Why Nicholas Rodger's next naval history is such a large task

Why could Nicholas Rodger's next naval history volume take so long to complete?

It must synthesize nearly two centuries of immense naval change, making it a project that could extend into retirement.

Rodger's next volume is a formidable scholarly undertaking. The existing book ends in 1815, while the contemplated continuation would have to carry the story deep into the late twentieth century. That span includes the industrial transformation of ships, global empire, two world wars, and the modern Royal Navy. The forthcoming work had been discussed repeatedly, but its sheer scale could push completion into retirement. The humour carries a useful warning about the scope hidden inside a synthetic national naval history.