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Review
‘His descriptions of the battle itself, and of the personalities of those who engaged in it, are seamanlike, assured and informative’ Independent
‘The story of the battle has been told before, but rarely with the literary aplomb and almost cinematic realism that are to be found in Adam Nicolson's new book.’ Sunday Telegraph
'Argued with vigour and written with grace, this is an illuminating piece of interpretive cultural history' Sunday Times
‘Vividly clear … Vibrant … Compelling’ Observer
‘Nicolson does not aim (to give)a blow-by-blow account of the battle. Instead he takes a philosophical and literary approach … In this he succeeds exceptionally well’ Independent on Sunday
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Don't be put off by this though - Nicolson deals with his subject with verve and enthusiasm. There is a host of interesting snippets and asides that make for a fascinating read. This is a book for Nelson buffs and those with a general interest in history both.
The account of the ruthless actions taken by the Pitt Government to stem and curb any notion of republican fervour was new to this reviewer, but the stern requirements of the British public that defeat was unacceptable was not, as the swift trial and execution of Admiral Byng for cowardice showed. The Admiralty and the Government knew almost to the letter what was expected of British naval officers by the 'knowledgeable crowd', and had to obey the unwritten rule that stated 'Surrender was acceptable, but only after the British blood and body-count was agreeable!' So when Nelson's orders stated, "England expects" he was only re-iterating what every naval officer had learnt as a Midshipman, that the enemy was there to die for his country, and the duty of every British seaman and officer was to ensure that they did die, or die themselves!
The author, when describing the composition of the three great fleets is complimentary in small terms of the French, derisory of the Spanish, and surgically praises the British; for it was the seamanship of the British Fleet, their willingness to go the extra mile in terms of training, of a readiness to do battle with anyone; their known edge in sailing practice, especially since the British Fleets had been at sea for months without surcease. Bur his ultimate praise is reserved for the psyche of the ruling mind of the half-blind, crippled, sickly and superbly victorious Admiral Horatio Nelson, for without the knowledge that they would be letting him down, Trafalgar might have had a very different outcome! His book, "Men of Honour", which could have been a dry, dusty tome, unread except by a few naval scholars, is in fact a book which grips and holds it's readers with the knots learnt by sailors, draws them along the routes planned by the navigators of the British Fleets, and finally shows them that the huge scale of the French and Spanish defeat, on both ships lost and casualties, was due to the fighting spirit of the British Navy, who knew that they were better than anyone else afloat!
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