Despite its clunky, unfortunate title, To the Uttermost Ends of the Earth is a stellar retelling of Civil War naval history, focusing not on the blockade or the showier Monitor-Virginia duel, but on the lonely shadow war fought by the Alabama on American shipping ... Keith and Clavin have righted a great slight and thrown the efforts of the two great ships and their crew into the spotlight. This is a masterwork of historical recovery and will be a proud addition to anyone’s Civil War library.
After establishing backstories for the captains, their ships and key officers, Messrs. Keith and Clavin turn to the hunt. In a piece of detective work out of a Patrick O’Brian novel, Winslow narrows down the likely routes Semmes could take ... The battle plays out in a rousing shot-by-shot narrative that covers the book’s final quarter ... The book’s prose is highly accessible ... To the Uttermost Ends of the Earth, completed after Phil Keith died last year, is entertaining from beginning to end, though its pace is slowed at times when delving into the backstories of other ships and characters ... It is a welcome addition to the lore of navies whose sailors braved storms and shrapnel in a war for America’s destiny.
[A] dramatic account ... Keith and Clavin spin a spirited tale of high-seas adventure and bring both Semmes and Winslow to vivid life. Naval history buffs will be enthralled.
[A] sturdy account ... Although they produce a gripping read, Keith and Clavin do not overdramatize the battle ... Despite the breathless title, this is an accomplished history of an iconic battle.
