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Published Jun 2013
944 pages
Genre: Biography/Memoir
Publication Information
The most authoritative and intimate portrait written of Horatio Nelson
In this epic biography of history's most celebrated naval commander, acclaimed historian John Sugden separates fact from myth to offer a powerful portrait of the hero of Trafalgar.
As was true of the Sugden's riveting account of Horatio Nelson's early years (Nelson: A Dream of Glory, 2005), this comprehensive life of Lord Nelson is built from largely overlooked primary documents, letters, and diaries that reach across two centuries to invite us to share Nelson's multifaceted life.
The Sword of Albion offers the sweep and intimacy of first-rate historical fiction - revealing the interior lives, for example, of Lord Nelson's wife, Fanny and family and the caring and more passionate Emma, Lady Hamilton, who nursed the war-weary hero back to health in Naples and London after his brilliant victory over the Spanish fleet at Cape St. Vincent in 1797 and the stunning defeat at Tenerife that cost Nelson his right arm.
Today's reader comes to understand that every obstacle in Nelson's path was attacked head-on with an Achilles-like ferocity and resolve. Yet his life was no steady upward trajectory; it was instead plagued by injuries and debt for the commoner admiral in a society dominated by lineage and property. As Sugden points out, "His life was a mission with the essence of a tour de force, hurrying toward a bloody climax that would change the fate of empires."
"Starred Review. Superb…Sugden's meticulously researched, highly readable work will no doubt be the definitive portrait of a brilliant, fearless, inspiring warrior beset by flaws and vulnerabilities." - Publishers Weekly
"Despite its length, a tremendously engaging work with few dull moments." - Kirkus
"A rich and many-sitting read." - Library Journal
This information about Nelson was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
John Sugden is the author of several biographies, including Nelson: A Dream of Glory, Tecumseh: A Life, and Sir Frances Drake. A historian and lecturer, Sugden has pursued his research for this work in archives in Europe, Britain, and North America over the past decade. He lives in Carnforth, England.
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