It is 1799, and after Captain Horatio Nelson's victory at the Nile he is celebrated at home as Britain's greatest hero, elevating his popularity with the public to a fever pitch. At sea, Nelson's squadron supports King Ferdinand's successful attempt to recapture Naples. At the same time, word of his dalliance with Emma Hamilton reaches the Admiralty, and his superiors begin to lose patience. At court, his ego and relationship with Emma, who is viewed as little more than a trollop by the courtiers surrounding George III, create a tumultuous backdrop to his progress.

As the war against France reaches its critical stages, England desperately needs Nelson's leadership. The path ahead is marked by the siege of Malta and a consequential battle at Copenhagen, which tests his courage and resilience. The constant threat of war, the hardships he faces, and his yearning for acceptance in society create a tense and urgent atmosphere – a desire he believes can be fulfilled with one more significant victory.

Breaking the Line brings David Donachie's stirring Nelson Trilogy to its conclusion, from the happiest time of his life with Emma at their Merton home to aboard HMS Victory during Britannia's grand triumph in the waters off Cape Trafalgar. From the smoke of war to the perfume of the court, the wilds of the Atlantic to the vicissitudes of sun-drenched Naples, this is the story of a great hero, a star-crossed love affair, and a war that stretched across the world.