Wellesley, Arthur

1815 The Waterloo Campaign: Wellington, His German Allies and the Battles of Ligny and Quatre Bras

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German victory at Waterloo
A nice change but to one sided to be an all rounder
A Refreshing viewpoint
Vorwarts, Deutschland!
Looking at history - fact or Sharpe?

1815 The Waterloo Campaign: Wellington, His German Allies and the Battles of Ligny and Quatre Bras
Peter Hofschroer
Manufacturer: Greenhill Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1853673048

Book Description

Previously unpublished eyewitness accounts and battle reports German, British, and Dutch archive material published for the first time Controversial reassessment of the whole campaign Here is a unique reassessment of the Hundred Days and a powerful analysis of the epic confrontation at Waterloo. The first of two volumes, this study is a thoroughly researched examination of the opening moves of the campaign from a new perspective based on evidence never before presented to an English-speaking audience. Hofschrer arrives at far-reaching conclusions about the controversial theory that the Duke of Wellington deceived his Prussian alliesand all subsequent historians of the campaign. By presenting events from the perspective of the Germans, the author undermines the traditional view of the campaign as one fought out by the French and the British and reveals the crucial role of troops from Prussia and the German states.

Customer Reviews:

German victory at Waterloo.......2007-03-17

Peter Hofschroer is by no means alone in his effort to set the historical record straight about Waterloo. Alessandro Barbero, professor at Piedmont University, makes it very clear in his book "The Battle, a New History of Waterloo," that Wellington was at the brink of being trounced by Napoleon when Bluecher came to his rescue and defeated the French. The British version of this historical battle misrepresents these facts. It celebrates Wellington as the great field marshal who saved Europe, when in fact it was Bluecher's forces that put an end to Napoleon's ambitions of a French dominated continent.

A nice change but to one sided to be an all rounder.......2001-12-09

This book is strong in its detailing of Prussian action, strong in investigating any mistakes that the British may have made but like most axe-grinders weak in describing anything that upsets his theory.
I can name countless examples of minor 'attitude' mistakes which include such delights as Prussia mistaken for Germany ( it is not a foregone conclusion that a greater Germany would form at this point and a lot of the Germans appear to hate Prussia anyhow but of course if the forces were split by country then the author would not be able to produce his tabloid headline to sell his book tsk tsk )

A complete refusal to view Prussian attitudes for what they were - example Prussia starts mobilising for war AGAINST Britain,Autstria and France ( because Britain still invlolved against america) 2 days AFTER these 3 make a secret defensive alliance and the author states how horrified Prussia was at this terrible action????? bizarre attitude.

French aggression is frequently mentioned yet Napoleon only actually started 2 wars ( however many he 'helped' ) and Prussian eagerness to avenge the 'Sufferings' on their nation are even more frequently mentioned yet its fairly clear that revenge for the embarrasment of losing was more of a motivating factor.

The most obvious and regretable part of the book lies in his ignoring of any evidence that counters his claim. A major example lies in his statement that Bourmonts defection made no difference to the campaign as the Prussians knew all Napoleons plans anyway. No mention is made of the fact ( bar a sentance later commenting on Gerards late arrival ) that he commanded the advance division of Gerards corps and his disappearance delayed Gerard almost half a day and that had this defection not occured the early engagement at Gilly would have been lost and Ligny would have started earlier and hence the campaign would probably have been lost. I know Historians should avoid what ifs but this statement is obviously ignored because it removes glory from the magnificent Prussian rear guard action.

On a positive note his description of the battles themselves are superb and well written and his destruction of Wellingtons attempts to cover his early mistakes in the campaign that caused the Prussian defeat are well documented and eye-opening ( Wellington shows himself to be almost a good a propagandist as Napoleon ) it is just a shame that his lack of accuracy whenever anything might tarnish the glory of Prussian arms and to quote his own book (replace de Ros with the author ;) )"if de Ros's account is inaccurate regarding this final comment, can it be trusted at all"

A Refreshing viewpoint.......2000-10-28

This book along with the second volume " The German Victory" seems to have touched a nerve ending among many readers.

The book covers the overall situation in Europe before Waterloo, the fragile coalition between the Allies, the fighting around Carleroi, Franses and of course the dual batlles of Ligny and Quatre Bras. Peter Hofschroer writes almost entirely from a Prussian perspective which is refreshing but at times a little frustrating (as I would have liked a bit more French input). He tries to convince the reader that the Waterloo Campaign was more of a German/Prussian victory than a British one based on the make up and numbers of the Allied forces that actually fought in the campaign. He also pulls no punches on the Duke of Wellington's performance in the opening rounds of the campaign and concludes from the evidence of his research that the Duke deceived his Prussian Allies into fighting at Ligny when he knew he could not offer any support.

I enjoyed reading this book which I found to be thoroughly researched and thought provoking and also made good use of maps. Peter Hofschroer has certainly come up with an interesting alternative view point which may polarize the way many people view how the Waterloo Campaign was won.

Vorwarts, Deutschland!.......2000-07-06

All authors, historians, and enthusiasts have their bias, prejudices, and favorite subjects. This is no secret, but it does not stop the conscientious researcher/historian from printing both 'good' and 'bad' information in a study, paper, or book.

Let me pause here to say, in all fairness, that the author and I have corresponded obliquely on different Napoleonic topics, and we neither agree nor do we get along. That, however, has nothing to do with the merits of this volume.

This book does concentrate on the Prussians, and other Germans, but it does so warts and all. Perhaps it is high time somebody does, for if the Prussians hadn't arrived on the field, Wellington would have been beaten, he as much as admitted it later. The author has no problem discussing unpleasant topics, such as the Saxon mutiny against the Prussians before the 1815 campaign began. His research is meticulous, he presents his subject very well, and he is enthusiastic about it, shcih to me is very important.

