The result of years of scholarly research, it is also most excellent reading.
Captain Mahan's _Sea Power in its Relation to the War of 1812_, 2 vols.
(1905), is, of course, the final word concerning the naval events, but he also describes with keen analysis the progress of the operations on land and fills in the political background of cause and effect.

Theodore Roosevelt's _The Naval War of 1812_ (1882) is spirited and accurate but makes no pretensions to a general survey.

Akin to such a briny book as this but more restricted in scope is _The Frigate Constitution_ (1900) by Ira N.Hollis, or Rodney Macdonough's _Life of Commodore Thomas Macdonough_ (1909).

Edgar Stanton Maclay in _The History of the Navy_, 3 vols.

(1902), has written a most satisfactory account, which contains some capital chapters describing the immortal actions of the Yankee frigates.
Benson J.Lossing's _The Pictorial Field Book of the War of 1812_ (1868) has enjoyed wide popularity because of his gossipy, entertaining quality.