Review: Nelson’s Folly by Oliver Greeves

A character-driven period drama that shines with eloquent prose, historical detail, and gripping suspense, Nelson’s Folly by Oliver Greeves is nothing short of masterful.

Initially, Captain Horatio Nelson is a captain without a ship, disliked by far too many in the British Navy for his career to progress any further. However, as the French Revolutionary Wars rage on, men of Nelson’s undeniable skill and experience are essential, and thus he finds himself freshly helming the Agamemnon, and quickly finding success on the high seas.

Horatio begins the story as a slightly jaded, yet confident husband, a man who commands interest from his peers, albeit not outright respect, and is keenly away of his impoverished roots. Fanny is a loving mother and trusting wife, with her own pianistic passions, a rich inner life, and an eagerness for socialization. She struggles with his departure, the fresh demands on his soul, and the fact that her son has joined the ranks.

Readers watch these characters slowly transform over the course of the story, in fits and starts, both as individuals and in their relationships. From Horatio’s growing ego that is driven by unexpected fame, naval heroics, and desirability, to Fanny’s isolation, need for connection, and rediscovered independence, their alternating chapters of character development slowly build a palpable tension in the relationship. As the years pass, with Nelson being knighted and repeatedly promoted, the distance between them only seems to grow, and the violations of trust only become harder to heal.

The omniscient narration allows for this legend of British history to come alive in three dimensions, flaws and all. Greeves demonstrates an impressive skill of showing, rather than telling, which far too many authors, particularly in the historical fiction genre, sorely lack. The prose and its colorful characters are immersive and enthralling – reacting, thinking, and growing right on the page. The novel is far from brief, but the pace rarely drags, with months flying by in flurries of letters and dense expositional passages that push the plot forward. At times, the dialogue is sparse and purposeful, with conversational gaps filled in smoothly with narration; at others, witty repartee and meaningful exchanges primarily drive a scene or a chapter.

While the vast majority of the writing is sharp, contemporary for the setting, and well-edited, there are occasional anachronistic splashes of prose, such as the characters spending two hours in “heavy traffic.” There are also some sections or chapters that feel less important to the overall story progress; excess exposition to validate every element of a scene, character, or event can be distracting. Those small critiques aside, the writing is polished, professional, and clearly the product of an incredible amount of research. The line between fiction and historical fact is rarely seen, resulting in an unforgettable story of duty, hierarchy, loyalty, pride, betrayal, resentment, and honor.

A fascinating and historically rich novel, Nelson’s Folly is highly recommended for fans of historical fiction, or anyone who enjoys high-stakes, character-driven drama.