About the Cover: I took the photograph used on the cover during the Canada Day weekend last summer. The photo is taken from the dock behind the Fairfield-Gutzeit House in Bath, Ontario - the trees in the background are on Amherst Island. The vessel in the photo is U.S. Brig Niagara, which was Oliver Hazard Perry's second flagship (the first was damaged to the point of becoming unmanouverable) at the Battle of Put-In-Bay (aka the Battle of Lake Erie) in 1813.

Those of you with large screens may notice that, despite being American-owned, the Niagara is flying a Red Ensign. This is because she is in costume - no, I am not kidding - playing the role of HMS Royal George for a re-enactment of an encounter between Royal George and a seven vessel American fleet in November of 1812. Suffice it to say, watching the re-enactment was lots of fun, and having a ship of the period in the starring role was a nice touch.