Nelson’s Trafalgar: The Battle That Changed the World Reads well – Lawrence Wegeman, Jr. – Sunrise Beach, TX,
Enjoyed this book very much. It reads well and contains much information about life aboard sailing ships. A great deal of detail (including maps) makes this book memorable.
The Legend of Nelson – OlingerStories –
Adkin’s NELSON’s TRAFALGAR is the tale of the events leading up to and then minute details of the Battle of Trafalgar in October 1805. The hero both to Adkins and the British nation was Horatio Nelson, perhaps the most famous naval commander in modern history. Taking on a larger combined Spanish and French force, Nelson’s bold action won the day, even as it meant his death in battle. Adkin’s strength is describing the horrible, near unlivable conditions of the ships and the virtual inability of medical doctors to help those injured in battle. What was a little tiring was his copying of letter after letter from actual participants at Trafalgar. While strengthening the primary aspect of the writing, the narrative ends up being slightly bogged down. But, still, a very quick and enjoyable read.
An Outstanding Work of Maritime Scholarship – William R. Hunt – MA, USA
This book was an insightful exploration into the character and conduct of one of the principle champions in the effort to stop Napoleon’s belligerent regime–Lord Horatio Nelson. Though the well-documented action helped me to see naval warfare through clearer lenses, the chapter that most intrigued me was the third, which examines the everyday lives of the British officers and seamen of Nelson’s time, from their food, to their manner of dress, to their pay, to routine punishments for insubordination.
Historian or not, whoever charts the contents of this book will find a treasure chest gleaming with knowledge about both the battle that changed the world and the men – and women – who experienced it.
More for naval history buffs – Bryan – Ellicott City, MD
Nelson’s Trafalgar provides a wealth of Napoleonic naval trivia- the origin of the phrases “slush fund”, “head”, etc.- as well as detailing the wretched conditions that ordinary sailors lived in. The narrative leading up to the battle drags, but, to be fair, it did take hours for the opposing fleets to get into position to fight. Once the battle is joined it takes on a horrifying sameness- various ships close to point-blank range and pound each other into a mass of splinters and gore. To a 21st-century reader, the behavior of naval officers during the battle seems like madness instead of courage. Where the author excels is when he uses contemporary accounts to enliven the narrative. A good account of the battle which will appeal more to naval history aficionados than to the casual reader (like me).
: An explosive chronicle of history’s greatest sea battle
In the tradition of Antony Beevor’s Stalingrad, Nelson’s Trafalgar presents the definitive blow-by-blow account of the world’s most famous naval battle, when the British Royal Navy under Lord Horatio Nelson dealt a decisive blow to the forces of Napoleon. The Battle of Trafalgar comes boldly to life in this definitive work that re-creates those five momentous, earsplitting hours with unrivaled detail and intensity.
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Nelson’s Trafalgar: The Battle That Changed the World
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