To Be a Pilgrim

The Life and Times of Admiral Sir Alfred Phillipps Ryder KCB
'To Be a Pilgrim' is a vibrant and thought-provoking account of the life and time of Admiral Sir Alfred Phillipps Ryder, drawing upon his religion and many of its personal and historical implications. The book explores the nuances and controversies of Sir Alfred's life in a witty and rich style, surveying a large breadth of information and tradition through fascinating anecdotes and character observations. Accounts of his life in Hambleden will be especially interesting to local historians. For a few decades after the Battle of Trafalgar, Britain truly ruled the waves. The book traces the evolution of the Royal Navy during that period, from wooden castles to steam driven, steel hulled battleships.