Horatia’s Secret

Debut historical fiction (2020, revised 2022)

An 1873 Nelson’s Blood saga novel based on historical facts.

“...lovely passages, of detailed descriptions and emotion, which move the reader, spurring you forward to complete the story and to know Horatia's outcome.” The Historical Fiction Company.

On the verge of nervous breakdown, a respectable Victorian grandmother turns to an old friend, but ongoing visions make her face her deepest fear.

She is the illegitimate daughter of British hero, Admiral Lord Nelson. She was raised by Nelson's mistress, Lady Hamilton, whom society views as evil.

Her mind keeps slipping into immersive memories. She's terrified of being committed to a lunatic asylum, not for herself, but because the stigma would destroy her sons' and grandsons' prospects.

After accepting an old friend’s invitation to spend Christmas by the sea, Horatia realises she is powerless to block the past from her mind.

Written by the real life Horatia’s 3rd great-granddaughter, Horatia's Secret is a compelling historical novel driven by emotion, strong female characters, rich period detail, engaging dialogue, warm humour and family stories not previously recorded in histories of Nelson and Emma Hamilton.

Available from Ivybridge Bookshop and via Amazon world wide: UK link US link

Some reviews of Horatia’s Secret

Just a fan

Great characters

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 May 2021

I usually avoid historical stories but really did enjoy this book. The characters were so well described that I could imagine them moving and talking vividly. My favourite was Ethel! Also it was interesting to know how people lived differently depending on what class they were from. I am so looking forward to the next book.

Captivating, I didn't want it to end...

Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2020

Verified Purchase

I thoroughly enjoyed this first semi-historical novel by Lily Style, based on her family roots in England, descending from Lord Nelson. A family tree is provided, as well as excerpts of relevant historical background at the beginning of each chapter. Set in the 1870's, the book cleverly weaves together the past with the present, giving you a full sense of who Horatia is, and several other characters as well. Four generations are represented, at various stages of their lives, and within a few chapters, I found myself caring about all of them. The book provides quite a slice of 19th century English life, at several locales, from both ends of the economic spectrum, and is also an endearing look at friendship - both newfound and longstanding. Further into the book it turns quite suspenseful which was an enjoyable surprise. But the entire book is a treat and I really did hate for it to end - much as one might hate for a favorite television series to end (Downton Abbey comes to mind). I enjoyed it so much, I went back and reread the first two chapters - wanting to experience them with the now fuller knowledge I had of the characters. I hope there will be a sequel bringing the younger generations into the picture further - I happily suspect there will be.

Melanie Rawles

An absorbing and well researched read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 July 2020

Verified Purchase

I found Horatia's Secret to be full of accurate period detail and interesting characters. It isn't just Horatia guarding a secret and the author evokes so well the inner turmoil of deciding if, when and to whom to reveal it.

J E F HOOPER

5.0 out of 5 stars Horatia's Secret

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 July 2020

Horatia's Secret is a remarkable feat of imagination by an author in complete control of her material. Lily Style draws on extensive research of her Nelson/Hamilton family ancestors and pieces together a compelling narrative from scant documentation and inventive dialogue. In addition, she subtly introduces comparisons between the lives of the middle and even upper middle classes residing in the country with carriages and household staff with those of the working classes obliged to live in unhygienic town centres, in overcrowded unfit accommodation and at risk of typhoid infection, engaged in a constant struggle to scrape together a poor living. After Nelson's death, Emma Hamilton falls from the high life to find herself among the lower classes, a victim of an hypocritical entrenched class system in England, Government parsimony and betrayal by Lord Nelson's older brother.

The organisation of the material is ingenious. Lily Style moves smoothly among a panorama of real people who reveal to the reader their own secrets and fear of stigma, whilst she cleverly emphasises the strain Horatia is still under, after sixty years, to keep her childhood promise to her mother in the face of one of the worst-kept secrets in history.

Joshua Robinson

Imaginative and compelling

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 July 2020

The author has woven an imaginative and compelling story around the relationship between Lady Emma Hamilton and her daughter Horatia. It transpires that Nelson and Emma’s efforts to conceal the fact that Horatia was their daughter blighted her life.

The consequences of keeping the secret that Emma was her mother are revealed in this story of an imagined meeting in a seaside town in Devon where Horatia, her cousin, a family friend and several grandchildren gathered to spend a few days together.

This engaging and plausible story highlights the sadness Horatia suffered throughout her life. A sadness created by the deliberately obscured details of her birth.

Mrs Lyn G

Poignant and at times humorous

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 October 2020

Horatio Nelson is of course universally hailed as the hero of Trafalgar. His name is also, more scurrilously, linked forever with Emma, Lady Hamilton. The author of this fascinating novel is the third great granddaughter of Horatia, the offspring of that liaison.

With the benefit of access to a wealth of family papers the author has produced a most readable account of Horatia and the personal angst that was her life's burden.

The dialogue and characters are delightfully engaging. The story is told sensitively and convincingly, with fiction used to join up the dots of historical fact. Each chapter begins with a snippet of historical record which adds context to the narrative. The story flows well, being at times poignant, and other times humorous. A good read for all, but especially for those interested in fact-based Georgian and Victorian historical fiction and the heroes and anti -heroes.

Chrissie O

A wonderful historical novel.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 March 2021

This first novel from Lily Style is a charming and very engaging read. The characters of all ages are brought very vividly to life and the reader empathises with their difficulties and suffering. The author is able to write, what is often, a sad and tragic story with a wonderful lightness of touch and a great deal of humour.

I felt transported back to earlier times by the excellent period details and lively conversation of the characters.