I believe this book is an important source of knowledge for young readers who want to know about the naval battles of America. Many times, the naval battles are forgotten, but this book goes into great detail about the War Of 1812.

C.S. Forester, famous for the Hornbolower novels brings his talent for suspense, narration and story to the golden age of a young U.S. Navy. In addition to the unerring accuracy to be expected of a history, Forester brings the naval actions to life--knowing the outcome, I still found myself rooting for the crew of the Constitution during the chase with Guerriere, and triumphing in the numerous sloop and frigate actions. Most modern naval histories focus, appropriately ,on the triumphs of WWII. Forester's account is one of the few to focus on the actions that set the tone and tradition of the U.S. Navy for the next 125 years

Actually I think (and agree with other reviewers...) it is not as well documented as the Hornblower books, nevertheless it's a good read and a good writer keeps his touch even if the plot is unbelivable from start to finish...somewhere about the middle I thought I was reading a rerun of Bravo Two Zero or a SAS training manual...
More to the point I found annoying the silly inaccuracies (does anyone still can overlook the mention of a french horse dragoon wearing a BLUE coat?... any lover of the period knows they wore green), actually for a napoleonic buff is a mistake wich equals only the fictious explanation about why rookies in the French Armies are called "les bleus" (the Blues) and it is nothing to do with having blue faces for wearing stocks (in the neck), actually the old hands and veterans were used to wear white uniforms (the blue coats were introduced later and it was easy to notice a rookie for the color of his coat, you know how veterans stick to their old uniforms or pieces of them, disregarding paper regulations, and how old and new coexist in the same unit for long whiles...).
Will not be much apreciated in Portugal (as the earlier Sharpe's novels tends to forget the historic context and reality of the time of the action and Britons are usually described as some kind of Superheroes battling with the French (wich are always described as incompetents) with one hand while with the other they have to suport a coward population (wich historically in both cases Spain and Portugal did battle the French, waged a guerrilla war, did never surrender, and properly trained/equiped/commanded furnished Wellesley with fine Regiments wich helped rout the french and expelled them from the Peninsula). People tend to forget that the Spaniards themselves won the battle of Bailen (the first one to be lost by a French Imperial Army) ALONE. And even if the French had a very professional and BIG organised army they were not invincible (as proved by the brilliant performance of the english+allies, wich gave them a hell of a time again and again, of course...)

Death to the French is typical CS Forester - short, action packed and full of Frenchmen being killed. The main character, Dodd, is not quite in Hornblower's league, but is still a likeable enough lead, although he is not fleshed out to any degree. If you like Forester you will enjoy this book, although I doubt it will be a favourite.

I love this book probably because i served with the Royal Green Jackets in the British Army which are the desendants of the 95th Rifles.
It is very well written and i felt I was right there along with Dodd trying to get back to the British lines.

I wish i had read this book as a young Rifleman in my training i think it would have made me a better squadie.
I recomend this book to every young infantryman.
Its a must read.

I read this one many years ago, and like his other works, Forrester fall flat. The characters come across more like cartoons than people, There are a number of inaccuracies in this one like so many of Forrester's works. The idea of Spanish guerrila troops with an oversized cannon wreaking havoc on a Regular Standing Army smacks of a lame Hollywood movie plot.
If you are a fan of Forrester and like to throw your money away, have at it. If not, pass this one by

The tale of a large cannon that falls into the hands of Spanish Guerilla's during the Napoleonic war. This books provides great insight into the conditions during the Peninsular War. It is not a dry history and not your typical Forester book. It focuses on the cannon's impact on many people instead of one individual like the Hornblower series. I have enjoyed rereading this book several times over the years.