: a quintessential maverick, a lace-and-chandelier front man, a private investigator, a mole in the Foreign Office, a drunk captain who runs into a coal brig, a rooster that crows at a critical moment, legal manipulation, arms trafficking, racism, phantom ships, mutiny, a sea duel, bigamy, and betrayal.
(This review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/adultpirat...)
February 6, 2023
Another Civil War book. I keep coming back for more.
This was a good one, dealing with a part of the war that I knew only a little about - the maneuverings of the South to get the British to build them a navy, not just blockade runners, but also heavily armed ironclad steamships that might have been able to defeat any ship in the Union navy and wreak havoc on Yankee merchant ships. Mr. Rose relates this history as an extended duel between James Bulloch, the man charged with arranging the construction of the Southern fleet, and his Union counterpart, Thomas Dudley, the dour American counsel in Liverpool, who may have had the moral high ground but who was so humorless that it was hard not to cheer for the colorful Bulloch who outsmarted Dudley again and again for the first several years of the war during the same period when Robert E Lee and Stonewall Jackson were befuddling the Yankee army in northern Virginia. Bulloch had a real shot at turning the war on its head for as long as the English were willing turn a blind eye on his machinations, and there were plenty of business interests in England who favored the South because of the value of cotton to the British textile industry until the Emancipation Proclamation brought home to the British the fact that the war was more than anything about slavery and the defeat at Gettysburg made the British see that the days of the Confederacy were numbered in military terms. The British got serious about shutting down Southern warship production just as two modern ironclad steamships that could have made a huge difference for the South were nearing completion. It was downhill for the South from there.
This was a good one, dealing with a part of the war that I knew only a little about - the maneuverings of the South to get the British to build them a navy, not just blockade runners, but also heavily armed ironclad steamships that might have been able to defeat any ship in the Union navy and wreak havoc on Yankee merchant ships. Mr. Rose relates this history as an extended duel between James Bulloch, the man charged with arranging the construction of the Southern fleet, and his Union counterpart, Thomas Dudley, the dour American counsel in Liverpool, who may have had the moral high ground but who was so humorless that it was hard not to cheer for the colorful Bulloch who outsmarted Dudley again and again for the first several years of the war during the same period when Robert E Lee and Stonewall Jackson were befuddling the Yankee army in northern Virginia. Bulloch had a real shot at turning the war on its head for as long as the English were willing turn a blind eye on his machinations, and there were plenty of business interests in England who favored the South because of the value of cotton to the British textile industry until the Emancipation Proclamation brought home to the British the fact that the war was more than anything about slavery and the defeat at Gettysburg made the British see that the days of the Confederacy were numbered in military terms. The British got serious about shutting down Southern warship production just as two modern ironclad steamships that could have made a huge difference for the South were nearing completion. It was downhill for the South from there.
May 7, 2023
That was a really interesting. Both for the story itself and giving a larger view of the Civil War. Particularly the influence of Britain and Liverpool.
Really interesting to learn how extensive Confederate sympathies were in Liverpool at the start of the war, likely due to the reliance on cotton imports, until the Emancipation Proclamation turned the tide on public opinion.
One shortcoming or frustration was the number of names. There were times where it was just a flood of activity from a lot of people and I'm left thinking, "Okay, I know Dudley and I know Bulloch. Who's everyone else again?" I guess that ain't a shortcoming per se, if they were there and relevant then it's fair to include them. I just got lost occasionally.
I do wonder what impact this all had though. If I go through the three phases of Bulloch's plan, first is the blockade runners and , then the two raiders seemed to have had limited impact on Union shipping and as for the two planned ironclads . . . well, we know how the Merrimack turned out. I can see why this was important from the perspective of the times. Break the blockade and you can reopen funds and supplies to the South but with hindsight I wonder if two more ironclads would change the outcome.
Who knows, maybe there'd just have been a more dynamic naval war? Don't know.
Really interesting to learn how extensive Confederate sympathies were in Liverpool at the start of the war, likely due to the reliance on cotton imports, until the Emancipation Proclamation turned the tide on public opinion.
One shortcoming or frustration was the number of names. There were times where it was just a flood of activity from a lot of people and I'm left thinking, "Okay, I know Dudley and I know Bulloch. Who's everyone else again?" I guess that ain't a shortcoming per se, if they were there and relevant then it's fair to include them. I just got lost occasionally.
