The Life of Horatio Lord Nelson

by Robert Southey

This is the history of life, love, and victories of Admiral Nelson, an iconic figure in the Napoleonic era. He is most known for a range of successful marine campaigns. Yet this book gives a deep insight into the hero's personal life, relations with Lady Hamilton, the courts of Naples, and Britain. Besides the complete account of political campaigns, a reader can have an insight into the personal letters and diary abstracts of Admiral Nelson, which gives a unique chance to learn the personality of Nelson closer. Finally, the story ends up in the last moments of Nelson's life, his victory at the battle of Trafalgar, and the farewell of the British people.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Military Fiction, Nautical, European History, Classics

362 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1813

About the author

Robert Southey was an English poet of the Romantic school, one of the so-called "Lake Poets", and Poet Laureate. Although his fame tends to be eclipsed by that of his contemporaries and friends William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Southey's verse enjoys enduring popularity. Moreover, he was a prolific letter writer, literary scholar, historian and biographer. His biographies include the life and works of John Bunyan, John Wesley, William Cowper, Oliver Cromwell and Horatio Nelson. The latter has rarely been out of print since its publication in 1813 and was adapted for the screen in the 1926 British film, Nelson.

Southey was also a renowned Portuguese and Spanish scholar, translating a number of works of those two countries into English and writing both a History of Brazil (part of his planned History of Portugal which was never completed) and a History of the Peninsular War. Perhaps his most enduring contribution to literary history is the immortal children's classic, The Story of the Three Bears, the original Goldilocks story.

Reviews

[Sparky Shelton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Old biographies fucking rule. No contextualizing the life of the subject, no secondary sources, no critical analysis. Just flowery recitations of Dudes Killing the French.

Also, this author wrote Goldilocks lmao

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could give this book two ratings: three stars for style but five for enjoyment. The naval battles, told in long sentences filled with sailing technicalities, became tedious. However, every time I considered putting the book down, the author would recapture my interest with his frequent incisive, overtly prejudicial comments. Modern histories just don't let us enjoy as much of their authors' personalities and quirks.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absolute utter fun. Patriotic history with knobs on.

[Bethany Richter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was disappointed with the contextual detail of this book until I realized it was written not more than a decade after Nelson's death. After I realized that, I thought it was a very interesting snapshot of a people's feelings for the man.

[Alexander A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intressant bok om den engelska nationalhjälten. Mycket fakta och jag läste den med ingångsvinkeln att gud (som Horatio hyllar) förde honom till sin destination genom en rad sammanträffanden och envishet.

[Mike A · Rating 3 out of 5]

You have to read it for what it is: A contemporary account - published less than a decade after his death - that acts as a moralistic defense of Nelson during the period in which they both lived.

A work of very clear post-war nationalism, the writing itself is pleasant, although I haven't found an audio version that does it much justice. As a pure history of the man, various modern biographies of nelson do a much more complete and nuanced job. Southey uses the history of Nelson to tell a story to British sailors and the public; as Southey himself claimed in the preface of the first edition, it was meant as a book on Nelson that sailors could look up to as an example.

I found his decision to rush through the early life of Nelson, and give short thrift to much of his development a little at odds with this stated purpose, but you can see what he's really trying to do is tell a story about the character traits that made him great, and the ones which held him back. Predictably, Southey did not look favorably on his relationship with Hamilton, and the book doesn't really spend time on the details of his life until he already had a significant command. But his reliance and use of Nelson's writing benefits the book greatly.

For those interested in the period, its an important read, but not as a simple biography of Nelson.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. I have always held an immense sense of respect towards Lord Nelson since I was an elementary-aged kid. Having read more and more history about Napoleonic Europe, this book fits as one of the best installments. No man save probably Arthur Wellesley and Napoleon himself has had a greater impact on the destiny of the nations in those wars than Nelson.

It was so interesting to hear the words of Nelson and his letters. I found a lot of fictional characters like Jack Aubrey and Hornblower, portrayed his character quite right.

