The story of the greatest British naval battle of the Age of Nelson.

Renowned historian and novelist Dudley Pope explores the defining moment of the Age of Nelson. His compelling descriptions of the battle itself are backed by a wealth of historical detail, including a chronicle of the preceding year, revealing both the British and the French political motives, and explaining Nelson's strategy and Napoleon's response. Pope creates an intimate portrait of the life in the Royal Navy at its finest hour.

The special orders come direct from Nelson himself and contain news of the kind of mission close to young Lt. Ramage's heart. In a daring foray, under the very nose of the French Mediterranean fleet, he is to sail his tiny cutter close in to the Italian shore and rescue a party of stranded aristocrats from Napoleon's fast-advancing army.

The lieutenant is ordered to proceed to Gibraltar "with all possible despatch" aboard His Majesty's ship Kathleen, to support Lord Nelson in a battle with the Spanish off Cape Trafalgar.

Ramage is summoned by the Admiralty and given command of the Triton brig. But like the rest of the navy, Triton's crew has mutinied. Sympathizing with some of their complaints, Ramage also knows that if he fails to deliver three sealed dispatches to admirals off Brest and Cadiz, and in the Caribbean, he will become a convenient scapegoat.

The West Indian bases are desperate: post vessels--a vital communications link between England and the West Indies in the war against France--are mysteriously disappearing and no packets have arrived with orders in months. Were the privateers out in full force again? Had Napoleon's navy a secret new weapon? Lieutenant Lord Nicholas Ramage sets out from Jamaica to discover what treachery is threatening to throw the British navy into chaos.

In a brilliant yet daring spy scheme to protect Britain's shores, Lieutenant Lord Nicholas Ramage is chosen to plumb the secrets of the French High Command.

Ranked as a captain, Lord Ramage is dispatched to the Caribbean isle of Martinique. His mission is to barricade the French within Fort Royal. Sent to sea in the Juno, with a crew turned restless and disgruntled under the prior command of a drunk, Ramage realizes that his vessel may not be up to confronting the French.

Captain Ramage recklessly attempts to free the Jocasta, a British ship, from the Spanish Main stronghold of Santa Cruz. A vicious mutiny has left the Jocasta open to capture by Spain, but sailing the frigate Calypso, Ramage will stop at nothing to rescue the imprisoned vessel, even to inciting another mutiny on board his own ship.

A sinking British ship, her crew and passengers--men and women alike--ruthlessly murdered at the hands of a French privateer. This is the nightmare Ramage and the crew of the Calypso stumble upon while engaged in a sweep for freebooters in the waters off Jamaica. Supported by his men in a thirst for righteous vengeance, Ramage sets sail to bring the murderers to justice.

Ramage is prowling the Tuscan coast and far from English aid when he encounters a daunting French invasion fleet. As the enemy gathers strength, Ramage must decide how to thwart her actions with only the frigate Calypso and a pair of bomb ketches.