Synopses & Reviews
Legendary for his exploits in war and love, Admiral Horatio Nelson comes into clear view in this captivating new biography.
This is a wonderful book, the best modern biography of Britains greatest admiral.”John Keegan, Daily Telegraph
A great biography and a poignant love story.”Benjamin Schwarz, Atlantic Monthly
A masterly biography, cool and sharp in long shots, intimately persuasive in close focus, at all times difficult to put down and as timely as it is suggestive in its implications.”Hilary Spurling, New York Times Book Review
A splendid biography, not only because it is well written and well researched, but also because it neither seeks to demean the hero nor excuse the man. Heroism becomes the more remarkable when it is shown by people who in other ways are very like ourselves.”L. G. Mitchell, Times Literary Supplement
Vincent has written a masterful biography of a military man that examines the nuts and bolts of leadership in an entertaining and compelling way. . . . If you only read one biography of Nelson among the hundreds available, it should be this one.”Paul Carbray, The Gazette (Montreal, Quebec)
Review
and#8220;Easily the best biography of Nelson Iand#8217;ve ever read, a superb, fully rigged 74-gun ship of a book.and#8221;and#8212;Andrew Roberts
Review
and#8220;Nelson: Love and Fame has the potential to prove a great success, to be very popular indeed, and to establish itself as the fullest and best life of Nelson for a generation.and#8221;and#8212;Rory Muir, author of Tactics and the Experience of Battle in the Age of Napoleon
Synopsis
This engaging, full-length biography of Admiral Horatio Nelson (1758-1805) presents a gripping account of his career and climb to fame, interwoven with the fascinating details of his personal and emotional life. 42 illustrations.
Synopsis
Nelsonand#8217;s naval glory, public fame, charismatic leadership, scandalous romance, and untimely death as he led the British to victory at the Battle of Trafalgar have ensured his enduring position as Englandand#8217;s favorite hero. This engaging, full-length biography of Nelson (1758and#150;1805) presents a gripping account of his career and climb to fame interwoven with the fascinating details of his personal and emotional life.
A man of contradictions, Nelson emerges in this biography as a ruthless and aggressive leader; an ambitious attention-seeker capable of childish behavior; but a figure admired for his courage, kindness, and leadership skills. Edgar Vincent offers a number of new interpretations of aspects of Nelsonand#8217;s life, illuminates the motives and attitudes of key figures who surrounded him, and provides an account of his early infatuations, his courtship of his wife Fanny, and his passion for his celebrated mistress Lady Hamilton. Captured on these pages in all his vigor and complexity, Nelson is as charismatic a figure today as he was two hundred years ago.
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references (p. [587]-625 and index.
About the Author
Since his retirement as a senior manager from ICI, Edgar Vincent has been researching and writing about Horatio Nelson. He first became interested in Nelson during his own service in the British Royal Navy four decades ago.
Table of Contents
Foundations for life -- Captain Suckling's legacy -- Five frustrating years -- Trying to get noticed -- Black marks and on the beach -- Melpomene, Minerve, La Fortune -- 'Totally neglected' -- 'My disposition can't bear tame and slow measures' -- 'It is active young men that are wanted, not drones' -- Into the limelight -- Hubris -- The Admirality dips for Nelson -- The hero ascends -- The Nile -- Hero meets heroine -- Disappointments dilemmas and disharmony -- Neapolitan affairs -- Soulmates -- Public fame and private pain -- Bitter-sweet emotions -- Copenhagen -- Phoney war -- Fame without fortune -- Commander-in-chief -- Waiting -- French diversions -- Dame Fortune's last favour.