Nelson NB edn: Love and Fame (Yale Nota Bene) - Softcover

Vincent, Mr. Edgar

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0300108613 ISBN 13: 9780300108613

Publisher: Yale University Press, 1959

Synopsis

The story of Horatio Nelson's life - his naval glory, public fame, charismatic leadership, scandalous romance, and untimely death as he led the British to victory at the Battle of Trafalgar - has ensured his enduring position as England's favourite hero. This engaging, full-length biography of Nelson (1758-1805) presents a gripping account of his climb to fame as well as the fascinating details of his personal and emotional life. A man of contradictions, Nelson emerges in this biography as a ruthless and aggressive leader, the epitome of a fighting commander; an ambitious attention-seeker capable of self-pity, self-delusion, and childish behaviour; yet to be admired for his transcendent courage, kindness and leadership skills, which inspired love and affection in those he led. "This is a splendid biography, not only because it is well written and well researched, but also because it neither seeks to demean the hero nor excuse the man. Heroism becomes the more remarkable when it is shown by people who in other ways are very like ourselves." L.G. Mitchell, Times Literary Supplement "A formidable addition to the already crowded Nelson canon ...Vincent's publishers have done him proud. There are excellent maps and battle diagrams; the illustrations are copious, and many have rarely been seen before." Paul Johnson, Literary Review "This full-blown biography offers a profusion of detail about Nelson's health and finances, his way with the welfare and discipline of his men and how his battles were fought and usually won ...A true portrait of an extraordinary man." Tom Pocock, Spectator "This is a wonderful book, the best modern biography of Britain's greatest admiral." John Keegan, Daily Telegraph "Edgar Vincent has written a robust, level-headed account of Nelson's life." Adam Preston, Financial Times "A stately literary battleship, bristling with truly terrifying military and biographical detail." Sunday Telegraph Shortlisted for the BBC Four Samuel Johnson Prize.

About this title

About the Author:

Edgar Vincent, an ex-member of the Royal Navy, is a member of the Society for Nautical Research, the Navy Records Society, the 1805 Club and the Nelson Society. He has been researching and writing about Nelson for many years.

From Publishers Weekly:

The approaching bicentennial of the Battle of Trafalgar has inspired a number of books on the Royal Navy and its great admiral Horatio Nelson (1758-1805). Retired business executive Vincent follows a long and successful tradition of British writers who are neither academicians nor professionals with this comprehensive biography. Making extensive use of archival and published sources, Vincent provides a perceptive, empathetic analysis of a man who throughout his life focused talent and energy on the pursuit of ambition and self-presentation. Vincent's Nelson did not just seek love and fame; he equated them. At the age of 18 he consciously decided to be a hero, and his strong point remained self-confidence. Nelson increasingly identified his personal interests with the public welfare. He was prone to histrionics and inordinately fond of the first person singular. Yet at the same time he incorporated, to a degree unusual for military officers at any period, the virtues of communication, negotiation and collaboration. Vincent makes the telling point that, far from being the rule-breaking innovator of many accounts, Nelson was an organization man and a skilled player of navy politics, able to mobilize support for even his high-risk operations. He cultivated a charismatic personality to win the hearts and minds of his fellow officers, eventually succeeding in welding a group of standoffish, individualistic captains into a "band of brothers." Initially unsuccessful with women, Nelson was fortunate in his eventual relationship with Emma Hamilton. Far from being the embarrassing encumbrance of some saltier biographies, she emerges here as meeting Nelson's need for unconditional acceptance in a way that freed his formidable powers to concentrate fully on the professional achievements that earned him immortality-ironically, at the expense of his loved ones' welfare and well-being. Vincent's Nelson, for good and ill, would have made the same choice consciously, without hesitation.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Yale University Press
• Publication date: 1959
• ISBN 10: 0300108613
• ISBN 13: 9780300108613
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 656