Nelson's Daughter

Description

In a farmhouse near Calais, a lonely English girl pieces together the life of the legendary Admiral Nelson - the loving godparent she learnt was in fact her father only after his death. What no one tells Horatia is that her companion-in-exile, NelsonâÂÂs mistress Emma Hamilton, is also her mother.

In this absorbing, superbly imagined novel, an intimate light is cast on the most celebrated couple of their age. But while Nelson and EmmaâÂÂs story of extraordinary success and grand passion ends in heartbreak, the tale of their secret daughter becomes one of spirited survival.

Reviews

Her writing is characterful, witty and wise... She does a great thing in making history seem tangible and dense, a sea in which all of time mixes.' - Daily Telegraph 'I hugely enjoyed it. Her eighteenth century seems totally convincing to me... She has a beautiful and distinctive style, and I think I should read with pleasure anything she wrote.' - Hilary Mantel 'Hearn keeps up an invigorating pace in an atmospheric slice of capital history reminiscent of Rose Tremain's RESTORATION.' - Guardian 'It would be impressive enough in a first novelist to give us one convincing snapshot of London's past. Miranda Heam provides two... [her] ghosts are as believable and touching in the afterlife as she makes them when alive. It is a considerable achievement and deserves a wide readership.' - Country Life

Author description

Miranda Hearn was born in Darlington, grew up in Dorset and now lives in London. Her first novel, A LIFE EVERLASTING, was published by Sceptre in 2003.