I was somewhat disturbed by the vehemence and prejudice that some of the reviews here have expressed. This book, and its sequel, have much to say, have been well-researched, and belong in every Napoleonic enthusiast's bookcase. This isn't 'revisionist history' in the sense that it is trying to change results or that it is making something up. It is a valiant attempt at deeper research that has succeeded, and succeeded quite well. This book, and its companion, have set a benchmark that all subsequent works on the subject will have to meet.

Looking at history - fact or Sharpe?.......2000-04-27

I have to admit to knowing Peter Hofschroer for about 20 years,but then we all have our crosses to bear! Seriously, in all the timeI have known him, Peter has been a stickler for accuracy and sourcing. I also have little interest in Waterloo per se, but that probably qualified me to look over the drafts. Peter took on board what was said by myself and others. The end result - and it came as no surprise to anyone who has looked at the Continental material on any Napoleonic campaign - is that a few porkies have been told, things have been distorted and many stories have turned up, which transpire to be based even on documents and stories which first surface years after the event. Closer examination of the regularly repeated tales then shows the clear inconsistencies. So, back we have to go to the original documentation in so far as it exists (and obviously some has gone missing). This was the task Peter set about in the wake of the Hamilton-Williams fiasco. Given HW, I was surprised that one ardent reviewer from Raleigh (who doesn't give his name) describes Peter's book as "amateur historiography that is sadly common in Napoleonic period: long on "data" and short on meaningful synthesis." I suggest he looks at much of the current output on the period. There any reader will find in fact a lot of books that are extremely short on data and long on meaningful synthesis - ie: copying out the more colourful accounts from one side with little hard, checked evidence, the vacuous gaps being filled with something owing its origins more to Sharpe than historical work. It never ceases to amaze me how, 200 years on, there is so much material that hasn't made it into English. Above all, Peter's contribution is to show the Prussian angle, which doesn't appear much anywhere else in English! Only when we have meaningful data can we draw any conclusions. I agree that it is time we had the full French view of these events (Bernard Coppens is giving us plenty on Waterloo itself, but I am sure there is plenty more). Inevitably, in what is an analytical work, the detail can get rather complex and even tedious, but if it wasn't there, wouldn't the criticism be that the author had failed to make his case? You are on a no-win with this. Peter was actually advised by myself and others that getting too bogged in the political run-up would overcomplicate his case and perhaps put off the Sharpe-battle narrative readers, Peter has made his case and like all theories, it must be tested and examined as it makes its way forward. Given the huge numbers of books that appear on Waterloo, it will be interesting to see what follows. Even if you disagree with the conclusions, it should be read if only so that the reader is aware that there is more than the "received wisdom". However, for all those who say Peter is too pro-German , doesn't Wellington come out of rather well, as he was clever enough to put a few over on those daft Prussians and then fool the British too! I'll give it 4-stars to show I am not Peter. END

Wellington Invades France: The Final Phase of the Peninsular War 1813-1814

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The final phase of the Peninsular War

Wellington Invades France: The Final Phase of the Peninsular War 1813-1814
Ian Robertson
Manufacturer: Greenhill Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1853675342

Book Description

A detailed account of Wellington's campaign in the south of France. Drawing on eyewitness accounts and official dispatches, Ian Robertson outlines the nature of the war as well as traces the complicated maneuvering and operations of the British and French armies. He describes in detail such hard-fought actions as the Nivelle, Orthez, Toulouse, and Bayonne and throws light on some less well-known clashes, many of which were fought in the unforgiving terrain of the Pyrenees.

Customer Reviews:

The final phase of the Peninsular War.......2005-01-24

Ian C. Robertson's "Wellington Invades France" provides a detailed account of the final year (1813-1814) of the British campaign to evict Imperial French forces from Spain and then to complete the military defeat of Napoleon by invading France. Ian Robertson is well-versed in the era and has a number of books to his credit on this general topic. This particular history is so detailed as to be a very daunting read to all but the most dedicated student of the British Army in the Peninsular War. The prose tends to be very dry, although it is supported by nicely chosen quotes by witnesses to the campaign and by clear diagrams of the actual battles. The interpretation of events is fairly standard. The casual reader without background in the Napoleonic Wars will find this a challenging read.

Wellington as Military Commander (Classic Military History)

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A good book for a long trip.

Wellington as Military Commander (Classic Military History)
Michael Glover
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0141390514
Release Date: 2001-10-30

Book Description

Known affectionately as "Old Nosey," Wellington earned the highest reputation as a British military commander. He achieved victories despite impossible obstacles and had the undying loyalty of his men. In Wellington as Military Commander Michael Glover traces Wellington's triumphant career, from his early days in India through the Peninsular campaigns and his glorious defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo. Glover's vivid narrative, with its unrivaled descriptions of the strategies, weapons, and formations of George III's army, draws upon personal accounts of both the men who served under Wellington and the great commander himself.

Customer Reviews:

A good book for a long trip........2004-10-11

Michael Glover's book follows the arc of Wellington's career in uniform from the Netherlands campaign of 1793-95 through the Danish expedition, the long service in India, and the Peninsular War, to the Waterloo campaign in 1815. He firmly places the Duke in the context of the British Army and British politics of his time. Glover does an excellent job describing the inefficient organization of the British military establishment of the day, one designed more to keep internal order while not threatening Parliamentary government than for conducting expeditionary warfare against Napoleon's French Empire. Glover provides some interesting insights into the challenges of the British government in providing guidance to deployed military commanders such as Wellington who were days to weeks travel distant from London. Glover also brings out the challenge for that political leadership of dealing with a Whig loyal opposition that fundamentally disagreed with the basis for conflict with Napoleon. These challenges placed on Wellington, especially during the Peninsular War, a heavy responsibility to plan campaigns that translated London's broad and necessarily vague guidance into concrete objectives within the capabilities of his limited resources, without excessively risking Britain's only expeditionary force. The portrait of Wellington that emerges from this study is of a remarkably professional officer who is perhaps less a military innovator than a disciplined and determined leader who excells at the often forgotten basics of logistics and intelligence, and who gets the most out of the system and the soldiers with which he works. Glover's solid prose, studded with nuggets of detail that enhance perspective, will suit readers with at least a casual interest in the subject. More serious students of the era may find this to be a survey-level work. Those looking for the cut and thrust of battlefield narrative should consult more detailed studies such as Jac Weller's Wellington trilogy. An excellent choice for those facing a long plane ride.

