The Authentic Nelson

The National Maritime Museum holds an unrivaled collection of items owned and used by Nelson during his lifetime, ranging from his furniture, porcelain and silverware to the clothes he wore and he gave. The planned celebrations for Trafalgar 200 in 2005 highlight how this man still captivates popular imagination.

Coinciding with these celebrations, this hardback, highly illustrated book takes a detailed look at many of Nelson's personal items and their associated stories. It delves deeper, following the items on their historical journey through personal ownership, public exhibition and final preservation, looking at the inevitable forgery and thievery, and investigating the difficulties involved in actually locating 'the authentic Nelson'.