Nelson's Purse: An Extraordinary Historical Detective Story Shedding New Light on the Life of Britain's Greatest Naval Hero by Martyn Downer (HQ659)

Published 2004: First Edition / Hardcover / Very Good Condition / Illustrated throughout

Original black cloth with gilt titles on the spine and original pictorial dust jacket. 424 very clean and bright pages. Slight shelf wear on dust jacket consistent with age. (HQ659)

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For nearly two centuries, a red morocco dispatch box lay forgotten in a castle attic. When Martyn Downer opened the box and broke its spell, he uncovered a cache of fascinating and intimate letters relating to the life of Britain's greatest naval hero, Horatio Nelson. As Downer explored the castle, he went on to find a treasure trove of never-before-seen objects, including Nelson's swords, medals, porcelain, guns and even the purse he was carrying on the day he was shot at Trafalgar in 1805, still containing its gold coins.When Nelson died, these objects were passed on to his closest business associate, Alexander Davison, whose descendants had kept them without knowing their enormous historical significance. As Downer identifies each item and its provenance, fresh insights are revealed into the personal and domestic lives of Nelson, his jilted wife Fanny and his mistress Emma, Lady Hamilton.Rarely, if ever, have Nelson and his circle been brought so vividly and palpably to life. Nelson's Purse is an extraordinary historical detective story that will change our view of Lord Nelson forever.

Reviews:
In my recent quest to learn more about the life of Admiral Horatio Nelson, I came across this amazing true story of the discovery of a collection of Nelson’s possessions, owned by the descendants of Alexander Davison, a man who negotiated prize compensations for captured ships and was Nelson’s close friend. In addition to jeweled decorations, awards, and swords, the treasure trove included correspondences to Davison from Nelson, his wife, Fanny, and mistress, Lady Emma Hamilton. The later portions of the book cover Nelson’s funeral and what happened afterward in the lives of his family and friends.

Downer, an antiques expert associated with Sotheby’s, was called in to evaluate these possessions. He has done a magnificent job of reconstructing portions of Nelson’s life from these letters. He weaves together these discoveries with known information and other primary sources. The result is a portrayal of the personal life of a historical figure. In many non-fiction books, it is difficult to get a feeling for the person, but in this case, it is one of the highlights of the book.

The reader obtains a good idea of Nelson’s life, which was full of drama. He had an estranged wife and a mistress. He and his wife entertained his mistress and her husband and escorted them around town. His agent got into legal trouble and went to prison. Nelson seemed almost obsessed with prize monies from captured ships. He also comes across as a courageous patriot, doing his duty for king and country. This book provides a realistic portrait of an individual – a hero replete with flaws and strengths.

It is part biography and part piecing together the provenance of the artifacts found in the Davison family’s possessions. The sources are documented and footnoted. It contains supplemental material – photos of paintings, drawings, treasures, correspondences, and news of the time. I found it fascinating.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2992176-nelson-s-purse