"In June 1805, from his cabin on HMS Victory, Nelson wrote a personal and private letter to a long standing acquaintance on Jamaica, the wealthy and powerful slave owner, Simon Taylor. This book reveals how that letter was subsequently forged by the West India planters, who sought to use Nelson's posthumous reputation in their campaign to prevent the abolition of the slave trade and slavery. As a result of these forgeries Nelson's reputation has been called into question in recent times. The fight for his reputation is Nelson's final battle."--Provided by the publisher.