For God and Glory: Lord Nelson and His Way of War

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Summary: My copy also arrived within six days!
Review: ...Amazon.com got mine to my letterbox with a week! I was very eager to read this book, which has appeared in the midst of Nelson scholarship with no hype but has made huge waves (see, a naval metaphor!). The book is every bit as good as I hoped. The arguments are bold and new but also solidly based on evidence and very judicious. I am now convinced, for instance, that Nelson was a foolhardy "soldier" ashore and that he did indeed conspire with Lord Hood against the British Army in Corsica. I am convinced that Nelson's guilt over what he considered his sins against God compelled him to ever-greater feats of courage. I am convinced that Nelson was instinctively, unknowingly using the brilliant tactical precepts that armed forces now teach as "best practice". I am also convinced that Nelson's great tolerance for other religious faiths (Islam, Catholicism), and his ability to work with other nationals without any condesending behaviour made him super-effective as a coalition commander. The book is also very attractively designed, with beautiful old engraving, clear maps, a very handy glossary of terms (all history books should have one), and an up-to-date reading list. The original ideas in this book make it a "must have" for all Nelson fans, but it will also doubtless challenge other scholars. So it's performed two great tasks.

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Summary: An essential work for all Nelson scholars and enthusiasts.
Review: FOR GOD AND GLORY is a much discussed book that lives up to ALL pre-publication hype!

Simply put, this book is as good as the other reviewers, and the eminent scholars who wrote the dusk-jacket endorsements, claim.

Actually I bought the book of the strenth of those cover endorsements. As a member of several Nelson societies I am well acquainted with David Shannon's name. He's Editor of the essential "Nelson Dispatch" journal. And who doesn't know of Colin White, the preeminent naval historian now at the National Maritime Museum here in Greenwich. So when I read their enthusiastic and unqualified praise for this new book I knew it must be good.

What makes it so good, in my opinion, is that the writer, Joel Hayward, has approached our greatest hero from a very new direction. He focuses on what he calls Nelson's "warfighting style" and in this way discusses tactics and strategy extremely competently. But he does much more. He asks highly original questions about Nelson; questions that Nelsonians like me have seldom pondered (but now will hereafter).

This is strange, really, considering the vast number of Nelson books already in print. Yet Hayward's questions are significant. He asks big questions indeed; on important but perhaps hitherto igored or unseen issues.

No scholars will ignore those questions now. As David Shannon has written about this brave and "incisive" new book: "It will act as a beacon for biographers for years to come."

I am not a military or naval officer, so I say this with no agenda: Dr Joel Hayward's book should be read by every senior officer serving Her Majesty. Perhaps they'll see what Hayward argues: that Nelson's naval genius wasn't purely tactical or strategic, but was also psychological.

By this I mean (well, Joel Hayward means) that Nelson was successful precisely because he put his subordinates ahead of his superiors, refused to conform (and sometimes to obey). He experimented (sometimes clumsily), accepted responsibility for his many mistakes, learned from them, and, notably, he had an eccentric passion and wildness that today's armed services wouldn't tolerate.

Nelsonians may not agree with everything Hayward argues, but I'm confident that they'll feel excited by the rousing stimulus of his new ideas and innovative approach. They, and all other enthusiasts for the Georgian navy and the Napoleonic wars, will simply adore this beautifully argued, written, illustrated, bound, and presented book.

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Summary: A MUST READ FOR ANY LEADER
Review: For many people, the words 'Nelson' and 'victory' have become synonymous. Nelson's victory at Trafalgar in 1805 allowed the Royal Navy to control the sea for the next century. London's most famous square -- Trafalgar Square with Nelson's Column -- was laid out in 1829 to 1841 to commemorate Nelson's victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Dominating the square, atop a column that is 185 feet high is a 17 foot high statue of Nelson.

Countless books approach Nelson with religious fervor. This book allows us to consider Nelson in a far more useful and practical framework. In reality, this great, yet diminutive naval warrior stood less than 5 feet 6 inches tall. Joel Hayward gives us deep insights and lessons about any great leader's many strengths, weaknesses, defeats, stalemates, flaws, and victories. Hayward concludes that Nelson also had an abundance of two qualities worth emulation by every serving member of today's armed forces: initiative and moral courage. 'Moral courage -- the willingness to stand up for what you know to be right despite hierarchical or peer conformist pressures -- is also a most desirable trait.... The very traits that make initiative and moral courage possible and instinctive are seldom tolerated and often crushed in today's defense forces. More so now than even, for example, during World War II, when a few talented but unconventional officers still held command, defense forces have imposed a behavioral and character uniformity upon commanders that leaves little room for unusual or larger-than-life personalities....Our armed forces might do well to tolerate and even cultivate a little diversity and difference, throughout all levels, and to reduce their emphasis on regularity and conformity. Creative, profoundly religious, or eccentric personalities - even highly strung, passionate one's like Nelson's, Rommel's, and Patton's - have given frequent headaches to their superiors but also stunning victories and uplifting joy to their nations....Nelson matched his commitment to his nation with equal dedication to his navy; and that primarily meant his crews. He respected and obeyed his superiors (usually), but he loved his subordinates. He cared about them deeply and was unusually modern (in today's terms) in the attention he paid to their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. He instinctively understood the highest principle of leadership: accomplish the mission and take care of your people.'

