1797: Nelson's Year of Destiny [Paperback]

Colin White (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2001

A detailed account, based upon recently discovered primary sources, of a significant year in the life of this revered soldier.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

One of several recent books on the great British naval commander of the Napoleonic era, White's 1797 is based on a number of recently discovered primary sources as well as on the authentic texts of others that have been current in versions edited to the point of butchery. It makes a detailed accounting of the period from December 1796 to December 1797. During those 12 months, Nelson exhibited the seamanship, planning skills, tactical insight, personal leadership, and charisma that constituted the foundation of his later career and his subsequent legend. White excellently separates myths from probable facts, such as that, at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent, Nelson was not disobeying orders but displaying intelligent initiative of the kind Admiral Jervis encouraged. Several more books like this one--further products of a bicentennial project on Nelson--have been and will be published. Altogether, such works should considerably help in separating Nelsonic historiography from hagiography. Roland Green --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

Highly detailed and as exciting as the best Patrick OBrian novel, this is one of the best accounts of the great British admirals dazzling achievements, from the deputy director of Englands Royal Naval Museum. Published to commemorate a pivotal year in the ``Nelson decade'' (the period from 1795 to 1805, of which the bicentennial is currently being marked), this brief account looks at the period that solidified Nelsons position as Britains chief hope in maintaining her position as the worlds leading maritime power. The author combines outstanding scholarship with narrative skill to capture the excitement of such events as the evacuation of Elba, the Battle of Cape St. Vincent, the blockade of Cadiz, and the attack on Tenerife (in which Nelson lost his arm). White also debunks many of the myths that have surrounded Nelson over the years, such as his supposed disobedience at the Battle of Cape St. Vincenta ``disobedience'' that saved the battle and won an earldom for Sir John Jervis, the commanding admiral of the British fleet at St. Vincent. Illustrated throughout by period paintings (unfortunately not in color), the book utilizes boxed sidebars to present new information on Nelson and his battles. This varies in importance, from done-to-death topics like who really cut off Nelsons arm to such really juicy bits as the revelation that a former Nelson mistress, Adelaide Correglia, spied for him during his blockade of the Italian port of Leghorne (Livorno). Written with sweep and excitement, capturing the spirit of Nelson by looking at one memorable year, this will be a treat for any naval history fan. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Sutton Publishing (May 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0750926996
• ISBN-13: 978-0750926997
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,461,786 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #30 in Books > History > Americas > Caribbean & West Indies > Saint Vincent

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fresh and vivid look at a well-worn subject., August 13, 1999

By 

Anthony Gary Brown ([e-mail]) (Los Angeles, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 1797: Nelson's Year of Destiny (Hardcover)

Admiral Lord Nelson plays such a central role in British naval lore that any decent library - including those here in the USA - will have a good amount of shelf space dedicated to his career, his personality and his world. To presume to add more to an already worthy pile of volumes requires that an author has new information, takes a new focus or has something otherwise fresh and vivid to say about the man. Colin White, a Director of the Royal Navy's own museum that lies alongside Nelson's HMS Victory at Portsmouth, stylishly accomplishes all of these aims in his new book.

Already a Nelson scholar of some repute, White makes extensive use of newly discovered documents, and of course well-tested older sources, to take the reader closer to `Nelson the man' than ever before. By concentrating on Nelson as a fully-formed senior commander, now on the very cusp of greatness if only he can find and seize an opportunity, White produces a relatively short, intensely readable work that nobly resists the common temptation to spend an introductory 75-pages re-hashing well-known anecdotes of his hero's early life and career. White cuts straight to the chase yet has a style of presentation that in no way would leave the Nelson novice floundering: the great man is seen in full, but not at inordinate length!

In short, this book - even with its single-year focus - would make an admirable first port of call for readers who know something of Nelson's general fame - perhaps from the great naval fiction writers such as Patrick O'Brian or C.S. Forester - but do not necessarily fully appreciate `what all the fuss is about'. Readers wanting more depth will appreciate both the new material and the clarity and intelligence with which it is integrated into the known record. From growing up in an English naval family, I thought I already knew quite a lot about Nelson - now I can't wait to know from White `what happened next'!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Naval history comes to life!, August 7, 1999

By 

C James Scott ([e-mail]) (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 1797: Nelson's Year of Destiny (Hardcover)

A professional review I read of this book says that it "reads like a Patrick O'Brian novel". I would echo that. Mr White tells the familiar story of Nelson at the battles of St Vincent and Teneriffe in a new and exciting way that really brings the events to life. It is always easy to visualize the scene he is describing and his abundant use of pictures (many of them never published before) helps with this.

He has also done a lot of scholarly research into original sources, many of them only recently discoved. As a result, his view of the battles, and Nelson's role in them, is very different to the traditional one in the older books. He makes it easy for the reader to follow all these new insights, by explaining them in special 'boxes;' so as not to interrupt the flow of the main narrative.

This is without doubt one of those books that changes our idea of great events. If you are at all interested in Nelson, get it!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 1797Nelson's Year of Destiny, January 21, 2000

By 

Rebecca A. Crumb "Napoleanic Times Historian" (Buffalo NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 1797: Nelson's Year of Destiny (Hardcover)

This is one book that deserves all five stars! Mr. Colin White knows his subject well. Even great heroes such as Nelson had downfalls as we all do. Mr. White brings out the long ordeal that Nelson suffered after the loss of his arm and his ability to "bounce" back once his infected stump was healed & showes the humour that Nelson & his family used to overcome the tragidy. It reads so well I finished it in a couple of days. Mr White highlights information that isn't in other books on Nelson. Excellent work, Mr White.