Trafalgar: A Tale

Trafalgar is the first book in a series of 46 historic 'episodes,' a set of novels via which he charts Spanish history from 1805 to 1880. The book is written in a humorous tone and is well-observed, and is very readable. However, it reviews one of the most tragic periods: the Trafalgar Battle of the Napoleonic wars. The story is written from the first-person perspective of a young man, Gabriel, who is taken into service by an elderly ship's captain. As he takes part in the battle, he gives a wide-eyed description of the events, giving a contemporary reader many lessons.