A decent book,like most war episodes, preceded by length buildup and followed by straggling details. In short the British fleet knocked the crap out of the combined Spanish French fleet. This effectively removed the potential for Napoleon to invade Britain and maintained the opportunity for invasion of the European continent and eventual crushing of the height impaired emperor at Waterloo.
Daily life on these wooden battleships is best described treacherous. In day to day living fresh food was impossible to maintain and living quarters were extremely cramped.
During battle dismemberment and death were inescapable. If injury did not come directly by cannonball or grapeshot, it came indirectly by piercings by splinters and from above by falling masts.
Some expressions used today came from this life style:
- SLUSH FUND comes from the process that cook's boiled meat and collected the greasy scum. Half of the grease was used for waterproofing on the ship and other other half belongs to the cook as a means of supplementing low wages.
- SQUARE MEAL comes from the the use of square plates which were more space efficient in cramped quarters.
- HEAD comes from the practice of sailors relieving themselves at various ship ship locations such as the catheads, beakheads and figurehead.
On a scale of 1-10, "Nelson's Trafalgar" gets a 5.