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A Quality Popular Biography of the Iron Duke
Wellington: warts and all!
A good book about a great man, warts included

Wellington: The Iron Duke
Richard Holmes
Manufacturer: HarperCollins Publishers Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Wellington At Waterloo (Greenhill Military Paperbacks)

ASIN: 0007137508

Book Description

In this compelling biography, Richard Holmes charts the life of the Duke of Wellington, Britain's greatest soldier. He follows Wellington's remarkable career, from the ruins of his family seat in Ireland and the plains of India where he first gained his reputation as a brilliant commander, to the horrors of the Peninsular War and Waterloo. Holmes sees Wellington as a brilliant figure, idealistic in politics, cynical in love, a man of enormous courage and iron duty often sickened by the horrors of war.

Customer Reviews:

A Quality Popular Biography of the Iron Duke.......2005-03-13

Richard Holmes's "Wellington - The Iron Duke" is a well-written survey of the active life of the First Duke of Wellington. In just 300 pages, Holmes presents a balanced, even nuanced view of a man who was both the quintessential military professional and a complex human being. Through Holmes' efficient prose, we see Wellington as an extradinarily dedicated soldier who mastered his profession in ways few of his contemporaries did, yet who sometimes paid a price on campaign for his insistence on micromanaging his armies. Wellington comes across as a remarkably honest and duty-bound public servant; as a young man, he was also relentlessly ambitious, and as an older man, sensitive about his military reputation.

Holmes provides some useful insights. He suggests that exhaustion and strain were responsible for Wellington's uncharacteristically poor performance at the Siege of Burgos in 1812. Holmes examines the academic dispute over Wellington's relationship with the Prussians during the Waterloo Campaign; he tellingly notes Wellington's responsibilities to his alliance partners and to the British Government and finds that he served both. Holmes acknowledges Wellington's extramaritial activities but resists the urge to obsess over them or to indulge in psycological speculation.

Serious students of the Duke and of the Napoleonic Wars will find no new scholarship here; indeed, Holmes readily acknowledges his debt to earlier works such as Elizabeth Longford's exceptional biography and Jac Weller's battlefield narrative trilogy. Holmes has provided an accessible biography for the general reader, supported by well-chosen quotes from the Duke' contemporaries and by a nice selection of illustrations.

This book is highly recommended to the general reader with an interest in the man and the era.

Wellington: warts and all!.......2004-01-13

This is one of those books that once you take it up, you can't put it down!

Its balanced treatment of Wellington the man, the military man and the politican, has meant that this is not just a book about Waterloo.

One is left with the impression that Wellington was a great man, with equal weight given to his 'greatness' and his 'humanness'.

Very readable and highly recommended.

A good book about a great man, warts included.......2003-07-03

The book aims to be realistic - the fog of
war is foggy indeed, and Wellington sometimes makes mistakes. The
casualties at Waterloo are appalling, and the battle almost lost.
Lt.-Col. Trant of "Sharpe's Rangers" fame actually appears, an excellent soldier but "the most drunken dog there ever was" in Wellington's words.

Book Description

This best-selling, authoritative, and accessible study of the epic confrontation at Waterloo is now available for the first time in paperback. The armies of the period are brought to life and the battles recreated from the viewpoint of both Wellington and Napoleon. Every move and counter-move in this sweeping campaign is charted, from Napoleon's dramatic offensive and the opening battles of Ligny and Quatre Bras, to the hard pounding at Waterloo itself. Valuable to both historian and general reader, this guided tour of the battle includes all the key features of the terrain, and brings out the drama and tragedy of battle.

Customer Reviews:

Well researched, well written.......2005-02-10

There have been many outstanding books written about the Battle of Waterloo and the Duke of Wellington. The strength of Weller's book is that he synthesizes all of these sources into a very readable narrative of Wellington's actions in Waterloo.

The book focuses mostly on Wellington. It has some excellent chapters on what led up to the battle, the organization of the armies, and most importantly battlefield tactics and strategy. He then spends several chapters (maybe half the book) on the battles of Quatre Bras and Waterloo. He also has a chapter dedicated to raising and either debunking or supporting criticisms that other historians have raised about the performance of the British, Prussian, and French armies.

Jac Weller was clearly passionate about Wellington. He spent many days walking over the battlefields to put his research into better perspective. He included many maps and pictures, though the pictures are grainy black and whites that probably date for the 60s. I've been to Waterloo several times since the early 90s, and I'd expect that Weller would find the area significantly changed from when he wrote this book. His last chapter is basically his recommendation for a walking tour of the battlefields. My guess is that most of what he recommends can't be followed today.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Bernard Cornwell has written many books about the British Army of this time period in his Sharpe series. Quoting from his website, "[t]here are plenty of good books on Wellington's battles and campaigns, but these three [includes Weller's books on Peninsular War and India], I think, belong on the shelf of anyone who takes a serious interest in the Napoleonic wars." I agree.

