DownloadThe Portobello Bookshop Gift Guide 2024

Nelson

Britannia's God of War

Andrew Lambert author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Faber & Faber

Published:7th Jul '05

Should be back in stock very soon

Nelson cover

Nelson: Britannia's God of War by Andrew Lambert is a thrilling and comprehensive biography of one of the greatest figures in British military history.

'Fascinating .

In Nelson, Andrew Lambert - described by David Cannadine as 'the outstanding British naval historian of his generation' - is able to offer new insights into the individual quality which led Byron rightly to celebrate Nelson's genius as 'Britannia's God of War'.

'Fascinating . . . Shot through with fresh insights . . . No previous biography has attempted anything so comprehensive.' Observer

Nelson is a thrilling new appraisal of Horatio Nelson, the greatest practitioner of naval command the world has ever seen. It explores the professional, personal, intellectual and practical origins of one man's genius, to understand how the greatest warrior that Britain has ever produced transformed the art of conflict, and enabled his country to survive the challenge of total war and international isolation.

In Nelson, Andrew Lambert - described by David Cannadine as 'the outstanding British naval historian of his generation' - is able to offer new insights into the individual quality which led Byron rightly to celebrate Nelson's genius as 'Britannia's God of War'. He demonstrates how Admiral Nelson elevated the business of naval warfare to the level of the sublime. Nelson's unique gift was to take that which other commanders found complex, and reduce it to simplicity. Where his predecessors and opponents saw a particular battle as an end in itself, Nelson was always a step ahead - even in the midst of terrifying, close-quarters action, with officers and men struck down all around him.

'Excellent . . . Worthy of the stirring events [it celebrates].' Independent

"'It addresses Nelson's career with energy and good sense.' Max Hastings, Sunday Telegraph 'Good on the influence of sea power on history, and also examines in some detail the two controversial episodes of Nelson's life: his treatment of his wife, Fanny, after leaving her for Emma Hamilton, and his alleged betrayal of the armistice given to the defeated Jacobin rebels at Naples, followed by the execution of the Neapolitan officer Francesco Caracciolo.' Evening Standard 'No previous biography has attempted anything so comprehensive... fascinating' Observer"

ISBN: 9780571212279

Dimensions: 197mm x 125mm x 36mm

Weight: 500g

480 pages

Main