I do wonder what impact this all had though. If I go through the three phases of Bulloch's plan, first is the blockade runners and , then the two raiders seemed to have had limited impact on Union shipping and as for the two planned ironclads . . . well, we know how the Merrimack turned out. I can see why this was important from the perspective of the times. Break the blockade and you can reopen funds and supplies to the South but with hindsight I wonder if two more ironclads would change the outcome.
Who knows, maybe there'd just have been a more dynamic naval war? Don't know.
February 11, 2023
Thanks to the New York Times Book Review, but with some reservations, I began reading The Fox and The Lion. Although I love reading about American history and consume a lot of non-fiction, I’ve actually read mostly escapist crime novels and police procedurals since the pandemic began. So I wasn’t sure how much I would enjoy this book on a somewhat obscure topic: the Confederacy’s efforts in England to support the development of a naval force during the Civil War. Little did I know what a fascinating story—that provides a totally different perspective—it would turn out to be.
The Union navy blockaded southern ports in order to strangle the South’s economy, driven by exporting cotton to England and other countries. In addition, the blockade cut off a supply of armaments and ammunition. The South needed to find a solution to this problem. At the same time countries like England didn’t recognize the Confederacy as a country, and worked to remain neutral throughout the war. In the end, this turns out to be a book of spy vs. spy on a par with the best spy novels. It’s exceptionally well written and researched and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
The Union navy blockaded southern ports in order to strangle the South’s economy, driven by exporting cotton to England and other countries. In addition, the blockade cut off a supply of armaments and ammunition. The South needed to find a solution to this problem. At the same time countries like England didn’t recognize the Confederacy as a country, and worked to remain neutral throughout the war. In the end, this turns out to be a book of spy vs. spy on a par with the best spy novels. It’s exceptionally well written and researched and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
July 1, 2023
This reads a bit like a spy thriller. It's fast paced and builds tension well - which is always a challenge when the broad outlines of what is going on have been known for 160+ years!
I was impressed with how interesting the author made this bit of the conflict - which is so far away from foot soldiers dying on well known battlefields. You get to see the trickiness that had to go into getting a weapon of war like the CSS "Alabama" built, in a neutral nation - while the recognized US government is doing everything it can to stop such activity. The British (at least, many Liverpudlians) do not come out as very honorable in this - but as with most, when there is lots of money to be made, laws and morals get very flexible for a lot of people.
I'm no fan of and I carry no nostalgia for the Confederacy or their time. But I have to admit, they were well served by their selection of James Bulloch for this mission.
I was impressed with how interesting the author made this bit of the conflict - which is so far away from foot soldiers dying on well known battlefields. You get to see the trickiness that had to go into getting a weapon of war like the CSS "Alabama" built, in a neutral nation - while the recognized US government is doing everything it can to stop such activity. The British (at least, many Liverpudlians) do not come out as very honorable in this - but as with most, when there is lots of money to be made, laws and morals get very flexible for a lot of people.
I'm no fan of and I carry no nostalgia for the Confederacy or their time. But I have to admit, they were well served by their selection of James Bulloch for this mission.
October 22, 2022
A cat and mouse chase in Liverpool England to prevent the amassing of ships for the Confederacy. Nothing like the gift of a gunboat to cement a friendship with Jefferson Davis and get much needed ships back to the U.S. to free the South from the Northern blockade. Thomas Dudley, the lion, is the unlikely U.S. Council in Liverpool who created a spy network to find and thwart James Bullock's, the fox, attempts to purchase and build ships. He was very persistent yet always seemed one step behind. This is the hidden world of spies, arms smuggling and underhanded ship building from the author who brought us the story of the first spy ring initiated by General George Washington. A good fit for history buffs and those who are fascinated and appalled by conditions in Dicken's Liverpool. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.
December 6, 2022
Take an American diplomat who feels directed by God to stop slavery and a Confederate operative with a design to break the North's maritime blockade. Put them in Liverpool England as they work to outsmart each other and there's a story to be told. Alexander Rose takes this story and provides an enjoyable and highly readable book about one aspect of the Civil War far removed from the battlefield. There is plenty of explanation of the politics involved on all sides, including the British. And there are lots of very colorful characters, disappointments and some very daring action. It's and entertaining and educational read.
I received this book compliments of Mariner and NetGalley.
I received this book compliments of Mariner and NetGalley.
May 25, 2023
Adventure on the high seas and intrigue on land lead to a gripping account of a little-discussed aspect of the Civil War: British perfidy in building warships for the Confederacy. The cat and mouse game between the US Navy and Southern blockade runners is matched by the chess game played by US diplomats vs. British and Confederate agents. A chilling reminder of how close England came to getting into the war on the side of the South and changing the course of history.