An account of Waterloo for the Wellington fan.......2005-01-17

Jac Weller's "Wellington at Waterloo" is the third volume of a trilogy covering Wellington's military experiences in the Napoleonic era. It is best read as part of that trilogy. Weller writes in clear, easy to understand, and usually entertaining prose. He has an excellent grasp of the importance of terrain, and writes better than most about the details of tactics and weapons. His understanding of Wellington enables him to provide a narrative of the conduct of the Battle of Waterloo from Wellington's changing perspective as commander over time. This perspective allows Weller to impose order on the chaos of the battlefield for the general reader. Be warned that Weller was an unabashed fan of Wellington and wastes very little ink on the various academic controversies about the battle. Diehard fans of the military genius of Napoleon should seek elsewhere. Weller breaks no new ground with this book; his interpretation follows standard lines. Those looking for an entertaining and understandable narrative of the battlefield should find this a good read.

Detailed view from unique perspective.......2004-08-06

This book is neither an attempt at comprehensive coverage of the campaign leading to Waterloo nor meant as an exhaustive study of the battle itself. If one wishes to study either the campaign or the battle more broadly, or more fully, other works by other authors will better serve. But criticism of Mr. Weller's book for its narrow focus on the battle from Wellington's viewpoint would at best be a misreading of the author's intent, since as Bob Burnham's cogent review points out, Mr. Weller wrote this book primarily to give readers an understanding of Wellington's probable view of the battle as the Iron Duke experienced it on foot and horseback, in real time, under field conditions, in 1815 (...).In my opinion Mr. Weller not only largely succeeds in achieving that very specific and limited goal, but also gives a singularly edifying and pleasurable opportunity to learn details of the terrain and buildings of the battlefield as they were when it was fought, and to view the site and structures as extant in the late 1950's and early 1960's. I found descriptions of the battlefield's key elements by Mr. Weller, and the ground-level and airborne photos in his book, greatly informed my visit to Waterloo in 1971, and enhanced my ability to grasp the references made to these same features by other authors.

In conclusion, do not buy this book as either your introduction to the history of the battle or as a definitive and bias-free reference to the whole of the campaign. But do buy this book if you wish a very unique assist unavailable from any other work I'm familiar with per visualizing the "where" and "what" of the battlefield in 1815, and thereby improving your ability to judge for yourself regarding the when and why postulated by other authors for choices made by the various commanders, or the physical events of the battle falling out as they did.

The truth will anoy Napoleon appologists.......2002-10-06

Replying to the other 'reviews', none of which show signs that the author read the book:

It is no suprise to find that appologists for Napoleon are still arround. After all he is still taught as a hero in French schools rather than as the bloodthirsty tyrant he really was. Napoleon was the Saddam Hussein of his age, starting a series of unnecessary and ultimately fruitless campaigns which he ultimately lost.

The battle of Waterloo was only fought because Napoleon decided to invade Belgium. Jac Weller is quite right to point out that Napoleon lost to Wellington. In fact Wellington beat Napoleon twice, first in the Penisular campaign when he whipped Napoleon's generals, then at Waterloo he beat the man himself.

Wellington gets his due.......2002-01-06

We are too often blinded by the supposed "brilliance" of Napoleon, but at Waterloo his shortcomings were finally exposed. This book sets out to give an even-handed account of the battle, and presents both commanders in a realistic light. As an avid student of the era, I have long found it strange how Wellington, outnumbered as he was, could win the battle of Waterloo, and yet still "come in second" to Napoleon, whom he so clearly bested.

This worthy book demonstrates that Wellington and Napoleon may have been equal in talent in most departments, but in two areas, the Iron Duke had a clear advantage: he could see "the other side of the hill", and he was always present on a battlefield where he was most needed, at the precise moment he was most needed.

For the apologists for Napoleon, this book will make hard reading. For once an author is not blinded by the light of the late Emperor's posthumous PR machine, and assesses his military talents objectively and coldly, a task long overdue.

Amazon.com

Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, spent a lot of time worrying about whether Napoleon Bonaparte, the emperor of France, was a gentleman. Napoleon accused his English foe of being a coward. Yet, Andrew Roberts shows in this dual biography, each accorded the other an odd respect, and, like wrestlers in a ring, studied his foe's moves intently all the way to their fateful encounter at Waterloo.

Publicly, Bonaparte and Wellington professed to despise each other. "Even in the boldest things he did there was always a measure of ... meanness," said Wellington of the French emperor, adding later, "Bonaparte's whole life, civil, political, and military, was a fraud." Napoleon said that Wellington "has no courage. He acted out of fear. He had one stroke of fortune, and he knows that such fortune never comes twice." Yet the two, writes Roberts, were very much alike: social outsiders who found their greatness in the army, scholars of a sort, who brought scientific rigor to the study of topography and logistics, and men capable of inspiring great heroism in their soldiers.

In the end, Roberts suggests, Wellington won his battle, but Napoleon won the war. This intriguing study shows how, and it affords much insight into the workings of these great rivals' minds. --Gregory McNamee

Book Description

On the morning of the battle of Waterloo, the Emperor Napoleon declared that the Duke of Wellington was a bad general, the British were bad soldiers and that France could not fail to win an easy victory. Forever afterwards historians have accused him of gross overconfidence, and massively underestimating the calibre of the British commander opposed to him. Andrew Roberts presents an original, highly revisionist view of the relationship between the two greatest captains of their age. Napoleon, who was born in the same year as Wellington - 1769 - fought Wellington by proxy years earlier in the Peninsula War, praising his ruthlessness in private while publicly deriding him as a mere 'sepoy general'. In contrast, Wellington publicly lauded Napoleon, saying that his presence on a battlefield was worth forty thousand men, but privately wrote long memoranda lambasting Napoleon's campaigning techniques. Although Wellington saved Napoleon from execution after Waterloo, Napoleon left money in his will to the man who had tried to assassinate Wellington. Wellington in turn amassed a series of Napoleonic trophies of his great victory, even sleeping with two of the Emperor's mistresses. The constantly changing relationship between these two nineteenth-century giants forms the basis of Andrew Roberts' compelling study in pride, rivalry, propaganda, nostalgia, and posthumous revenge.

Customer Reviews:

Lots of dirt on two great commanders.......2006-11-22

Roberts succeeds in writing a readable and engaging comparison of the perceptions each leader possessed toward the other. The history is not a portrait of each commander separately, but rather shows the relationship between the two men in terms of conduct and word.

While the history gives more or less equal time to both commanders, what emerges, at least in my view, is a decidedly surprising and uncommonly jaundiced portrayal of Wellington. For example, Wellington pursued and seduced no less than two of Napoleon's mistresses. He filled his mansion with copious quantities of "Napoleona" -- statues, paintings, memorabilia. Indeed, for a man of Wellington's supposedly Victorian understatement, he talked of his victory over Napoleon incessantly. It is typically understood that Napoleon was an egomaniacal, self-obsessed dictator. What is less well known is that Wellington was much less the reserved, stoic gentleman his reputation would lead one to believe.

I would not consider this history to be essential reading except for buffs of the Napoleonic wars, and it gets a one-point deduction for its somewhat sordid, "tabloid-ish" quality. Still, I won't doubt the veracity of its content nor is it dry, so pick this one up if the focus is your cup of tea.

Disappointed.......2006-01-14

From the title of the book I was excited by the prospect of really coming to understand the two great minds on that historic battlefield that has rang down through history with such force. But to be blunt...I was disappointed.

Let me preface my comments by saying that I have a Napoleonic interest, but am by no means an aficionado on the subject. Therefore, I found the reading a bit too cumbersome. Perhaps it was due to my lack of depth of knowledge on the subject, but I truly feel it was due to the writing style, which never really flowed to me. If I have a more academic grasp of the subject matter or was more used to scholarly writing, I may have enjoyed it more...but I doubt it.

I never really got the sense that Roberts was telling me (the novice) a story but was rather dealing with quips and quotes and piecing them together in an attempt to form the narrative. The best thing of having read this book was that it spurred me to purchase a few other books on Napoleon himself which allowed me to develop an deep interst in the man.

Surprisingly Compelling.......2005-11-18

This book was a surprise for me. I picked it up at the library, intending to just read a couple of pages. The next thing I knew, I was 82 pages into the book. It's written well and avoids some of the dryness of other books about these 2 men. Rather than recounting the battles fought by these notorious commanders, the book focuses on the relationship between the two men that led up to the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo. It does assume that you have some historical background and that you know the basics of what happened at Waterloo and the subsequent exile of Napoleon. The angle of this book is different and refreshingly alive.

The great rivalry-Napoleon and Wellington.......2004-12-06

Although this book is subtitled "The Battle of Waterloo and the Great Commanders Who Fought It," it isn't really a straightforward military history. It is instead a rather original hybrid of biography, political and military history, and for lack of a better word, gossip. Roberts focuses on the parrallels in the careers of Napoleon and Wellington; there are remarkable similarities and differences. At the center of the narrative is the fact that Napoleon and Wellington, as the foremost military personalities of their time, were placed in a position of natural rivalry. Each was in many respects the standard against which the other was measured. Roberts, in an engaging style, brings out the perceptions (and misperceptions) each had of the other, and how these perceptions changed over time, especially after the Battle of Waterloo. For the serious reader, there are some insights into the personalities of the two leaders that help explain their respective approaches to the battlefield. For example, Roberts brings out the value for Wellington of his extensive tactical experience with infantry in India and the Peninsular War, which allowed him to personally and usefully intervene in the conduct of his battles. By contrast, Napoleon's far more rapid rise in rank left him with less experience in tactics and therefore more dependent on his marshals for the conduct of his battles. Roberts highlights that Wellington was primarily a military leader who saw himself as an agent of the British Governemnt; Napoleon's perspective was that of a head of state in pursuit of his own vision of glory, for which his leadership of the French Armies was a means to an end. Serious readers looking for battle history should seek elsewhere. For the more casual reader, there are plenty of juicy personal tidbits of the kind normally found on the personality page of the weekly Parade Magazine. These details tend to humanize two personalities long layered in myth. Roberts is to be commended for finding a original angle to ground that has been heavily worked.

A very good portrait of two great men.......2003-09-24

I enjoyed this work a great deal and found that I learned a great deal about both Wellington and Napoleon. I read it because I had read several of the Sharpe's books by Bernard Cornwell, and have become interested in the first Duke of Wellington, who is a reoccurring officer in several of the Sharpe's novels. I liked the fictional creation and wanted to see how accurate was the fictional portrait to the real man. I was gratified to learn that I liked the real life Duke as much as Cornwell's portrayal of him.

The author of this non-fiction work, Andrew Roberts, is a young historian who is excellent at researching his topic, and he is also a solid writer. While I would recommend this book to anyone, I would suggest a serious interest in the subject matter. This certainly isn't beach reading or an adventure novel, full of battle and sword.

Andrew Davis' main thrust his this: the commonly accepted historical view of these two men, Napoleon and Wellington, and the battle of Waterloo, is that Napoleon seriously underestimated Wellington's ability as a general was therefore caught by surprise by Wellington's fine generalship on the day of battle. Further, that Napoleon had no respect at all for Wellington, referring to him as "that sepoy General" (a reference to Wellington's service in India, where he won several impressive victories but had not defeated European armies). Davis does not agree with this assessment, claiming that before the battle, Napoleon had praised Wellington, and it was only after the battle, and during his long, bitter exile at St. Helena, that Napoleon became increasingly critical and insulting in his comments about Wellington. The Author spends the book reviewing the writings and actions of both men, in support of his premise.

Yet, after reading the book, I was not convinced. While the author makes it clear that as years passed Napoleon exhibited an almost demented obsession with regard to the battle of Waterloo, subsequently blaming nearly everyone present for the lose other than himself, and also in tearing down and belittling Wellington, he wasn't exactly full of praise and respect for Wellington before the battle either.

Andrew Roberts gives several examples of Napoleon's written and spoken statements about Wellington before the battle, and none of them are very substantial or enthusiastic. All of them sound like comments one general would say about another in an effort not to openly insult the other, instead of actual giving praise or respect. Take for example Davis' noting that Napoleon admitting in 1814 that Wellington had made a "reputation" for himself in the Peninsula. Could this not be seen, in the light of other comments from Napoleon regarding Wellington's opposition in the Penisula, to have been a sarcastic comment, or even an insult? The author also cites Napoleon referring to Wellington as "a man of viguor in Warfare." Not exactly a ringing endorsement, is it? Davis supplies other evidence, all of such lukewarm substance. All of Napoleon's comments on Wellington merely seem polite or measured in the same way. None of it ever smacks of real respect or supplies any indication that Napoleon was seriously impressed with Wellington. Napoleon seems to have considered Wellington a good, solid General, but certainly not in His class - perhaps the best the British had to offer.

The author bends over backward in this book to give a balanced view of both men, striving to make the point that both men were more alike that dissimilar. Again, Davis' own work does not leave me with that impression. If anything, Davis' own writings leave me with the impression that the two men were about as different as two men can be. Napoleon: a brash, classless man, so resentful and hateful of Wellington for defeating him that his soul turned small, dry and bitter, until his own obsessions and resentment ate him alive. An inspired man, and inspiring. A creature for the imagination. Wellington: a winning machine. A man possessing a razor mind and cold eyes that never, ever saw failure in anything. A creature of will and intellect, perfect for Empire. A gentleman in war and victory. In the end, Wellington was simply the better general and the better man.

On the Napoleonic Wars: Collected Essays
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Reassessing a Napoleonic Scholar

On the Napoleonic Wars: Collected Essays
David G. Chandler
Manufacturer: Greenhill Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1853671584

Book Description

The diverse array of subjects covered include the British campaign in Egypt in 1801; the battle of Maida; Napoleon's decisive victories at Marengo and Austerlitz; the Peninsular War; the Russian Army at war in 1807 and 1812; and the retreat from Moscow. The collection spans the entire career of Dr. Chandler and demonstrates the depth of his research.

Customer Reviews:

Reassessing a Napoleonic Scholar.......2000-06-23

David Chandler is the renowned author of The Campaigns of Napoleon, a monumental work on the war Napoleon fought, both as a general in chief and as head of state. An exhaustive study, I always preferred the Esposito/Elting Atlas to it, and thought Chandler knowledgeable, but as a writer somewhat boring.

I have changed my mind after reading this volume of is collected essays. They are clear, concise, generally accurate, and completely entertaining. In this anathhology, he picks and chooses his subjects carefully, but threads his way through the period from the Revolutionary Wars to 1815.

There are some real gems in this collection, such as his thorough explanation and expose on how Napoleon, thoroughly intent on gilding the beginnings of his career, has the official history of the battle of Marengo, which he nearly lost, rewritten to reflect it going exactly as planned. His analysis of the battle, and the rewriting, is excellent, and we find out where the official, accurate version ended up.

He also reasses the Oman's much oversimplified 'column versus line' with a critical analysis of the 1806 Battle of Maida, a relatively small, obscure action in southern Italy in 1806 between the British under Stuart, and the French under Reynier.

He devotes three essays to the misery that was Russian in 1812; three to Spain and m'lord the Duke of Wellington; One to Austerlitz and one to the Marshals. He also gives us an interesting view into the life of a domestic at war in 1815.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting, but Limited.......2001-10-04

Although the fighting around Hougoumont Chateau on 18 June 1815 had a major impact upon the on-going Battle of Waterloo, it usually receives only cursory attention in most accounts of that famous battle. In this Battleground Europe volume, the fighting around Hougoumont finally gets adequate coverage and Napoleonic enthusiasts should appreciate the uniqueness of this book. Unfortunately, while the book does provide an spotlight on an interesting aspect of the Battle of Waterloo, the inherent limitations of this volume detract from its historical value.

The book itself consists of thirteen shorts chapters, with the first providing a detail history and layout of Hougoumont Chateau. Another chapter is used to provide background on the campaign. Ten chapters cover the British occupation and defense of Hougoumont, including one chapter that covers the immediate aftermath of battle. A final chapter consists of a tour of Hougoumont today. Three appendices are included: a detailed hourly chronology, British personalities at Hougoumont and orders of battle on Allied and French troops at Hougoumont. However selected bibliography displays the limited sources used, including the unreliable Siborne and regimental histories. One of the authors, Julian Paget, is a retired officer from the Coldstream Guards and he has used regimental records to enhance this account, at least from the British side. Unfortunately, the French side is greatly neglected, with little information provided on units and almost none on commanders. Napoleon's brother Jerôme who pushed the attack, and his division commanders, remain ciphers in this account. Apparently, no French sources were consulted.

The wider issue of the impact of the struggle for Hougoumont on the outcome at Waterloo is addressed obliquely and with some exaggeration. Napoleon conceived of the attack on Hougoumont as a diversion that he hoped would divert at least British attention, if not reserves, away from his main effort in the center. This concept was tactically sound, and was originally only supposed to employ one division of the three in the French II Corps. It was a combination of Jerôme's escalation of his minor role in the battle into a full-fledged but uncoordinated corps attack and Napoleon's inability to reign him in, that really hurt the French cause. The author's cite Napoleon's failure to initially use his massed artillery against Hougoumont as a "mistake" but they fail to realize that (A) Napoleon would not waste his massed artillery reserve against a fortified target that was not his main effort and which initially only held a few hundred skirmishers, (B) Jerôme had plenty of II Corps and divisional artillery available to support his own attacks and (C) the muddy, wooded and cultivated terrain around Hougoumont inhibited rapid deployment of French artillery in a close support role against the chateau. Actually, Wellington made a significant mistake by not deploying at least one battery within the grounds of Hougoumont since grapeshot would have inflicted huge losses on the French infantry as they crossed the open ground to the south. British artillery supporting Hougoumont was deployed too far to the rear to employ anything but solid shot or howitzer shells. Whether or not French 12 pounder solid shot could have breached the walls of Hougoumont is also open to debate.

