Preview

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

The Life of Horatio Lord Nelson

By: Robert Southey
Narrated by: Frederick Davidson
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $15.56

Buy for $15.56

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

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.
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about The Life of Horatio Lord Nelson

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    167
  • 4 Stars
    69
  • 3 Stars
    31
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    4
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    151
  • 4 Stars
    55
  • 3 Stars
    15
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    9
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    139
  • 4 Stars
    62
  • 3 Stars
    25
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    5

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A book of it's time.

Written shortly after Trafalgar by one of the romantic poets it has a sense of the time and the man.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Not bad but dated

This was written in the later part of the 19th century. The style is dated and lacks the depth of today’s biographies like Chernow’s Grant. Battles are vague. The reading is almost a caracture but ok.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great account

Great account, it’s written in British tongue and in 1816 so it can be difficult to follow, but other than that it a very fun book to listen to.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Narrator ugh

I really wanted to hear this story, but the narrator with his excruciating nasal twang is an insufferable snob.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Inspiration personified

Read in true British style, this book gives inspiration without being maudlin. It presents a picture of a great, good man with all the hair on. It shows that men may be great and human.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Annoying reading style

My first Audible book I could not finish. Although a fan a Naval history, the narration is at best - overly theatrical and annoying. Could not tolerate the performance and it overshadowed the story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Good book, missing details on battles

My expatiation where different as I was hoping for more details on battles, strategies and insight on relationships between Lord Nelson and other officers.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Essential reading to understand Nelson the man

A great yarn about a great man. Could have used some foot notes to track further details and to explain nautical terms.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

too detailed

Not enough on his personal relationships and a lot on minute detail of battles

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A great story

I enjoyed the story and the narrator. I highly recommend this to all who have interest in the history of the British Navy.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!