Rose spins a ripping yarn, muddied by a cast of characters worthy of Cecil B. DeMille.
Rose spins a ripping yarn, muddied by a cast of characters worthy of Cecil B. DeMille.
March 26, 2023
Fascinating story of Union and Confederate spies in Great Britain during and after the Civil War. The goal for the South was to build a lethal Confederate navy in order to destroy the Union blockade of Southern ports. This almost happened!
Thoroughly researched and well written. Much information on the pro Southern sentiment that existed in the UK, tying everything together with a web of King Cotton
Quick read
Thoroughly researched and well written. Much information on the pro Southern sentiment that existed in the UK, tying everything together with a web of King Cotton
Quick read
June 6, 2023
The land and river war is mostly what is discussed about the civil war. This is not really a book about the sea war, but rather a way for the south to break the economic stranglehold created by the union coastal blockade. Set entirely in Liverpool it relates to the warship building process while still trying to comply with Britain's neutral stance.
I didn't really get a good feel for the characters despite there being only 4-5 in the entire book.
I didn't really get a good feel for the characters despite there being only 4-5 in the entire book.
September 1, 2023
Fascinating history I'd never heard about: both the Union and the Confederates had spies in England during the Civil War. Liverpool, a ship building center, was a beehive of Southern US sympathizers because of the price of that golden crop called cotton. How deceptive were they in building "trade ships" that were really gunners to break the blockade around Savannah? Extremely. I listened to this one and enjoyed thoroughly.
February 23, 2023
15-2023. A snappy history of the Confederate spies and operators who came to England to see to the construction of warships for the Confederacy. I love the time lag that the Union and Confederate actors in England had to deal with while getting information to and from America. And it was good to see how personally the two main adversaries took this battle.
March 11, 2023
Fascinating though very complex story of the real Civil War spy vs. spy events and characters. It is, at times, necessarily very procedural and legalistic, but the stakes involved and the complex gambits used are well clarified. Overall, a masterful explanation of an untold but essential chapter of U.S. history.
April 29, 2023
Efforts to build a navy for the Confederate States of America and the federal government's efforts to thwart these plans make for a lively story that reads like a spy-thriller complete with shadowy figures, clandestine meetings, cooked books, bribes and all sorts of chicanery. Highly entertaining and certain to please anyone interested in the American Civil War.
May 13, 2023
Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this new work. I loved this one. So interesting! The author really did a terrific job with the storytelling. Fans of the U.S Civil War will want to pick this up. It's a fast read. The author really pulls you in, Historical espionage at its best. Highly recommended.
December 6, 2022
Spy vs spy during the Civil War with cinematic images of iron clads roaming the high seas, and naval warfare as deception and skulduggery. Fantastic and quick read - gift it to the boys/grandpas/dads who like military history, espionage, Civil War, or bawdy descriptions of the Liverpool docks!
December 25, 2022
Rose recaps the cat-and-mouse spy game between the Union and Confederacy in Liverpool, England. There, a confederate spy named Bulloch works to have blockade runners built while the Union agent, Dudley, tries to expose Bulloch and stop his efforts.
December 26, 2022
Spying during the Civil War
The story of the escape of the Alabama has been told before, but this books ranges more widely and draws on sources never before brought into the light. The various characters are brought to life - and fitted into a very lively account.
The story of the escape of the Alabama has been told before, but this books ranges more widely and draws on sources never before brought into the light. The various characters are brought to life - and fitted into a very lively account.
February 11, 2023
Riveting story of the Civil War that was never mentioned during school. Definitely a must read if you are a history buff and enjoy learning more about the good, the bad, and the ugly of the United States’ history.
March 27, 2023
Really fascinating look at the Confederate efforts to build a Navy based upon working with agents in England. The cat and mouse actions were well written and the background on the actors was integrated in a seamless manner.
April 7, 2023
Well-written, fascinating and exciting
The amazing story of Confederate attempts to build a navy in Britain; and Union attempts to block them. It’s told through the prism of two key antagonists, making it personal, as well as riveting.
The amazing story of Confederate attempts to build a navy in Britain; and Union attempts to block them. It’s told through the prism of two key antagonists, making it personal, as well as riveting.
April 8, 2024
Well-written, focused, entertaining and enlightening story of Confederate agent James Bullock's efforts to clandestinely build a navy in Liverpool, England as well as the work of Union Consul Thomas Dudley's efforts to stop him.
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