Tars is a gripping firsthand account of life in the Royal Navy during the Seven Years War, from which Britain emerged as the world's major power.

Through the lives of the main protagonists - a small band of sailors from across the ranks - Trafalgar author Tim Clayton paints a vivid picture of the navy and the era at its bloodiest and most tempestuous phase, beginning in 1758. From close-quarter battles and roistering on the streets of London to the political decisions that built up and knocked down empires.

In this death-or-glory era the navy became the main weapon of an aggressive and power-hungry government, and fighting at sea was carried out at ever-closer quarters and with ever-increasing amounts of firepower. Using never-before published first-person sources, Tars takes us through these men's daily struggles as Britain navigated her course on the political map.