A fascinating account of one of the greatest miscarriages of justice to happen in the British Navy.
I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher Endeavour via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review. ( )

1701 At Twelve Mr. Byng Was Shot, by Dudley Pope (read 21 Mar 1982) This is on the incident which resulted in Admiral Byng being shot on 14 March 1758. It is very well told, and is of course a lamentable story. John Byng was sent to the Mediterranean in 1757 with a weak squadron, engaged in a battle with the French off Minorca, and then the next day the squadron--some ships in which had been badly damaged--went back to Gibraltar. The Government was looking for a scapegoat and Admiral Byng was court-martialed and shot. Voltaire in Candide has someone say to Candide: 'In this country it is thought well to kill an admiral from time to time to encourage the others." ( )