In the Shadow of Nelson: The Naval Leadership of Admiral Sir Charles Cotton, 1753-1812 (Contributions in Military Studies)

Rating:
Summary: British naval history comes alive!
Review: The book was obviously written for historians, and more particularly those historians interested in the British Navy during the Napoleanic era. Nonetheless there is much to be learned by the laymen who are interested in what life was like for the average naval officer during that period. The names of Nelson and the others parade in and out of the pages of this book as the story of Charles Cotton unfolds; the story of a non-hero who began his career off the coast of North America during the war for American Independence and rose through the ranks to become commander of the Mediterranean Fleet and of the Channel Fleet before his career came to an untimely end. Cotton's career did not afford him the distinction of fame and fortune but he faithfully served both king and country. His career was certainly more the norm that those of his famous contemporaries. The very nature of this book demands the inclusion of many names, dates, and places, but in spite of all the data, the author has made it a fast moving story that will hold the interest of professional and amateur historians alike.