Nelson: The Sword of Albion (John MacRae Books)
Admiral Horatio Nelson, along with Captain James Cook, is at the forefront in the pantheon of British naval heroes. This is the second and concluding volume of Sugden’s massive and meticulously researched biography. Here Sugden covers the latter part of Nelson’s personal life as well as the greatest triumphs of his military career, including the battles of the Nile and, of course, Trafalgar. Sugden pays full tribute to Nelson’s tactical brilliance, his leadership skills, and his passionate devotion to duty and country. Yet, if Nelson did not have feet of clay, he was a deeply flawed man who seemed incapable of achieving contentment. Perhaps due to his nonaristocratic background, he had a deep sense of insecurity, which led to chronic friction with his fellow officers. He was trapped in an unsatisfying marriage, and his intense and long affair with Lady Hamilton was prone to severe ups and downs. Sugden’s prose is sometimes dense, and his employment of naval jargon may overwhelm some laymen. Still, this is an ambitious and largely successful conclusion to a biography of a historical icon that has appeal for both scholars and general readers interested in British history. --Jay Freeman