This book is an interesting read because it offers new perspectives on a well-known battle. Unfortunately, the author's predilection is to provide an glory-tinged narrative of one of his regiment's most famous actions - and at that limited objective he succeeds. Yet the wider goal of providing a fresh and balanced account of this crucial side-show remains unfulfilled.

'For lack of a nail...".......2001-07-21

Suppose LtCol.MacDonnel and a handful of Coldstream Guards hadn't forced the north gates shut; Hougoumont may have been taken. Without Hougoumont, Wellington's right flank was vulnerable. With Wellington's right crumbling, Napoleon wins Waterloo before Blucher and his Prussians can arrive. The Austrians, Russians, and Prussians negotiate a separate peace, Napoleon is ascendant in Europe, Germany doesn't become a world power, no Versailles Treaty, no Hitler, no World War Two, etc...

Or perhaps not.

But it wouldn't be exagerating to say that Hougoumont was the pivot upon which the Battle of Waterloo hinged. Julian Paget, himself a member of the Coldstream Guards, presents a detailed account of this critical episode that is usually discussed all to briefly in the more general histories of Waterloo. This book is filled with photographs, maps, a minute by minute timeline, and a breakdown of each section of the battle: the forcing of the gates, the orchard, the formal garden, etc. Paget even dispels the myth, promulgated by Victor Hugo in Les Miserables, about the 300 French bodies being dumped down the well.

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The Iron Duke (1769-1852), Napoleon's greatest antagonist, finally ended his global ambitions at the battle of Waterloo in 1815. British historian Christopher Hibbert cogently chronicles Wellington's achievements as a military strategist and Tory prime minister, but his probing biography is even more notable for its shrewd and subtle assessment of the duke's layered personality. Famous for his sardonic wit and towering temper, an indifferent husband and severe father, forbiddingly aloof yet capable of enormous charm, Wellington the private man is as fascinating as the public one in this smoothly written, solidly researched account.

Book Description

The colorful life story of one of the greatest military and political geniuses of all time, told in Christopher Hibbert's inimitable, highly readable style

A brilliant general, remembered most for his defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo, Wellington was also a politician of commanding presence. Elected Prime Minister in 1827, he was an influential adviser to kings and queens, and became deeply involved in all the major scandals of the time, delighting in mixing himself up in other people's affairs. Celebrated for his sardonic humor and savage rages which alternated with irresistible charm, he concealed a deep humanity behind a veneer of aloofness that gained him the sobriquet "the Iron Duke." Filled with fresh insights on aspects of Wellington's life and character, Christopher Hibbert has shown once again why he is one of our finest popular historians.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful biography.......2005-07-05

I read Dr Hibbert's biography of Horatio Lord Nelson and was so impressed by it that I ordered two more of his books. I've just finished reading this one, and I must say that, although I'd never really liked Wellington's often-characterised stiff-upper-lip persona, I found Hibbert's depiction very appealing. It reveals that, even though the marshal created a mask of aloofness and control, behind it he was charming and engaging. Wellington may not have possessed Nelson's instinctive, natural flair but he was solid, reliable, courageous, determined and a good learner. He comes a close second to Nelson as our greatest military hero.

A History Of A Hero.......2003-01-07

I have always thought of the Duke of Wellington as the Hero of Waterloo, but little else. In "Wellington, A Personal History" I learned that he was much more.

This book is, as the title indicates, a personal history of the man, rather than a history of his times. The reader learns little of the details of Waterloo, nor does he learn much about the impact of his career on the wider world.

Wellington's story is an interesting one. Born the younger son of lower nobility, his dukedom was earned, rather than inherited. His career was diverse. He fought for the Crown in India before his first encounter with Napoleon's armies in Portugal and Spain during the Peninsular War. The possibility of service in America during the American Revolution was mentioned, but did not occur. The glory which he won at Waterloo was merely a stepping stone to higher service.

After the banishment of Napoleon, Wellington entered the diplomatic service in France. This, coupled with his membership in the House of Lords, led to service as Foreign Minister and Prime Minister, among many other appointments. In office, Wellington was, generally, a supporter of privilege and order. Despite his dominant conservatism, Wellington was flexible enough to adjust to prevailing necessities. Although initially opposed to Catholic Emancipation, he supported Emancipation after concluding that the defeat of Emancipation would have led to more social unrest than the issue was worth. He then not only had to persuade opinion among the Lords and Commons, but also had to overcome the strong opposition of the King in order to get Emancipation passed. This is of particular interest to me, as family legend has it that we are descendants of Daniel O'Connell, whose election to the House of Commons forced the issue. Jews, whose potential for disorder was presumably less than that of Irish Catholics, did not enjoy his support when Emancipation for them was suggested.

During his political career, Wellington endured wide swings in popularity. At times he faced the threats of the mob as a result of his policies. He was forced to turn his home into a fortress and to carry pistols while traveling about London. Even when his popularity was at its nadir, his prestige and personal presence were sufficient to insure his safety.

Wellington's relations with his monarchs make interesting reading. Although he held George IV and William IV in low esteem, his relationship with Victoria was warm and close. He became an intimate and trusted advisor on whom Victoria and other politicians relied as an intermediatory.