'For God and Glory' is organized into six major themes/chapters:

CHAPTER 1. NELSON'S CONCEPTION OF HIS ENEMIES. Nelson's hatred of England's enemies inflamed his patriotism and when coupled with many of his positive traits - intuition, love, passion, tenacity, courage, and audacity - made him no better friend, no worse foe.

CHAPTER 2. THE ADMIRAL'S SPIRITUAL BELIEFS. For his three great loves, God, his country, and the navy, Nelson 'sacrificed blood, an eye, an arm, and finally his life.'

CHAPTER 3. COMMAND, LEADERSHIP, AND MANAGEMENT. "Command in war is a remarkably complex, almost indescribable, deeply human relationship between those who lead and those who follow in circumstances usually dangerous, chaotic, and frightening. Command in war requires a leader to do certain things never required of the most ambitious and competitive businessman or -woman: to be courageous and decisive in the face of mortal peril; to inspire subordinates to act with courage and aggression; to carry out the violence necessary to ensure victory; to provide restraints on that violence in order to meet decent standards of morality, justice, and legality; to assume direct responsibility for the lives and health of all involved."

CHAPTER 4. NELSON'S WARFIGHTING STYLE AND MANEUVER WARFARE.
Perhaps the book's most significant chapter as Hayward convincingly demonstrates how and why Nelson's style of "maneuver warfare" and leadership from the front is as effective in the 20th and 21st centuries as it was in the 18th and 19th centuries.

CHAPTER 5. NELSON AND WAR ON LAND. A genius at sea, Nelson repeatedly blundered in his efforts ashore. He never fully appreciated how battles on land are fought according to different principles and tactics on land. 'Nature's endowments to Nelson were strikingly similar to those given to the maneuverists Erwin Rommel and George S. Patton. It is no wonder, then, that as a sea officer Nelson stands with them among history's greatest warriors.'

CHAPTER 6. COALITION WARFARE. Successful 'globalization' depends on the quality of relationships and communications between leaders from different cultures and countries. Nelson's records and letters are rich with insights on successful and unsuccessful approaches to coalition operations.

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Summary: Best new book on Nelson in years. Original too.
Review: I loved this book, even though nearly everything in it was new to me and I had to read it slowly to take it all in. Its about time a military expert explained to those of us who devour books on Nelson just how good, and why, Nelson was. Even today's military officers will find great relevance in the way Nelson approached war, says the author, and I agree. I'm buying this book for my nephew, a destroyer officer, because I think he'll get enormous value from Hayward's treatment of Nelson's leadership and command practices. If my nephew realises what Nelson did, that it's better to focus on those below you than those above you, he'll be a successful officer and make his subordinates work willingly for him.

Hayward's coverage of Nelson's abilities is balanced. While Hayward can't hide the fact that he admires him, and doesn't try to hide it, he points out carefully and in a fair way how weak Nelson was in some areas and why these weaknesses caused errors and disasters.

Hayward's approach is to write inter-related chapters that are essentially essays. He doesn't narrate in a chronological fashion like nearly every other writer on Nelson does. He critiques and analyses things, with an expertise in military matters that we haven't seen in Nelson books in recent years.

I applaud this book, which is attractive and has great maps, beautifull illustrations and a handy index.

Rating:
Summary: Good, but asssumes too much
Review: I wanted a nice biographical review of Nelson, but this book assumes that the reader already has a firm grounding in Nelson and only provides a brief description of his life. Most amazingly, there is only a brief mention of the Battle of Trafalgar, with the assumption that the facts are already known by the reader.

That said, the book is well written and researched. The book is organized by themes instead of chronologically, which is a nice change, but again difficult to follow for a novice.

If you know Nelson well, this book provides interesting insights, but it is not for the casual biography reader.

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Summary: Great book from a decent guy and great scholar.
Review: I was in the author's classes for two years at Massey University and I remember well that he was a fantastic lecturer. He never lectured from notes, but always from his prodigious memory. He taught us to question, and to arrive at our own conclusions so long as they rested on solid evidence. THIS BOOK has the same approach. It is superbly original, yet entirely reliant on sources (including all the "standard" diaries and memoirs, it would seem). It attempts, and succeeds, if you ask me, at showing that Nelson has relevance to military historians and soldiers and seamen today. It is also excellently written; fluent, readable and memorable.

