Customer Reviews

Nelson's Purse: The Mystery of Lord Nelson's Lost Treasures

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Martyn Downer, the author was Head of Jewellery at Sotheby's in London from 1999 to 2003. At the beginning of July 2002, Sotheby's announced to the world the discovery of a major cache of material relating to the life of England's greatest naval hero, Horatio Nelson. The man who made this extraordinary find and who subsequently spent over a year validating the material and placing it in the context of Nelson's life was Martyn Downer.

While the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar has brought out an abundance of books about Nelson, this book stands out amongst them because of its content. This is not a book about the great man's battles and conquests, nor about his ships or his men, although they are of course mentioned. This is a book about the chance finding after many years of some of the most famous possessions of Admiral Nelson himself. Possessions that were thought to have been lost over a century ago.

Among the items found are his swords, medals, pistols and pottery and porcelain. Also letters, both to his wife Fanny and his mistress Emma, Lady Hamilton. To be able to handle items that had been lost for so long must have been a wonderful experience for the author and to find items that have never before been documented must have been truly exciting.

This is a book that gets into the heart and mind of the greatest naval hero England has ever had, or ever likely to have.

Excellent book. Well written and gripping. Not your usual dry non-fiction book. Recommend to any who like history and/or historical fiction. Great insights into the life of Nelson.