Equally impressive is that this biographical account was published just 10 years after his death. The history and claim of that great man were still fresh, with archival records and personal accounts ready at hand to help write this book.

As a history buff, I was very surprised at some of the French fleet's actions during Trafalgar. I had no idea several of the retreating French fired their broadsides into the surrendered (and allied) Spanish ships. Not to mention the captured Spanish requested to be able to man the guns against their own former allies the dishonorable French fleet. Small details like this make the whole event more human and epic than any dry military account has given me.

There are not enough statues and monuments built to honor this historical figure.

[pierre bovington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this. Written in 1813, the book has a modern feel to it. He mentions Lady Hamilton, his mistress, with considerable skill. Given the attitude at that time to affairs of the heart of was courageous.
Nelson's last moments are brilliantly written.
Southey lived to 31 and wrote " Goldilocks and the 3 Bears"
which introduced the rule of 3.
Great read, glad I finally got it on my read list.

[Malcolm Beck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once I'd become attuned to the 19th century prose of this biography of Nelson, along with the diction of the narrator, who sounds as if he has been transported directly from the foredeck of the Victory, I really enjoyed listening to this book. If nothing else, I now have a better understanding of why Nelson remains one of England's greatest heros, more than two hundred years following the battle for which he is most famous. The author (the book was written in 1813) does not shy away from criticism of his subject and was particularly scathing of Nelson's role in the execution of some prominent Neopolotian Jacobins, so despite the flowery praise given to most other areas of the Admiral's life and work, there is balance. This audiobook won't be for everybody and no doubt there are plenty of other more recent biographies out there but for a contemporaneous account, this biography stands the test of time.

[Cidney · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel as I have been reading this for months. In fact I have, I've just seen the date I noted I wanted to read it and I began a few weeks later!!

It is heavy going, the style of writing is not that which we are used to today, I got lost amongst all the battle details and the ships details and the reasons behind each battle, which were not all that clear to me. Because it was written not that long after Nelson's death Mrs Hamilton and Horatio's relationship is not given a more prominent mention. She was to be almost airbrushed away until many many years later when more was made of her relationship to Nelson and also that Horatio Nelson was really her daughter by Nelson, well there was a clue there I think!

In fact the last half of the book doesn't mention his wife at all. It is interesting that we give more importance to the mistress rather than the wife who stuck by him through thick and thin, particularly when he was starting out in his career and all was not going well with it. Ah well even in these modern times not much changes I suppose!!

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slower start than most memoirs I’ve enjoyed and for several points I was worried that author was carried away with other vignettes less applicable to the main subject than was useful. However two items redeem these fauxpas. The first being the elaborate and vividly described battle scenes that bring readers to the smells of the sea and the ringing of gulls in their ear, to say nothing of the roaring cannon blasts and crashing of falling ships’ masts. Second, Having a learned that this was originally authored barely a decade after the late Lord Nelson’s death, the writing style of the time must be given it’s due allowance for the discomfort it may bring to modern readers. All of this to say, the account is well resourced and masterfully worded. A worthwhile read or listen to anyone who desires to appreciate more the impact of this man I’m not only England but also the events of world history.

[Trey S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book, it was a fun read but pretty slow and dense I thought though that doesn’t make it bad. I remember the beginning and the ending the best as they stuck out the most to me. Nothing super in detail that stuck out, more so the whole of it and the story of this great man’s life. The book was written a bit after his death, something I didn’t know until reading other reviews for this book online. It definitely feels like it’s older and written a while ago. Not that that’s bad or anything. The book is very unapologetically pro English and anti France which for the time makes sense and still is low key based as hell. The book was good, for me it was slow and dense but I still enjoyed it looking back!

4/5

[Philip Tidman · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most noted of the many biographies of Nelson, relating his incredible life from a boy in Norfolk to his life at sea and his meteoric rise through the ranks from humble coxswain to Admiral of the Fleet and his many famous naval victories. Nelson was one of my childhood heroes, not only because of his exploits but also because he did what no one had done before, rising to the most senior position in the Royal Navy without the aid of family money or influence, but by talent and force of character alone.