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Summary: Book arrived in a week!!! It reveals a Christian warrior!!!
Review: I'm like the book reviewer below; delighted that we have a John Keegan-quality scholar of warfare living in New Zealand (Hayward has just co-written a great book on New Zealand military commanders to add to his many titles). This book, FOR GOD AND GLORY, is about the admiral after whom my own city, Nelson, was named. I've read several books on him, notably Colin White's, Dudley Pope's and Tom Pocock's. But only now, after reading Hayward's finely put-together and superbly written book, do I feel especially proud of my city's namesake. That's because Hayward describes Nelson's Christian faith and shows its huge impact on his life - and naval career - in more detail than I've read anywhere else. Actually, a recent issue of the NELSON DISPATCH (July 2001, pages 446 to 450) even claimed that while Nelson believed in the God of the Old Testament, he didn't show any interest in the Christian gospel and its central tenets of sacrifice (Christ's death for our sins), repentence and forgiveness. Hayward gently but strongly disproves these wishy-washy ideas, and demonstrates that while Nelson may not have often discussed Christ and the crucifixion, they were the dominating factor in his ambitions, hopes and behaviour (even as a heroic and fierce warrior).
I think the rest of the book is also full of rich insights and new ideas, all of which scholars will doubtless debate among themselves in their ever-competitive way. But for them and especially non-professional enthusiasts I think Hayward more than makes his case on most points. They seem water-tight to me.
Hayward shows deep respect for Nelson and does not seek to make a name by harping on about his failures, weaknesses and poor decisions. Terry Coleman did that, and while his sharp criticisms probably helped his book to sell, it made Coleman appear attention-seeking, partisan and unfair. Hayward is more like White and Pocock. His portrayal is even-handed and his explanations of Nelson's bad moments are balanced and non-judgemental. Hayward is most critical when it comes to Nelson's unwillingness to work harmoniously with the British Army on Corsica, but even then Hayward reveals the complex context and the pervasive anti-army influence of Admiral Lord Hood. He also explains the vastly different tactics used on land and at sea, tactical differences which would have made Nelson, who had limited knowledge of the precepts and practices of land warfare, convinced that the army was acting half-heartedly (which it wasn't!). No wonder Nelson became impatient and a little hostile towards his own army.
This is a captivating, courageous and readable book. It will please!

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Summary: Beautifully written and analytical . A new "classic".
Review: I'm toting this dream of a book around my colleagues at the US Army War College in the hope that they will, like me, use this as a class text.

If books, like bourbon whiskey, were rated according to strength, "For God and Glory: Lord Nelson and his Way of War" would weigh in above 100 proof. It is not a huge book, like the competent new bio. by Edgar Vincent, but it's concentrated and potent. I do not mean that it is arcane or overly meticulous. On the contrary, Joel Hayward writes with striking clarity.

"For God and Glory" is better written and more ambitious than other recent works inspired by Nelson's great victories. It is an originally conceived and richly rewarding work, filled with profundity and felicitous expression, with many flourishes of prose that flow like poetry.

The chapter on leadership, command and management will be scanned or photocopied by students at every military, air and naval academy and used in essays and dissertations for years to come.

And no self-respecting enthusiast of Lord Nelson will be able to escape having to engage the theses put forward in Hayward's compelling and authoritative book. Agree or disagree with his evidence and arguments, but don't ignore them. They blaze a trail.

Rating:
Summary: Very impressive analysis
Review: I've read more about Napoleon than I have of Nelson, but I can't fault the way this author (Hayward) constructs his case that the admiral was every bit as good at waging war as his famous French counterpart. Nelson was unequalled as a commander, leader, manager, fighter. This book is cleverly set out as a series of essays that build upon each other as they explore and explain the mind and methods of this iconic giant of seapower. It does help if you know a bit about Nelson before you read this, but even if you don't you will be able to enjoy a truly first rate exposition of naval genius.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is outstanding in every way.

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Summary: Man, this is a goooooddd book!!!!
Review: If you want to know what makes a commander effective then you'll be blown away by this fine book, which analyses Nelson with more insight and expertise than any other book written on him in decades. I found two typos, but aside from those, which will be fixed in future editions I'm sure, this work is without equal in Nelson, indeed, Napoleonic studies. Take note, friends: this book doesn't just tell the events in the standard way. It explains them thoroughly and is thus a deep and scholarly book. You have to read it carefully, and maybe twice, to get to grips with Nelson's complex character and startling career. But if you do, you'll get far more from this book than any other I can think of. For Nelson fans this is a must read. For Napoleonic readers this is a must read. For general military history readers this is a must read. Okay, for ANYONE wanting to read an excellent book this is a must read!