Tested By Fate

Nelson and Emma #2

by David Donachie

It's 1784 and Nelson is sent to the Caribbean to enforce the hated Navigation Acts. While there, he marries Fanny Nisbet. Ordered next to the Mediterranean, he engages in a string of spectacular naval battles: Cape St Vincent, Tenerife, and the Nile. The ravages of war take their physical toll on Nelson, even as he gains the fame and honor he desperately craves.

Genres: Historical Fiction

406 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

aka Tom Connery, Johnny 'Two Combs' Howard, Jack Ludlow, Jack Cole.

David Donachie was born in Edinburgh in 1944. He has had a variety of jobs, including selling everything from business machines to soap. He has always had an abiding interest in the naval history of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, which he drew upon for the many novels he has set in that period. The author of a number of bestselling books, he lived in Deal with his wife, fellow A&B author Sarah Grazebrook.

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly recommend

[Morgiana · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Nelson and Emma books are the only Donachie novels I have read, and based on the first two novels I have come to two conclusions: One, he's a good historical writer; he does the naval action very well, not quite like Patrick O'Brien but then who does? Two, he's a terrible romance writer. Now, I get that the point of the series is about Nelson and Emma and their relationship, and there was bound to be some sex once they finally got together. And I don't have a problem with explicit sex scenes; this is tame compared with some of the other books on my list. But I don't think Donachie writes it very well, and it doesn't really fit with the rest of the book.

Aside from that, though, it's a good historical novel. I liked it enough that I want to finish the trilogy, and I won't rule out reading his other books.

[John Cheeseman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book, it kept me up until 4am one night listening to the battle of the Nile part and I hope even 10% of the story is true about Nelson's character as he's now my complete hero. All of the other main characters are well written and the story moves along at a good pace. I was disappointed that there's no mention of how Nelson lost sight in his eye and they've skipped over some parts and laboured others but another great read in the saga.