Pictured: Author David Rutland, 11th Duke of Rutland
One of the most interesting books I have had the pleasure to read recently was written by friends David Rutland and Emma Ellis: Resolution: Two Brothers. A Nation in Crisis. A World at War. I had the honor of attending the launch of Resolution at Belvoir Castle last summer and look forward to announcing a launch event for it in Boston soon.
An overview of Resolution:
"Praised by The Times as 'a rollicking tale,' the book presents the contrasting fortunes of two aristocratic brothers in the age of the American Revolution and offers a fascinating and finely etched portrait of Georgian England. Charles Manners became 4th Duke of Rutland in 1779, sought reconciliation with the American colonies and was Viceroy of Ireland; Robert Manners embarked on a naval career, became flag captain of the Resolution and died of injuries sustained at the Battle of the Saintes. Based upon archives held at Belvoir Castle, Resolution is both an enthralling saga of two generations of the Manners family and an exquisitely delineated portrait of aristocratic, political and naval life in mid-Georgian England."
David Rutland is the 11th Duke of Rutland and lives at Belvoir Castle, ancestral home of the dukes of Rutland in northern Leicestershire. Emma Ellis, whose maritime travels include voyages to Greenland and Antarctica, became interested in the history of maritime exploration during a circumnavigation of New Zealand. She subsequently undertook a Master’s Degree in Naval and Merchant Naval History at the University of Greenwich. Resolution took four years to write, using original documents in the archives at Belvoir Castle, as well as ships’ log books and other naval records held at The National Archives at Kew and the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich.
Praise for Resolution:
“David Rutland and Emma Ellis have found a clever, and ultimately poignant, way of bringing the naval and political sides of the war with American colonies into a single focus. It is as comfortable with the aristocratic world of Belvoir, Newmarket and the gaming table as it is with the quarterdeck.” —Spectator
“A rollicking tale of Lord Robert Manners, and his older brother Charles, the duke in the castle in Georgian times.” —The Times
“Vivid and well written, designed not just to appeal to military-history nerds.” —Tatler
“A delightful book and an important contribution to naval history.” —Prof. William M. Fowler, Jr.
Ordering information: https://www.amazon.com/Resolution-Brothers-Nation-Crisis-World-ebook/dp/B01LQE9HAW