[Malakai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well that was dry af. If you've read Gibbon, this is nothing at all like that. I decided to pick this book up after Showalter's Frederick the Great which was a great read...and reads similar to Gibbon's epic tomes.
Fear is not an acquaintance of Lord Nelson's. It is made clear throughout this book to the point of self abnegating reckless abandon. So focused on victory and in accordance with the rules of engagement Nelson was insanely brave. In some ways akin to Alexander the Great. I wish that I had read this before I last visited London.

[Vincent Andersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing and surprisingly readable, near contemporary account of the life of England’s greatest naval hero. Nelson died in the battle of Trafalgar in 1805, this was published in 1813.
A must read for every student of naval history.

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a slog to read but the primary interest of this book for me was that it was a comtemporary account of Lord Nelson's life wriiten within a decade of his death by the Romantic poet and biographer Robert Southey.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dry but solidly entertaining...cleaning up my previously started Kindle books.

[Nam · Rating 3 out of 5]

The propaganda tone is not hard to missed, but it is still quite entertaining. It seems that Nelson was lucky to die a hero, before the English public could have found a way to drag him to the mud.

[Philip Labossiere · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had read this book (hard cover obviously) 40 years ago while undergoing my naval officer training.

[Jay Gerak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very much a hagiography, written within a decade of Nelson's death.

[J Grimsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual Southey's Prose are deft and polished. His biography of a national hero is both fair and critically honest for the views of the time

[Phillip Krzeminski · Rating 1 out of 5]

Should be called “The LEGEND of Lord Horatio Nelson” because the author is certainly more interested in hyping the man up than presenting anything close to objectively. There is very little in here to humanize Nelson, this is pure myth building for the ol British Empire. As a result it’s mostly an eye-rolling slog.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Southey is a magnificent writer, and Nelson a magnificent subject. Southey's prose is crisp and measured. He writes with such restraint, that his rare moments of high emotion are especially powerful. His sense of narrative is strong, and he makes Nelson's exploits dramatic and exciting. The only flaw in his prose for me is his use of naval jargon, which made passages hard to understand, especially in the battle scenes.

Nelson led a glorious life of military exploit and high romance. It is a gripping story, which takes the reader from rural Norfolk where he was born, to the Americas, the Caribbean, the Baltic and all over the Mediterranean, where Nelson achieved his greatest feats and committed his direst misdeeds. The story of his love for Emma Hamilton is moving—even if Southey tries to reduce this aspect of his life as much as possible. The story of his actions in Naples is shocking—and Southey does well to address it.

This book has long been remembered as a masterpiece of biography, concise, shapely and inspiring. It deserves this reputation, and I would recommend it to any reader willing to read a fine piece of 200 year old prose.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to tell whether Lambert's biography leans heavily on Southey or whether the similarities result from their mutual reliance on Nelson's letters and papers as their main source. Southey skims over whole years of Nelson's life but spends a fair bit of time on lesser known periods in his career, such as his time in Boreas in the West Indies, and of course on his major battles. Very little about his personal affairs, though Southey (wrongly, per Lambert) credits Lady Hamilton's influence when criticizing Nelson for his role in Caracciolo's execution. Especially good for how it shows the strength of the Nelson myth already just eight years after his death.

[Keanen Kern · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is way too dry for my taste. I'm currently about half way through and I'm struggling to finish it. The book has no sense of action to it, and just has the feeling that the topic is so boring that the author had no feeling for the subject. As a huge Nelson fan I was disappointed

[imngrer · Rating 2 out of 5]

i did this for A' level and even then didn't finish it. I found it incredibly tedious

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is one of my favorites when it comes to Lord Nelson.

[Lorin Barber · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poorly written. I finished it because I wanted to know the subject.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprisingly the only Lord Nelson biography on audiobook and one of very few in recent print. Dramatic & complicated man.

[Jamie Mosley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic