Waterloo - by Christopher Hibbert
Waterloo was the battle that ended for ever Napoleon's dreams of European empire unified under his rule. Through judicious and skilful use original source material, Christopher Hibbert creates full-dimensional portraits of Napoleon and Wellington, of the French, English and Prussian armies, and a strategical, step-by-step reconstruction of the events that led up to the battle, and the battle itself. Divided into three parts, the first studies Napoleon and his rise to power, the second describes Wellington and the allied armies, while the third reconstructs the battle of Waterloo. A final summary investigates the significance of the battle on world history.
A HISTORY OF THE PENINSULAR WAR - by Sir Charles Oman
Volume I : 1807-1809 From the Treaty of Fontainebleau to the Battle of Corunna
Volume II : January-September 1809 From the Battle of Corunna to the End of the Talavera Campaign
Volume III : September1809 - December 1810 Ocana, Cadiz, Bussaco, Torres Vedras
Volume IV : December 1810 - December1811 Massena's Retreat, Fuentes d'Onoro, Albuera, Tarragona
Volume V : October 1811 - August 1812 Valencia, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Madrid
Volume VI : September1, 1812 - August 5, 1813 The Siege of Burgos, the Retread from Burgos, the Campaign of Vittoria, the Battles of the Pyrenees
Volume VII : August 1813 - April 14, 1814 The Capture of St. Sebastian, Wellington's Invasion of France, Battles of the Nivelle, the Nive, Orhez and Toulouse
A HISTORY OF THE PENINSULAR WAR Volume VIII The Biographical Dictionary of British Officers Killed and Wounded, 1808-1814 - by Dr John A. Hall
This complimentary volume to Sir Charles Oman's A History of the Peninsular War is a biographical dictionary of more than 3000 officers in British, Portugese and Spanish service killed or wounded in the Peninsula. Serving as a who is who for British officers, and French and German officers in British pay, this is a vital addition to Napoleonic scholarship. Each entry includes the officer's service history, medals or awards received, the place, date and cause of death or nature of wound, subsequent career details and, in many cases, accounts of the particular officer taken from memoirs, diares and despatches of the period.
The Final Act - The Roads to Waterloo - by Gregor Dallas
"A delight to read because it is so egagingly well writen and so informative... Much of the book revolves around the Congress, where statesmen danced and philandered and hammered out the shape of Europe for the next hundred years. All the weeling and dealing is descibed with compelling lucidity and livelines.... A pleasurable and scholarly read." Literary Review
"The great strength of Dallas narrative is its concern not just with maps and treaties, but with the detailed reconstruction of the social and cultural world of the European in 1815.... The cumulative efect of all this pointiliste detail is powerful, conveying a vivid sense of the intellectual and imaginative world within which post-Napoleonic Europe was defined." Sunday Telegraph
"Some of the descriptive set pieces are magnificent. It would be difficult to find as good an account of the sheer brutality of Waterloo, where 40 000 men and 10 000 horses lost their lives... The personalities of all the key players are brilliantly drawn and many historical stereotypes shattered in the process..... This book is proof that any history- even diplomatic history- can be enjoyable and entertaining as well as instructive. Those dry-as-dust studies of Congress of Vienna will never be the same again." The Sunday Times
Napoleon's Army - by Colonel H.C.B. Rogers
Many books have been written about Napoleon and his campaigns but very little about the soldiers of his armies and of the organisation and conditions under which the lived and served. In this book Colonel Rogers with a wealth of experience both as a serving officer and as a military author to draw upon, examines Napoleon's Army in terms of its staff systems, its arms and its supporting services as it existed and changed during the long period that seperated the battles of Valmy and Waterloo. This is not another history of Napoleon's campaigns. Apart from the brief narrative of the opening chapter designed to serve as an aide-memoire, military operations are only cited to illustrate organisation, tactics, equipments and administration. The author seek too, however, to discover how, as Lord Wavell put it, Napoleon "..... inspired a ragged mutinous, half-starved army and made it fight as it did". This is a book for the serious student of military history and for the war-gamer who seeks to know in detail the secrets of Napoleon's success in the field of battle. In this respect it is a companion to other Ian Allan military titles - German Army Handbook and Military Dress of the Peninsular War.
One Hundred Days - Napoleon's Road to Waterloo - by Alan Schom
Napoleon forged an empire out of nothing, lost it again and then, after escaping from Elba, almost managed to recreate it. The Hundred days - from his landing near Cannes to his narrow defeat at Waterloo - form the most dramatic interlude in European history. Despite the burden of his greedy and irresponsible brothers, the implacable opposition of Talleyrand, the greatest statesman of his age, and the Allied armies briefly reunited to contain him, Napoleon came astonishingly close to success. Within weeks, he had dismantled Louis XVIII's feeble regime and stood ready to confront the combined forces of England, Austria, Prussia and Russia. Perhaps only his choice of generals and the dogged skill of Wellington and Blucher tipped the balance against him. Here Alan Schom vividly recaptures the events and the personalities. Basing his account on new and thorough research he creates a very different portrait of Napoleon from that of the charismatic leader and hero of France.
