The Seven Years War (1756-1763) was the one of the truly world-wide conflicts, with engagements spanning from India to Canada. The causes, as with so many of the European wars, was a question of land and legitimacy, the ever present simmering tensions between England and France, and the newly emergent Prussia and Austria, leading to a conflict that dragged many other nations into the strife. Notable in this war were the brilliance of Frederick, who would earn his title "the Great" during these wars; and the eclipse of Spain, Portugal and Sweden as powers of the first rank. However, the policy of England - that of Pitt - was to limit the commitment in terms of men; priority was given to the Royal Navy, and an indirect form of colonial warfare allied with blockade was established. The naval intricacies, along with their political and land-based military corollaries, are illuminated in Corbett's two volume history of the English contribution to the Seven Years war. The second volume carries the narrative on into 1760: an abortive counter-attack by French forces in Canada; further pressure in Germany thwarted by Frederick and his generals; and the catastrophic intervention of Spain into the war. Sir Julian S. Corbett was a prolific author and authority on British warfare and more particularly the naval aspects; he was also lecturer in history to the Royal Naval College.Author — Sir Julian Stafford Corbett, LLM. (1854-1922) Illustrations – 4 maps and plans.