The Life of Horatio Lord Nelson cover art

The Life of Horatio Lord Nelson

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The Life of Horatio Lord Nelson

By: Robert Southey
Narrated by: Frederick Davidson
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About this listen

 Having entered the British Navy at the age of 12, Horatio Lord Nelson achieved the rank of captain at the age of 20. As captain, he was quickly recognized as a magnetic and controversial figure. He triumphed at Cape St. Vincent and the Nile, but failed at Tenefife and Boulogne. With the glories of Copenhagen and Trafalgar yet ahead of him, his ardent passion for Emma Hamilton, the wife of a British Ambassador, cast a heavy shadow over his career.

Audacious in battle (he once ignored a superior's order to cease action at Copenhagen by putting his telescope to his blind eye and saying he could not see the signal) and winner of some of Britain's greatest victories, Nelson possessed an extraordinary amount dash and courage, thus rendering him one of history's great romantic figures.

©1990 Robert Southey (P)1996 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Politicians Politics & Activism Royal Navy

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A very well detailed and well written book about the life of one of England’s finest sons. The narration is perfectly suitable for a book written in 1813, about a man of the times.

A thoroughly enjoyable read.

Superb!

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The narrators character voice is perfectly in tune with the period as well as being inline with the characters and military services he’s reading.
This purposeful effort helps the end user drift off into the moment with ease.

Very good 👌

Narrators perfectly in tune !

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I can see a few folks have been tripped up by the tone of the narration. The point is that this book was written by a contemporary of Nelson who was a noted historian, social reformer and poet. He experimented with laughing gas with Humphrey Davey and corresponded with Emily Brontë - telling her women shouldn’t bother with literature. He’s not a disinterested modern observer and had to be brought to life this way. Good book. Great narrator. Thanks.

Excellent narration completely “in character”

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A very touching memoir of a great hero, beautifully read and written, The biography was written and published within a decade of Nelson’s death by a poet laureate, so conveys the feel of the early nineteenth century which is emphasised by the style of the reader. A great experience!

Beautifully read and written

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Very entertaining. A book written in 1813, 7 years after the death of Admiral Nelson, it has a modern feel to it.
The author was a Poet Laureate, dead at 31, he wrote Goldilocks and the 3 Bears along with biographies of other great men of his era.
If you have any interest in the statue in Trafalgar square, read this book.

Rule of 3

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great book - but this narrator doing it a great deservice (on purpose it almost seems) with his sneering over the top drawling nasaly speaking - what a shame to ruin what could have been an epic audible book, thanks mate!

Great book - horrendous Narrator - worst ever

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Nelson was one of my favourite boyhood heroes. His story is still captivating. The reading, however, has made it impossible for me to keep listening. The reader’s voice/accent sounds “frightfully” and condescending and his knowledge of the pronunciation of sailing terminology is lacking.

Annoying Posh “Frightfully” Reading

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Written over 200 years ago, this book is hard to follow in places, but equally is a thorough account of the life of Nelson without a modern day lens.

It’s probably needs 2 or 3 listens though to get the most of it.

Of its time

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Superbly narrated and written with care and feeling, this account of Nelson's life is inspiring as it is informative. Highly recommended.

Stirring naval history!

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given when the book was written the language is a little hard to follow at first. this is also attributed to the style of narration but as I persevered both of these things began to make sense. if you like history it's very good.

a little tricky but in the end very good

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