Book description
The life of Thomas, Lord Cochrane, later 10th Earl of Dundonald, was
more extraordinary than that of Nelson, more far fetched than that of
Hornblower or Patrick O'Brien's Jack Aubrey. Born the son of an
eccentric and indigent Scottish peer, he entered the Royal Navy in 1793.
In a series of outstanding and heroic actions, often against seemingly
overwhelming odds, he made his name fighting Napoleon's navy as one of
the most dashing and daring frigate captains of his day, before
embarking on a career as a mercenary admiral. Donald Thomas is the
author of several biographies, including Cochrane: Britannia's Sea Wolf
and Robert Browning: A Life Within Life, which was runner-up for the
Whitbread Prize. He also writes fiction (most recently The Secret Cases
of Sherlock Holmes) and is a prize-winning poet (his collection Points
of Contact won the Eric Gregory Award).
