NELSON'S SHIPS: A Trafalgar Tribute
DEREK GARDNER Book Number: 80269 Product format: Paperback
The name Horatio Nelson remains a by-word for heroism and devotion to duty in face of awful physical frailty. This unique tribute to the Battle of Trafalgar in which Nelson secured British supremacy of the seas at the cost of his own life is a salute from one naval veteran to another. Acclaimed artist Derek Gardner charts Nelson's career, step-by-step and ship-by-ship, in words and pictures. The saga ranges from the moment Nelson enlisted as a midshipman on his uncle's ship at the age of 12 to his death against Napoleon 35 years later. Born 1914, Derek Gardner saw distinguished service during WW2 in the Atlantic, Arctic, Mediterranean and Indian Ocean and was honoured and injured at the 1942 storming of Algiers aboard the Gallant Broke, which sank after the action. A resulting loss of hearing spurred him into developing an almost sixth sense as a painter and his passion became his profession. Here he is at the peak of his artistic powers. In glorious full sail at sea is the California clipper Southern Cross, the French 74-gun Redoubtable depicted in the Battle of Trafalgar, 21st October 1805, the Victory, the Elephant launched 1786, the three-masted 80-gun ship Foudroyant, flagship of Vice Admiral Lord Keith August 1800, Vanguard, Theseus leaving Portsmouth, Agamemnon and the 28-gun frigate Boreas among the many full page colour examples. 124pp in very large softback, half of which are these glorious naval paintings.
Published price: $30
Bibliophile price: £8.50
