EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Czisnik, Marianne

English

Few figures in British history have caught the public imagination as much and as
enduringly as Admiral Nelson. This thesis explores the ways in which Nelson has
been interpreted and used for a variety of purposes. A prologue about the public
image of Nelson in his lifetime is followed by the two main parts of the thesis, which
deal with Nelson as an image and as an icon respectively.

The first part of the thesis, about the image of Nelson, examines historical
literature. After an introductory chapter about the general development of the writing
of biographies about Nelson, six chapters analyse how the most controversial aspects
of Nelson's life have been treated since his death in 1805: his acts of disobedience,
his actions as a commander, his involvement in the defeat of the Neapolitan
revolution in 1799, his relationship with Lady Hamilton, his death and his character.
A chapter also explores historical treatments of Nelson in France, Spain and
Gennany. The findings of this part lead to the concluding chapter.

The second part analyses the iconography that has made use of certain aspects
of Nelson. An introductory chapter examines the immediate public reaction to
Nelson's death. The following chapters are dedicated to the different forms of
iconography, visual as well as literary: monuments; pictures; material artefacts;
poems and songs; novels, plays and films; exhibitions; and propagandistic (political
as well as commercial) use made of Nelson.

In the conclusion the various findings are brought together in order to give an
overview of how Nelson as a historic figure, close to British national identity, has
been interpreted and used by succeeding generations

Admiral Nelson: image and icon

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