Customer Reviews

Breaking the Line (The Nelson and Emma Trilogy)

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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.