Trafalgar : The Nelson Touch (Great Battles)

Rating:
Summary: Another David Howarth Classic
Review: David Howarth is one of those great historical narrative writers 60s style. All of this books have been reissued a number of times and there is good reason why: his style is fast, intelligent, and he is able to give you a wide-sweep of history while at the same time concentrating on the intricacies of a single historical event (usually a battle -- such as in his books on Hastings, Trafalgar, and Waterloo). All in a format under 200 pages.

Writing like this is a lost art.

Howarth begins buy giving the strategic situation and rightly concludes that England had already won the strategic sea battle long before Trafalgar. Trafalgar was the ultimate forordained denouement: France could not sally into the seas for trade or battle in either the North Sea, the Atlantic, or the Mediteranean. No Invasion of England could be contemplated. Moreover French (and their reluctant Spanish Allies) had conceded superiority to the British long before Trafalgar. The last act -- battle -- merely tactically sealed the strategic truths.

Howarth still paints an intense picture of the motivations of the French and English. French and Spanish tars were less in training and commitment, but they did engage in equal ardour when it came time for the killing. Moreover Admiral Villeneuve is a very sympathetic figure and Howarth seems to have much the measure of the man for this slender volume... ironically there is more here on Villeneuve than in the longer standard versions of this battle (such as by Schom). Howarth has a special chapter on the Storm immediately following the battle, something that is either glossed over as an ending paragraph in much larger works or often omitted. My favourite part is when the ships are sailing close-hauled for their ultimate encounter. You can feel the tension build as they slowly close for battle.

Keeping all in mind this is a great place to start a study of the battle, or the general strategic situation surrounding the Napleonic Naval Wars.

There is a lot missing, Lady Hamilton represents three pages of dedicated text (quite enough for some readers), there is little review of the naval battles preceding Trafalgar, St Vincent, the Nile etc. and there is little on the long life of Nelson --- but all the essential elements are here!

All in all this is one ripping read and if you love the clash of tall ships in battle and the feeling of wind whistling through the rigging, then this is the book for you.


Rating:
Summary: Brilliant Writing and Description
Review: I have just read this book for the first time, and it will not be the last. David Howarth brings Trafalgar and its period to life in a way that leaves me filled with admiration. This is a very fair assessment of the great battle, giving credit where credit is due. This is especially so where Admiral Villeneuve is concerned. His is a tragic story that is often overlooked because of the brilliance of Nelson. Villeneuve, a man of honor, was not without talent, but lacked the charisma that so set Nelson apart. He wasn't a coward, but a realist who knew the French navy was no match for the British. Napoleon was an army man who knew nothing about the navy, and issued impossible orders that no admiral could have carried out to satisfaction. Villeneuve faced up to Trafalgar, betrayed alike by his emperor and by so-called friends behind the scenes. Nelson was the admiral who died that day in 1805, but Villeneuve must have wished he had too. Within six months he was indeed dead, although whether by his own hand or assassination might never really be known.

For an account that conjures the battle in all its glory and horror, and that offers a considered judgment of both sides, this is the book to read. Again, and again, and again.

Rating:
Summary: Portrait of the magic of Nelson's leadership and Trafalgar
Review: This book by David Howarth is one of two that portrays the great Lord Nelson. Nelson is portayed as a leader with uncommon touch for bold military strategy and even more uncommon touch for leading men with affection and raport. This was very unusual in 1800. This book also portrays the battle of Trafalgar in the terrible ways of naval battle with 800 men ships demolishing eachother at point blank range. The French loss was inevitable and Lond Nelson was the man who build the winning ways of the British Navy over a 30 year period. The background and mood of the times are compelling.