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Set in 1798–1799, the narrative follows Admiral Horatio Nelson's military and political activities around the Nile campaign and his time in Naples and Sicily, portraying both public command decisions and private vulnerabilities. Using extensive contemporary correspondence, journals, and a narrator modeled on Captain Thomas Trinder, it interleaves battle depictions, diplomatic entanglements, and the admiral's passionate relationship with Emma Hamilton, alongside scenes of local life and a visit to Pompeii. The novel aims for an historically grounded, humanizing portrait that preserves much of the protagonists' own language and documentary detail.
The cover is an exact reproduction in the original colours of a rare old print. The dates have of course been added. The clouds, to which Nelson points with his sword, express the wars and rumours of wars, with which the year 1798 was overhung. The sword indicates the spirit with which he approached questions of national honour.