I just finished the biography Nelson: Love & Fame by Edgar Vincent. This very good bio follows Nelson from birth and childhood all the way thru his triumph at Trafalgar.
(Cool Picture: msmail)
The book is very good. Especially the parts covering Nelson’s early career in the Royal Navy. These chapters read like something out of CS Forester or Patrick O’Brien with lots of action in very good detail.
The end of the book follows the convoluted relationships that took over Nelson’s life near the end. His failed marriage with Lady Nelson, the love affair with Emma Hamilton, and the complicated political relationships with members of the Admiralty.
Overall the book is a good read, although the focus on Nelson’s emotions tends to be a tad bit over the top. It is striking to read about how much the great naval hero struggled with what they would have called melancholy in his time. There are other good books about the history of Trafalgar or Nelson’s career, but this one does a good job at introducing you to the person that was the hero of England.
