A Canadian historian specializing in naval aspects of the War of 1812, Malcomson presents a history of the navies developed by the French, British, and Americans on the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain, describing the warships, their design and construction, and their use during war and peace. The period spans that between the British Admiralty's order to start building a naval presents in the lakes, and the formal closing of the last establishments where the warships under sail had operated. He includes many contemporary drawings, maps, diagrams. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)