The pursuit of victory : the life and achievement of Horatio Nelson

The acclaimed naval historian Roger Knight has written a magisterial biography of one of the greatest military heroes of world history. How did Horatio Nelson achieve such extraordinary success? Roger Knight places him firmly in the context of the Royal Navy of his time. Nelson was passionate and relentless from the outset of his career; his leadership in battle was unrivalled. But his success depended also on the strength of intelligence available to him, the quality of the ships he commanded, the potency of his guns, and the skill of his seamen. Based on a vast array of new sources, this biography demolishes many of the myths that have surrounded Nelson for two centuries. Knight demonstrates that this great Romantic hero was in his time a shrews political operator and often a difficult subordinate. He was occasionally nave, often impatient, and only happy when completely in command. While capable of great acts of generosity, he could be deeply ruthless--both aboard ship and in his personal life. Destined to be the definitive account of Horatio Nelson's life for generations, this dazzling biography greatly enriches our understanding of this extraordinary man--brilliant, severely flawed, and never to be crossed. Youth and disappointment, 1758-1793. Burnham Thorpe (September 1758-April 1771) The Navy in 1771 Horace Nelson, Midshipman (May 1771-April 1777) Lieutenant to Captain : the West Indies (April 1777-November 1780) Albemarle (November 1780-March 1784) Boreas and the West Indies (March 1784-July 1786) Senior Naval Officer, Leeward Islands (August 1786-November 1787) Half-pay in Norfolk (December 1787-December 1792) Maturity and triumph, 1793-1798. The Navy in 1793 The commissioning of the Agamemnon (January-August 1793) The western Mediterranean : frustrated subordinate (July 1793-July 1795) The western Mediterranean : independent command (July 1795-December 1796) La Minerve and the Blanche to Porto Ferrajo (December 1796-February 1797) The battle of Cape St Vincent and the blockade of Cadiz (14 February-14 July 1797) Disaster at Santa Cruz (14 July-4 September 1797) Recovery and high command (September 1797-May 1798) Chasing the French (3 May-1 August 1798) The battle of the Nile (1 August-22 September 1798) Passion and discredit, 1798-1801. Palermo and Naples (22 September 1798-6 August 1799) Dalliance and dishonour (7 August 1799-8 November 1800) Separation (8 November 1800-March 1801) Copenhagen (March-2 April 1801) Commander-in-Chief, Baltic Fleet (April-June 1801) Boulogne (July-October 1801) Adulation and death, 1801-1805. Peace and the journey to Wales (October 1801-May 1803) The Peace of Amiens (October 1801-May 1803) Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean (May 1803-January 1805) The long chase (January-September 1805) Trafalgar (14 September-21 October 1805) The transfiguration. The funeral (9 January 1806) The nineteenth and twentieth centuries The summing-up. How did Horatio Nelson achieve such extraordinary success? In this authoritative biography, the eminent scholar Roger Knight places him firmly in the context of the Royal Navy of the time. Nelson was passionate and relentless from the outset of his career; his charisma and his coolness in battle are legendary. But his success depended also on the strength of intelligence available to him, the quality of the ships he commanded, the potency of his guns, and the skill of his seamen. Based on a vast array of new sources, this biography demolishes many of the myths that have for two centuries surrounded Nelson. Knight demonstrates that this great Romantic hero was in his time a shrewd political operator and often a difficult subordinate. He was occasionally naive, often impatient, and only happy when completely in command. Readers will emerge from this biography with a greatly enriched understanding of this singular man-one who was brilliant, severely flawed, and never to be crossed. A definitive portrait of the life and accomplishments of Admiral Horatio Nelson, who led the British navy to victory over Napoleon in the Battle of Trafalgar. The north Norfolk coast is low and indeterminate, its shingle banks, creeks and salt marsh washed and shaped by strong tides.