MARTYN DOWNER
Nelson's Purse
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| Bantam Press 2004 ISBN: 0593 051807 |
Smithsonian Institute Press 2004 ISBN: 1-58834-184-4 |
At the beginning of July 2002, Sotheby's, the auctioneers, announced to the world the dioscovery of a major cache of material relating to the life of England's greatest naval hero, Horatio Nelson. The treasure trove belonged to descendants of Nelson's best friend, Alexander Davison. The man who made this extraordinary find - and who subsequently spent over a year validating the material and placing it in the context of Nelson's life - was Martyn Downer.
In Nelson's Purse, Martyn tells the fascinating historical detective story behind thgis great find and its progress from discovery to auction. As he tells it, against the backdrop of Davison's own remarkable life, we come to know Nelson, his wife Fanny and his famous mistress Emma Lady Hamilton in intimate detail. Rarely, if ever, before have Nelson and his associates been brought so vividly and palpably to life.