Breaking the Line (The Nelson and Emma Trilogy) [Paperback]

David Donachie (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Nelson and Emma Trilogy | Publication Date: September 1, 2004

Having evacuated the King and Queen of Naples ahead of Napoleon's advancing army, Nelson must now await developments in Sicily. In the meantime, he and Emma savor their passionate affair, and when Nelson travels back to Britain with the Hamiltons, he finds he is the toast of Europe. Finally he is given the chance he's been waiting for: off a little-known Spanish cape, called Trafalgar, he will show the world what he is made of!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An exciting tale of intrigue and danger . . . Donachie has the reader grasping for more . . ." -- Midwest Book Review

"Donachie has a masterful way of creating atmosphere and character . . . stunning impact." -- Kent Messenger

About the Author

David Donachie is an avowed lover of naval fiction with a stroke of mischief, and he has lately published a multivolume biographical novel about Lord Nelson and Lady Emma Hamilton. Writing as Tom Connery, he is the author of the popular Markham of the Marines novels. A Scot by birth, he lives in Deal on the Channel coast of England.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: McBooks Press (September 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590130901
• ISBN-13: 978-1590130902
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,258,478 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Another lousy Nelson/Emma novel, April 1, 2009

By 

D. Knapp - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Breaking the Line (The Nelson and Emma Trilogy) (Paperback)

Attempting to make main characters out of real historical figures is a risky thing at best, which is why it is so seldom done well. (And why it is so seldom done by real novelists) Donachie's effort fares no better than most; here are no new insights on the era's most hyped liaison which might help to justify yet another fictional treatment. Instead we find the same tired melodrama and cloying passages as every other attempt.

Whatever other reviews may say, the dialog is stilted and unnatural, and consequentially the characters never ring true. The atmosphere is fair and occasionally evocative but cannot redeem the poor characterization. I suggest that the interested reader obtain one of the many volumes letters between the Nelson and Emma and allow them to speak in their own words.