Horatio Nelson by Tom Pocock

Written by Tom Pocock in 1987, Horatio Nelson is my 1st choice of the several biographies I have in my library that deal with the life and exploits of Horatio Nelson (1759 -1805). Pocock came from a family with background in both naval and naval historian ties. Tom served on MTBs in WW2 from the age of 17, was later a war correspondent and ultimately became, what many consider to be the formost scholar on the life and associated events surrounding Horatio Nelson, having already published eight books on these subjects by that time.

Publisher's comments: "Nelson -- the hero whose victories over Napoleon's fleets gave England domination of the world's oceans for a hundred years, whose scandalous affair with Emma Hamilton is remembered to this day, whose death at Trafalgar is the stuff of romantic legend -- is the most famous figure in England's history other than its monarchs. Generous, brave, handsome, touchingly vain, occasionally weak, he is the perfect subject for biography".

Pocock's easy style made this a very readable book, almost novel like. He covers many episodes in Nelson's life that had not prior to 1987 been brought to print. He also draws on several, prior to that date unpublished excerpts from family documents. The story ends with a detailed account of the events from Nelson's death aboard Victory until his enthombment at St.Paul's Cathedral and even gives a brief view of the lives of his surviving family in the following years.

A detailed chronology of Nelson's life is provided, as well as a brief chapter termed "Nelsonian Sites" which provides the reader with a map of places familiar and dear to Nelson, "which for the most part have remained unchanged" (at least up until 1987 when the book was published) should you wish to "take a pilgrimage in his footsteps". The bibliography and "notes on sources" will answer the requirements of most naval historians.

If you want to read of Nelson "without risking the treacherous shoals of amateur psychology, without any extensive set-piece analysis", Tom Pocock's Horatio Nelson is your book.

It's in my library.