Nelson And Napoleonm Limited

With an introduction by N.A.M. Rodger and accompanying essays by leading international experts, this text explores the political, social and cultural contexts for one of the most significant naval battles in history.

Reproduction of the original: Drake, Nelson and Napoleon by Walter Runciman

The forgotten crime of England's greatest hero, Nelson, in the midst of his affair with Lady Hamilton.

*Weaves the lives of Nelson and Wellington together in one entertaining and educational narrative. *Includes pictures of Nelson, Wellington, and important people, places, and events in their lives. *Includes Bibliographies on each man for further reading. Over the course of its history, England has engaged in an uncountable number of battles, but none of her military heroes left a greater military legacy than Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson or Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington. While Napoleon spent nearly 15 years running roughshod over Europe, stunningly conquering nearly every field army put in his path, Nelson and Wellington were there to spoil his plans and put a permanent end to them. Napoleon enjoyed a stunning series of successes on the European continent, but Nelson frustrated his Egyptian campaign at the Battle of the Nile and ended his dream of invading Britain at Trafalgar in 1815. And while Napoleon dealt with the Prussians and Russians in the east, it was Wellington who held his ground and eventually ejected the French from the Iberian Peninsula before sending Napoleon on his way to St. Helena with Waterloo. Nelson is well known across the world for his decisive victory at Trafalgar, made all the more legendary by the fact that he was mortally wounded at the height of his greatest feat. And it is understandable that any man who could thwart Napoleon's ambitions as well as Nelson did would earn a place in the history books. But Nelson embodied every virtue of his homeland; a dashing, courageous military officer who was impeccably cultured, and, of course, the best at what he did. Indeed, as the personification of the supremacy of the Royal Navy, the man and his life had a powerful resonance well before his death. In September 1852, a steam train carried the body of Arthur Wellesley, First Duke of Wellington, from Kent to London, where he was to be interred at St. Paul's Cathedral after a huge state funeral. A million would flock to pay their final respects, and young Queen Victoria wept openly, lamenting that "his loss will be quite irreparable." By the time of his death, Wellington had been prime minister twice, a shrewd personal advisor to four British monarchs and one of the nation's most prominent politicians for three decades. But despite his nearly four decades of peacetime service in and out of politics, Wellington has remained one of the titans of the 19th century because of one June day in 1815. Then, as now, the Duke of Wellington is best remembered for defeating Napoleon in the most famous battle of modern history at Waterloo. Even then, the fact Wellington is remembered for Waterloo belies his extraordinary military career, which saw him come up through fighting in the Netherlands and India before opposing Napoleon's forces on the Iberian Peninsula for several years. By the time Wellington took command of allied forces during the Hundred Days Campaign and decisively finished the Napoleonic Era at Waterloo, he had participated in about 60 battles and was one of Britain's greatest war heroes. Defeating Napoleon looks at the lives, careers and legacies of Britain's foremost military heroes, but it humanizes the charismatic, self-promoting Nelson and the stern, iron-willed Wellington. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events in his life, you will learn about Nelson and Wellington like you never have before, in no time at all.

Battles, blockades, convoys, raids: An “impressive” account of how the indefatigable British Royal Navy ensured Napoleon’s ultimate defeat (International Journal of Military History). Horatio Nelson’s celebrated victory over the French at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 presented Britain with an unprecedented command of the seas. Yet the Royal Navy’s role in the struggle against Napoleonic France was far from over. This groundbreaking book asserts that, contrary to the accepted notion that the Battle of Trafalgar essentially completed the Navy’s task, the war at sea actually intensified over the next decade, ceasing only with Napoleon’s final surrender. In this dramatic account of naval contributions between 1803 and 1815, James Davey offers original and exciting insights into the Napoleonic wars and Britain’s maritime history. Encompassing Trafalgar, the Peninsular War, the War of 1812, the final campaign against Napoleon, and many lesser known but likewise crucial moments, the book sheds light on the experiences of individuals high and low, from admiral and captain to sailor and cabin boy. The cast of characters also includes others from across Britain—dockyard workers, politicians, civilians—who made fundamental contributions to the war effort, and in so doing, both saved the nation and shaped Britain’s history.