Presents the battle of Trafalgar in it's historical scope and context. Quotes extensively from journals and sources and brings to life the whole story of the British-French conflict, at sea and on land, at the dawn of the nineteenth century.

Map of Europe in 1803 -- Preface -- 'The fate of the universe' -- 'Our king! Our country! and our god!' -- Building an armada -- Invasion preparations -- 'The safety of the country will never be at hazard' -- The politics of war -- Stepping up operations -- 'As many tricks as a monkey' -- Phantom fleets -- The last homecoming -- Cadiz -- 'A pell-mell battle' -- A State funeral -- Appendix 1. Chronology of events -- Appendix 2. Biographical sketches -- Appendix 3. Fleets.