After two centuries of biographies and analyses, Admiral Lord Nelson speaks for himself in this collection of excerpts from his private letters and dispatches. Through Nelson's own words readers come to fully appreciate the admiral's insights and opinions. With chapters devoted to such subjects as duty, combat, politics, sea power, life and death, and Nelson's views of himself and his wife, Frances Nisbet, and mistress, Lady Hamilton, the book offers an array of memorable quotations. Each is placed in context to give contemporary dimension to the words. Engravings depicting events in Nelson's life accompany the text.