Nelson: A Dream of Glory, 1758-1797

Exhaustive historical non-fiction tends to be boring unless you're really "in to" that particular part of history. Not this book. Although Age of Sail buffs will doubtless love it, it's so well written that, amazingly, even someone who didn't know who Nelson was would find it interesting. Gets inside the mind of one of history's truly world-changing military men, is a fascinating read, and along the way illuminates such events as the French Revolution and the American War of Independance from not-often-seen angles. I can't praise this one highly enough, but if I was forced to make a criticism, I'd have to go with the scarcity of maps and diagrams. The book contains some, but not quite enough for my taste. I will definately order Volume 2 of this two-part work when it is published.

This is a highly readable take on the first portion Horatio Nelson's rise to fame and greatness in the Royal Navy of Napoleon's Era. Sugden does a great job of incorporating the vast quantity of prior research, first hand accounts (letters, diaries, contemporary journals and Admiralty Records) into one seamless narrative of Nelson's early years. He addresses the different phases of -and sources of- favor that Nelson has held in the spectrum of public opinion: the initial hero worship, the post-colonial fall from grace, to the current status of respect that this great leader sustains. Particularly enjoyable is the expanded account of Nelson's small unit leadership: often times this portion of his life is merely a brief synopsis in the prelude to one of his great fleet actions. How did Nelson become the man we know? How did he develop his talents and skills? Often times it comes across as an almost mystical ability; well, here is a very accurate narrative of that very human process. I really can't recommend this book highly enough for aficionados of Lord Nelson; it will round out your understanding of the man greatly. "A Dream of Glory" can also be considered an excellent first glimpse for those who have yet to read anything about him, are researching for a college level paper, or are interested for personal reasons. We can only assume that Mr. Sugden has a companion volume in the works, detailing the later and better known years of Nelson. I sincerely hope that the same level of detail and research is maintained, as well as the accessibility of the writing style. If so, we will be in for a treat.

John Sugden's "Nelson: A Dream of Glory 1758 - 1797" is the first volume of what promises to be a two volume definitive biography on the life and career of Vice Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson, the greatest admiral in the history of Western Civilization. Not only is Sugden's tome impeccably well-researched, but his prose is often as fine as Patrick O'Brian's, giving readers a compelling view of the late 18th Century Royal Navy and the wars against France as seen not only through Nelson's eyes, but indeed those of many of his friends, acquaintances, and subordinates, including sailors from the lower decks. This is quite simply the finest nonfiction book on the Royal Navy that I have read; without question, it is a far better written and researched book than Arthur Herman's recently published "To Rule the Waves", his one volume history of the Royal Navy. I wait eagerly for Sugden's second volume, which will show Nelson's genius for battle during his celebrated victories at Aboukir Bay and, of course, Trafalgar. Sugden offers a compelling portrait of a man who was more often a sinner rather than a saint, yet still heavily revered and regarded by his subordinates and superiors such as Admiral Sir Samuel Hood and Admiral Sir John Jervis, the Earl of Saint Vincent. Sugden demonstrates how this son of an impoverished parson was able to use his important familial ties to such distinguished British families as the Walpoles in obtaining and then furthering his career in the Royal Navy, going to sea at a relatively young age as an unrated servant aboard his uncle Captain Maurice Suckling's ship. But thanks to his uncle's connections, Nelson soon mastered the skills of navigation - becoming an excellent navigator in his own right - and joins a little known Polar expedition sponsored by the Royal Navy. In the short span of slightly more than a decade, Nelson acquired extensive experience sailing in the West Indies, Arctic waters and of course, off the coasts of Great Britain and France, before assuming his first post-captain command just barely out of his teens, a frigate, during the latter years of the American Revolution. Sugden demonstrates repeatedly the complexity of Nelson's character. He notes often how Nelson repeatedly tried to advance the careers of his subordinates, including sailors as well as commissioned officers, frequently making his case to the Admiralty Board itself by going above the heads of his superiors such as senior captains and admirals. Despite this, Nelson earned the respect and friendship of senior admirals such as Sir Samuel Hood, and especially, Sir John Jervis (Sugden notes that Jervis rebuked his flag captain, Robert Calder, for daring to criticize Nelson after Nelson's deliberate failure in obeying Jervis's order during the Battle of Cape of Saint Vincent, by noting that he would praise Calder too if Calder had disobeyed Jervis's order.). And yet Nelson was praised for his generosity towards his commanding officers and subordi

I fully agree with the Publishers Weekly evaluation. Having read many of the earlier biographies it is clear that the author examines the many myths and when they cannot be proved or disproved gives a balanced analysis of several options. It is amazing how Nelson continues to facinate so many people 200 years after his death. Neither a chief of state of captain of industry he continues across the centuries to facinate and inspire. Anyone reading this first very long volume will be lookng forward to the concluding volume. Elizabeth Christian Jackson Peace Corps Volunteer Nelson Dockyard Museum Antigua, West Indies

I'm amazed and thrilled by the depth of Sugden's research and the new insight into the life of this incredible man. Since the age of 11 or 12 I've been fascinated with Nelson and he's been a hobby and a passion of mine ever since. I believe I've read just about every book written about him and truly believed there was nothing left to say. Sugden has proved me wrong. His research of previously ignored original sources (courts-martial transcripts, correspondence, logs, diaries, etc.) presents a 3-dimensional look at not just the man himself, but also of his world and people around him. Instead of mere names of fellow officers, shipmates, politicians and acquaintances who interacted with Nelson, the author has researched their backgrounds and lives also and they "jump" off the page as real people. He also puts Nelson's naval and world views into the context of the late 18th & early 19th centuries rather than looking at them retrospectively through the eyes of many modern authors. Cleverly, the author repeatedly refers to Nelson as just Horatio, further bring him to life as a real person...you begin to feel connected to him. Sugden quickly lays to rest many of the myths that have surrounded Nelson for two centuries; however, this is not a "hatchet job" a la Terry Coleman, but a reasonable and rational examination of documented evidence to refute some of the "romanticized" legends. Nor is the book yet another hagiography of Nelson, rather it paints him as a sometimes rash, impetuous, politically rigid young officer, sometimes suffering severe bouts of depression, and not above "cooking the books" or, in one instance, flouting the authorities to facilitate the escape of an accused murderer. But it also presents him as a consummately professional naval officer, passionately patriotic, sincerely and devoutly religious, driven by honor, and deeply committed to his duty to his country and his men...sometimes to a fault. In it we begin to see the emergence of a natural-born leader of men and the seeds of the greatness that he was eventually to achieve. This is not just a highly-researched and scholarly work, it is an extremely well-written book and an absolute "page turner". If you only read one book about Nelson, this should be it (and the 2nd volume of course).