Super interesting reading in Nelson's Purse: The Mystery of Lord Nelson's Lost Treasures. This 424 page hardback by Martyn Downer was published in 2004. From the DJ we read, "The life of Britain's famous colossus, Lord Horatio Nelson, has spawned a veritable publishing industry. Every facet of his life has been examined in biographies incarnating the British hero at various times as the lover, the naval strategist, the politician, and above all, the supreme national icon. But until Martyn Downer's recent find of a tremendous cache of Nelson memorabilia and correspondence, a central figure was missing, one who holds multiple keys to the Nelson story; Alexander Davison. Despite his extraordinary roles as nelson's closest friend and the intimate confidant of both mistress Lady Hamilton and Nelson's estranged wife Fanny Nelson, Davison's story faded into footnotes-until now. As Martyn Downer reveals in this riveting tale of discovery, Alexander Davison is the portal to a new understanding of Nelson and Europe's most famous love triangle. From their first meeting in Canada in 1782, Davison shared the triumphs and suffered the set backs of the titan who increasingly strode the stage of the Napoleonic era. Particularly after Nelson's return from Naples in 1800 in the company of his mistress Lady Hamilton-scandalizing all of Europe-Davison becomes the key figure in Nelson's life, and his house in St. James Square its veritable engine. Davison manages every aspect of Nelson's civilian and personal affairs, from the purchase of Merton Place to assuaging the highly charged emotions of a larger-than-life mistress and a spurned, tormented wife. Nelson's Purse releases long forgotten voices from never before published correspondence, as Lady Hamilton, Lady Nelson, and Davison himself experience the turbulence of those final five years of Nelson's life in London and at sea. Downers hunt for the keys that will unlock the mystery of a blood-stained purse lead straight to the Battle of Trafalgar and Nelson's storied defeat of Napoleon in the battle that cost him his life. In the spirit of Simon Winehester and Susan Sontag, Nelson's Purse offers historical sleuthwork at its best: a  love story, a detective story, and an adventure story of all time." Great history in this book in almost new condition. Just some light shelf wear on DJ. Shipping and handling 4.60 Media Mail to US destinations. Canadian residents 20.75 First Class mail. All others welcome but extra postage required and shipped entirely at your risk.