Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16417 in Books
• Published on: 2005-05-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 416 pages

Review
'Wonderful - the equal of Beevor's STALINGRAD ' Independent on Sunday; 'Adkins's description of the tension during the approach, as well as the nature of the fight itself, is first-rate. His account of the aftermath, both the immediate and the longer- term, are quite fascinating, and filled with glimpses of the humanity of the men who fought so coolly yet ferociously at Trafalgar. Truly, it is a most eclectic but engaging book' Allan Mallinson, The Spectator

Frank McLynn, The Independent
'Excellent ... Adkins is at his best on the nuances of seamanship and the minutiae of life within the wooden walls'

T J Binyon, Evening Standard
'A clear narrative ... which uses the testimonies of eyewitnesses to good effect, alternating them with details of naval life'

Customer Reviews

Extraordinary people bring out the extraordinary in others
I found this book fascinating, absorbing, moving, and very hard to put down once started. The conflict is described from all three sides; British, French and Spanish. By using many letters and reports written by the sailors and officers, as well as other first hand accounts Adkins describes the battle, and its aftermath from the view of the men and women who fought and their relatives back home. He portrays their world so vividly you feel these people are your friends and family writing, not long dead strangers from an alien past. The preparations, tactics, and details of the 5 hour battle along with individual exploits are astonishing enough, but he also covers the background and lead up to Trafalgar, the hurricane that followed and the scenes of devastation on the Spanish coast, the victory celebrations, Nelson's funeral and why he became an adored and iconic hero, and the exhausting years maintaining the naval dominance until the end of the Napoleonic War. He finishes with the differing treatment of their sailors by the British, French and Spanish governments - there is always a sting in the tale of a 'glorious victory'.
I read this book to learn more about my great, great, great, great grandfather who fought at Trafalgar, and to find out why we should still be celebrating the battle after 200 years. Before I finished I had fulfilled both aims. This is a biography of a battle as fought by ordinary people not a history of politicians and emperors. I shall be reading it again.

A Gripping Read by a Reader from Bristol
This is a haunting, thrilling book, which beautifully narrates the events leading up to the fateful day of 21 October 1805, the Battle of Trafalgar, when the British won, but Nelson was killed. The events surrounding the battle are skilfully described, and interwoven with the scenes are descriptions of many aspects of life in the navy, such as food, clothing, medicine, artillery and even women and children. The battle led to the surrender of many French and Spanish ships, but no British, yet worse was to come, because a violent storm immediately hit them, with dreadful loss of life. Adkins then goes on to describe events after the battle, including the news reaching various parts of the world, and the mixed reception in England: joy at the victory and grief at the loss of Nelson. A terrific read.

Excellent
A brief extract from this excellent book

"It was now a few minutes past one o'clock, just over an hour after the battle had begun.At the heart of the fighting, where the two British columns had cut the French and Spanish line, the flow of blood from the decks into the gutters and out through drain holes had left scarlet streaks down the sides of the ships.The sea itself was taking on a dull crimson cast alternatively lit by flashes from the muzzles of the cannons and shaded by the pall of dust and smoke......" and so it goes on!

In 1805, Britain was at risk from iminent invasion from the superior and very experienced armies of Napoleon and with little in the line of defence to counter this attack. That is of course excluding the Royal Navy under the command of one Admiral Horatio Nelson!

This book tells of the hardships of life aboard a Royal Navy Battleship during 1700/1800's, the very uncomfortable living conditions, the poor diet, the disease and suffering and perhaps worst of all, the horrors of the surgeons table.

The details of the battle will most certainly leave you in awe of the bravery of each and every individual including both officers and able seamen and others on board. You will read amazing details of battleship technique and the description of the effect of red hot cannon balls and musket balls and the horrendous carnage that left decks looking like a butchers yard.

Finally of course you will learn of the brilliance of Horatio Nelson and the hero that he ultimately became.

The personal accounts written by those who were there (both British, French and Spanish) are superb actually taking you 'there'.

In this, the Trafalgar Bicentenary Year and as a Norfolk Man, I thoroughly recommend that you read this book!