In the past I have read at least two biographies of Admiral Horatio Nelson and numerous historical sketches and articles. I thought myself reasonably well informed on his life and his impact historically. That is, until I read John Sugden's prodigious and, at times, ponderous tome on the latter part of the life of Horatio Nelson, "Nelson: The Sword of Albion". It takes the author 854 pages of closely set type to cover just the last eight years of his life, from his recovery from the amputation of his arm in 1797 to his death at the Battle of Trafalgar in October of 1805.

It is inevitable that, with that short amount of time explicated in that massive amount of type, the reader comes away with far more than a simple biography of a remarkable man. The reader also becomes well informed in: the ins and outs of the Napoleonic wars; the politics of the entire Mediterranean basin and the diplomatic ups and downs of Nelson in that arena; the role class, nepotism, influence and death played in advancement in the British Navy of the time; the whole manner in which the British fleet functioned; and on and on. The author truly gives the reader in-depth instruction and insight in all manner of issues of the day.

The most uninspiring parts of this remarkable history are connected with the interminable Sturm und Drang of the strange relationship Nelson had with Lady Hamilton and the ignominious abandonment of his wife, Fanny. Just as his genius and remarkable abilities as a leader and admiral are writ large in history, so are his human shortcomings and failures no less glaring. A flawed man of history, indeed. He sought recognition and standing in society, yearned for attention and honors, yet maintained a fiction concerning his mistress and illegitimate daughter by that mistress to the very end.

The research Sugden had to have done to write this massive work is almost unthinkable. He comments in the introduction that his earlier work on Nelson, covering the earlier years of Nelson's life, could have benefited from the research he and others have most recently done. My interest is now piqued and I will have to acquire Sugden's "Nelson: A Dream of Glory, 1758-1797" to complete this encyclopedic study.

Sugden is at his very best when he is writing about the battles of the Nile, Copenhagen and Trafalgar. He has an exactness of language and description that is a joy to read and the reader is drawn into the setting as though he were actually there. There are few writers of naval history or fiction who can compare to what Sugden has to offer when he is fully engaged in the motion and vision of a battle.

A remarkable book, worthy of a re-read, and definitely worth the space on a library shelf. The copy I have is an advance reader's edition and as such, it does not contain the sixteen pages of illustrations nor does it contain the approximately fifty pages of footnotes, which was unfortunate, since a full sense of the book's completeness could be obtained only by having access to both of these important parts, but most especially to the footnotes.

Nonetheless, it was a tremendous read. The understanding coming from the book on that period of time in British naval history, on Nelson himself and on the politics of the Napoleonic Wars can only be described as extraordinary. ( )

Over the years, I've probably read more biographies on the great British Admiral Lord Nelson than any other figure with the exception of, perhaps, Napoleon. Ironically, Nelson's greatest victory, Trafalgar, would prove to costly to 'Empereur for years to come, in spite of the battle resulting in Nelson's death.

Nelson's heroics covered many great battles, and his conquests were not limited to enemy vessels, as his affair with the Lady Hamilton would bear out. While most biographers of Nelson focus on his battles and leadership ability, none so exhaustively explore his personal and professional life as Sugden's volume. I don't particularly recommend it as an only resource for studying his battles -- there are no maps or battle plans here. There are no illustrations or pictures whatsoever -- in contrast to most other books on the subject. But if the man himself and his times most interest you, there is a lot of good information not readily found elsewhere. ( )

John Sugden’s Nelson: The Sword of Albion is a bit daunting to pick up – 800+ pages of small type devoted to the years 1797 – 1805, when the mature Horatio Nelson became the greatest hero of his time. The book chronicles how he overcomes both the stuffy bureaucracy of the Admiralty and his self-indulgent and messy personal life to establish Britain as the unquestioned ruler of the seas and the only force able to contain Napoleon’s all-powerful army. While providing a thoroughly professional historical treatment, depending heavily on contemporary primary sources, Sugden infers enough local color and personal interaction to keep the narrative ticking along novel-like. The result is a fine portrait of Lord Nelson, self-confident enough to seek out the opportunity for greatness, and talented enough to achieve it. Known as a brilliant “fighting admiral” for his battle plans, he was a superb manager, instilling loyalty from his men and inspiring them to perform better than they knew they could. He was an accomplished diplomat, variously holding anti-French alliances together across the Mediterranean or the Baltic when communication lines back to his government in London could be eight weeks long. Like a Caesar or Alexander before him, or perhaps a Churchill after him, he became the embodiment of the national spirit, the rallying point to hold the country together. ( )

Simply outstanding! This is the second part of a biography of Lord Nelson, covering his life from 1797 to his death in 1805. And based on the 600+ pages, I feared it would be laborious to read. I was wrong.

The writing is flawless and very easy to read. Sugden presents both Nelson's personal and professional life with clarity. The research is well presented and documented without becoming a liability to the flow of the book. And in fact, his meticulous research is to be applauded. He relied on what he could find in public records, and not in semi-fictional biographies of Lord Nelson.

I read the first volume quickly so that I could read and review this one relatively soon. I look forward to rereading both. This book is highly recommended!!! ( )

In the followup to his earlier work (Nelson: A Dream of Glory) Sugden continues his narrative, revealing details about Nelson's personal life as well as his place in naval history. Sugden manages his duty well, delivering a well written narative. Where most would write for instruction, Sugden's writing feels more novel.