[Sailor Steve]

I have Parkes' book. It's good, but I like R.A. Burt's three volumes better. Then again, I use them for research rather than just reading. Friedman, on the other hand, is highly readable. I have his first Destroyers and Cruisers books, and the Destroyers volume is downright fun. He talks about Jacky Fisher's tenure as commander of destroyers in the Mediterranean and what he accomplished in that position. He also not only talks about the River class destroyers but unlike any other book I've read on the subject - and I have a few - he tells the story of the experiences testing the new class against the older ships.

Parkes is perfect. Burt is better. Friedman is fun.