"The Battle of Tsushima is among the top five naval battles in history, equal in scope and drama to those of Lepanto, Trafalgar, Jutland, and Midway. Yet despite its importance and its drama, the history of this battle has long been neglected in the West. In The tsar's last armada this story of adventure, perseverance and tragedy is finally told. With a novelist's eye and a historian's authority, Pleshakov tells of the Russian squadron's long, difficult journey and fast, horrible defeat" (dust jacket).

Race -- "The First Ball of the Tsar," 1890-1904 -- "Master the Sea!" January-August 1904 -- "Rumors from the Bazaar," August-October 1904 -- "This Is a Miserable Fleet," October 4-23, 1904, Western Europe -- "We Have No Coast Batteries in Dakar!" October 23-December 16, 1904, African Coast -- Lingering -- "The Yacht Squadron," October 1904-January 1905, Red Sea -- "Nossibeisk," December 16, 1904-March 3, 1905, Madagascar -- "Ten Guns Done Up in India Rubber," March 1905, Indian Ocean -- "A Hole Coated in Iron," March 26-May 1, 1905, Indochina -- "Be Prepared for Full Steam Ahead," May 1-13, 1905, Pacific Ocean -- Battle -- "They Are All There!" 6:30 A.M.-5:30 P.M., May 14, 1905 -- "Follow the Admiral," 5:30 P.M., May 14-1 P.M., May 15, 1905 -- "Slutty Old Geezer," May 14-21, 1905 -- "Throw Me Overboard," 5:30 P.M., May 14-6 A.M., May 16, 1905 -- "Return Soon," May-November 1905 -- "The Insulted Russian People," November 3, 1905-January 1, 1909.