In Nelsons Wake, James Davey
In Nelsons Wake, James Davey
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In Nelson's Wake
The Navy and the Napoleonic Wars

Author: James Davey

Narrator: Jayne Entwistle

Unabridged: 19 hr 42 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 02/10/2026


Synopsis

Battles, blockades, convoys, raids: how the indefatigable British Royal Navy ensured Napoleon's ultimate defeat

Horatio Nelson's celebrated victory over the French at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 presented Britain with an unprecedented command of the seas. Yet the Royal Navy's role in the struggle against Napoleonic France was far from over. This groundbreaking book asserts that, contrary to the accepted notion that the Battle of Trafalgar essentially completed the Navy's task, the war at sea actually intensified over the next decade, ceasing only with Napoleon's final surrender.
 
In this dramatic account of naval contributions between 1803 and 1815, James Davey offers original and exciting insights into the Napoleonic wars and Britain's maritime history. Encompassing Trafalgar, the Peninsular War, the War of 1812, the final campaign against Napoleon, and many lesser known but likewise crucial moments, the book sheds light on the experiences of individuals high and low, from admiral and captain to sailor and cabin boy. The cast of characters also includes others from across Britain—dockyard workers, politicians, civilians—who made fundamental contributions to the war effort, and in so doing, both saved the nation and shaped Britain's history.

About James Davey

James Davey teaches at the University of Exeter. He was formerly curator of naval history at the National Maritime Museum and is the author of In Nelson's Wake: The Navy and the Napoleonic Wars.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Mastersonmcvoidson on August 09, 2019

This book is a great study of the Royal Navy in the period with a focus on the importance of the events after Trafalgar. It goes over the actions, organisation and the significance of the Royal Navy, analysing its military and cultural impact in the period. It stresses the need to acknowledge the imp......more

Goodreads review by Nooilforpacifists on January 13, 2016

An excellent, readable, high level (but well footnoted) study of the navy after Nelson: "Trafalgar did not end the naval war -- in fact it grew in scale and intensity -- and in 1812 and 1813 the navy was larger in terms of both ships and manpower than it ever had been before." "[T]he Royal Navy's most......more

Goodreads review by Eve on December 12, 2020

Good book and easy to read. It was organized based on theme, so in same part it's overlapped (repetitive). It has extensive bibliography, maps, and index of characters and their respective position over time. It helps to make sense of think, but to be honest, I often still confused of who was who (e.......more

Goodreads review by Andrew on April 22, 2023

I was introduced to this book while studying at the Naval War College, and decided I needed to give the entire book a careful read. Covering the history of the British Navy during the Napoleonic Wars, this book addressed a critical gap in the historiography on the subject. Historians have traditional......more

Goodreads review by Cameron on July 29, 2025

An absolutely essential read for any people trying to learn about the Napoleonic wars! This book provides much needed context and insight on the Royal Navy of the 18th and 19th centuries......more