Wellington's marriage was unhappy and distant and he became a widower at a fairly young age. These facts caused him to seek and enjoy the companionship of many women through his lifetime. These relationships and their effects on Wellington account for a large portion of this book.

As is common among heroes, Wellington's popularity grew as his vigor and involvement in public affairs diminished. Living to an advanced age, Wellington was revered as Britain's greatest hero.

I often gauge a book by how it makes me think beyond the covers. I compared him to American political generals. His political career was more impressive than Grant's, and of longer duration than Eisenhower's. The closest comparison may be with Washington, both as his country's greatest hero and the man to whom his country repeatedly turned in crises.

My only disappointment in this book, as minor as it is, is that it is so personal that one gets a sense of his times only indirectly. Overall it is a good study of this major historical figure.

What a snooze-inducer!.......2002-09-24

Having just finished McCullough's John Adams, I picked this up, hoping for another wonderfully vivid portrait of a great historical figure. Instead I find a book so crammed with useless details, so choked with irrelevant facts about irrelevant characters in Wellington's life, as to be virtually unreadable. I have no objection to a high level of detail, when properly employed in the advancement of a good narrative. But I can't explain the purpose of the useless details in this book, unless to parade before us the author's exhaustive knowledge.

I fall asleep each night after reading one and a half pages. If you're an insomniac with no real interest in Wellington, this book is for you. Otherwise, don't waste your time.

Interesting personal biography of the Duke.......2001-05-02

Author Christopher Hibbert concentrates on the personal aspects of Wellington's career, such as his relationships with family and close friends, and skirts over any lengthy analyses of the Duke's many campaigns. The Battle of Waterloo, for instance, is covered in only a few pages and the entire Peninsula War is given short shrift. Wellington's later years as a Tory politician, however, and his subsequent fall from grace with the populace is presented in detail and makes for quite an interesting read. Portraits of Wellington's brothers and other associates are also abundant in this volume and I was surprised as to how many I've never seen before. Hibbert himself is not totally enamored with his subject and portrays him as a very reticent and reserved aristocrat with little tolerance for fools and even less sympathy for the common folk. In this regard, I don't believe Hibbert has been able to lift the mask of command off Wellington and given us the definite look into his character. Wellington was certainly a man of many contradictions and Hibbert merely presents one side of him---the cold and aloof one. Still it's a worthy book with some scattered information not found in other sources. For the best read on this man, it's probably better for one to start with Elizabeth Longford's "Wellington: Years of the Sword". Hibbert's biography would certainly be a most interesting companion piece alongside it.

A Satisfactory Introduction.......2001-03-08

Hibbert's book, as is typically the case with his work, presents a perfectly satisfactory survey level introduction to the Duke's life and times. His writing is fluid and readable and seldom commits the sins of prolixity or obscurity common in much academic history. The tradeoff, unfortunately seems to be a significant lack of depth or interpretation. The reader familiar with Wellington's career will find little new and is far better served with Lady Longford's two volume work which remains the authoritative piece on the subject. Alternatively, Phillip Guedalla's 1931 biography is still available through out of print searches or otherwise and provides a compromise between length and detail.

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A Companion Volume to Oman's great history of the Peninsular War

Wellington's Army 1809-1814
Charles Oman
Manufacturer: Greenhill Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1853676772

Book Description

This book gives an unparalleled insight into the organization, day-to-day life and psychology of Wellington's army, focusing on the characters that Wellington believed could go anywhere and do anything'. Wellington's Army examines both the leaders and the led; the daily life, manners and customs of the Peninsular Army are explored, drawing on dispatches, general orders and records of court martial, and, to a greater extent, non-official information such as diaries, memoirs and letters. A great deal of literature was produced during this period, written by both commissioned and non-commissioned soldiers. For the soldiers, the campaign became a battle against the Revolution, a kind of crusade, and an attempt to thwart the triple-headed monster of Republicanism, Atheism and Sedition. The soldiers of Wellington's army were fighting for all that made life worth living - religion, morality, constitution, laws and liberty.

Customer Reviews:

A Companion Volume to Oman's great history of the Peninsular War.......2006-04-25

British historian Charles Oman spend thirty years writing "The History of the Peninsular War." Although now somewhat dated, Oman's seven volume study may still be the best English language narrative history of the Peninsular War. Oman chose to include a significant collection of supporting materials on the British Army in a companion volume: "Wellington's Army 1809-1814."

In "Wellington's Army," Oman sketches the leadership, organization, tactics, and details about the life of the long-serving British field army in the Iberian Peninsula. His topics include Wellington's use of his infantry and cavalry, his conduct of supply and of sieges, and the means by which he disciplined his force.

Oman's long immersion in the correspondence and memoirs of the Peninsular Army leads to many worthwhile insights, including why Wellington was respected but not loved by his troops and why his army was so successful for so long against superior numbers of French forces. One example is Wellington's insistance on campaigning from an established supply chain, which allowed his army to remain concentrated in the field far longer than his French adversaries. The French Army of the time depended on forage and pillage for supply, and when concentrated into a large mass, quickly exhausted the available local supplies and was forced to disperse.

Oman provides useful insight into the manning of Wellington's army through the rotation of first and second battalions under the regimental system. An appendix documents why Britain strained to field Wellington's relatively small army in the Peninsula, given the competing demands of the world wide British Empire.

Oman does not spare Wellington's Army its faults. The conduct of siege warfare was never its strong suite. Wellington's force lacked engineers and sometimes the artillery and the time to conduct proper sieges. It was successful at Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz thanks to the bravery of its soldiers, not its technique, and failed at Burgos for want of serious preparation.

This book is highly recommended to students of the Peninsular War and of Wellington as a commander. The casual reader with some background in the British Army will also find this a worthwhile book. Oman's writing style is clear and readable. This Greenhill reprint is wonderfully priced and contains a small number of prints and all the excellent appendices of the original.

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British Prime Ministers

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