Pengelly is a retired civil servant and amateur historian, and he analyzes the tactical mistakes of Samuel Hood during the Revolutionary War and discovers the "missed opportunities and gaffes" of this British naval commander that ultimately led to the surrender at Yorktown. Written for fellow historians and enthusiasts, this book supplies a detailed history of Hood's career and explains how he was able to escape blame for the end of the Revolutionary War for the duration of his lifetime. Appendices detail the divisions and armaments of both the French and British fleets on September 5, 1781. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)