"Undoubtedly the best account of this episode in English" The Times Literary Supplement
"Alan Schom has written a racy account, backed by copious detail and an abundance of quotations.... a good read" Sunday Telegraph
"A brisk, pacy account of the Hundred Days, written in a fluent and engaging manner... There are excellent sketches of Fouche, Talleyrand and Carnot and a most able analysis of the background.... as well as fascinating material on esponage and intelligence" Literary Review
The Husar General - The Life of Blucher, Man of Waterloo - by Roger Parkinson
Many book have been written about Wellington and Waterloo, but this is the first English biography of the man who saved the Iron Duke and his army at this most famous battle. Without the timely arrival of the brave seventy-two-year-old Blucher at the head of his Prussian army, the course of history could well have taken a dramatic turn. As well as telling the full story of Waterloo and Blucher's part on it, this book, containing letters and personal accounts, details a career which spanned the entire Napoleonic era. No other general clashed so many times with Bonaparte, and Blucher's life epitomizes the excitement and horror of this fascinating, yet bloody, period. His character towered above the momentous events of the day - a new type of commander, he led, with highly-trained staff, a conscript army of thousands into field and his rallying cry of "Forwards!" was famous throughout Europe. To his men he was known as "Father" and he, in turn, called them "My children". If on occasions he was cruel he also displayed gentleness and humanity. Larger than life, a colossal drinker and gambler, Blucher was at times, like war itself, half mad.
The Anatomy of Glory - Napoleon and his Guard - by Henry Lachouque with a new introduction by David G. Chandler
The glory of the Imperial Guard resounds above all others in the annals of war. Created, built and nurtured as a bodyguard for Napoleon, it grew from a brigade of less than two thousand men into a virtual army, and became a human fortress which no one but he could penetrate. And, on such battlefields as Austerlitz, Jena, Friedland, Wagram and Waterloo, it won the laurels of undying fame. Writen by France's foremost historian of the Napoleonic Wars, Commandant Henry Lachouque, and translated and adapted by Anne S.K. Brown, this sumptuous work is enhaced by over 180 illustrations, including 86 plates in full colour. This new printing from the second revised edition of Lachouque's masterwork will be especialy welcomed by students of Napoleonic history. The plates alone are uniquely valuable as a source of uniform colour and style, and the text provides the definitive history of an elite body of men. With its vivid narrative and lavish illustrations, The Anatomy of Glory can lay justifiable claim to be one of the most magnificent books on military history ever published. The critical acclaim that greeted it upon its first publication provides ample testimony to its reputation: "This dramatic account of the birth, life and death of the fabulus Imperial Guard tells a stirring story in English for the first time." Leo Gershoy in The Saturday Review of Literature. "No one but the most presumptuous who wishes to know about the Imperial Guard can afford to ignore this astonishing compilation, The illustrations alone... are reproduced with a clarity, a beauty, and technical perfection which no one can fail to admire." Journal of the Royal United Service Institution.
On the Fields of Glory - The Battlefields of the 1815 Capaign - by Andrew Uffindell and Michael Corum
On the Fields of Glory - provides a new, stimulating history and unique portrait of Waterloo, and an excelent guide to the battlefield and its associated sites. The authors have divided the battlefield of Waterloo into three sectors: one for each of the three armies. This allows the reader to follow the fighting from three different perspectives and gain an objective understanding of the course of the battle. Vivid eyewitness testimony is used to describe events in each particular location. The authors make use of many remarkable first-hand sources, including previously unpublished letters from William Siborne's vast collection, hitherto inaccessible to the general reader. Other material, taken from the testimony of the Netherlands chief-of-staff Constant Rebecque, conclusively ends the long debate about the conduct of Wellington's Dutch-Belgian troops. As well as Waterloo itself the authors examine the battle of Wavre, the French retreat, Marshal Grouchy's rearguard stand at Namur, and many neglected topics, including the tense situation in Brussels during the campaign. The also uncover the little known story of how the English coastal village of Bexhill became the main base and adopted home of the King's German Legion, famous for its defence of the Waterloo farmstead of La Haie Sainte.
On the Field of Glory - brings the adventure of Waterloo to life, and provides an enthralling, comprehensive and clear guide to the battle and battlefield.
Admiral Collingwood - Nelson's Own Hero - by Max Adams
Admiral Collingwood, was Nelson's great friend and at one point, rival in love. From the day he went to sea as a 13-year boy to his death (at sea) aged 62, Collingwood kept a diary. His diares, letters and recently discovered log books enable us to hear his story in his own words. And he was a wonderful writer, descriptive, comic and full of insight. Collingwood fought in almost every major sea battle of the era and rose from humble midshipman to Admiral. He became Britain's 'minister at sea' for five years, effectively running the Mediterranean war effort. His grasp of military, economic and diplomatic affairs was remarkable given his complete lack of conventiomal education. His service began with the American War of Independence and ended when victory over Napoleon's Navy was assured. He wrote the victory despatch the night after Trafalgar. The story of his life is that story of the navy throughout the glory years of the Age of Saill.
The Ulm Campaign 1805 - by F.N. Maude
Two of history's greatest commanders clash with the fate of Empires at stake in the Ulm campaign of 1805, Napoleon demonstrated his mastery of the command of the Grande Armee, some 210 000 men-in a masterful flanking movement which was designed to defeat the Austrian Army under Mack in the Danube region before the intervention of the Russian Army under Kutuzov could affect the outcome. This, the third and final book in F.N.Maude's trilogy on the campaigns of Napoleon to be published by Leonaur, recounts an aspect of the 'War of the Third Coalition' which is widely considered to be a strategic masterpiece by the French Emperor. The battle of Austerlitz would finalise victory and ensure the defeat of the Austrians, but it would be Ulm which would confirm France as the leading power in Europe. This history, combined with Maude's Jena and Leipzig campaigns also published by Leonaur are essential components of every Napoleonic library.
Fighting Napoleon's Empire - by Joseph Anderson
Fighting Napoleon's Empire. The Napoleonic wars - A truly worldwide conflict. When Joseph Anderson joined the British Army to fight the French, he little realised that his service would find him in action across the globe. The rarely reported expedition to southern Italy found him with his regiment - the 78th - engaged in the brilliand action at Maida. Next came Egypt and the investment of Rosetta. Protracted war in the Iberian Peninsula required many regiments and the 78th was one of them. After some of his greatest challenges he then travelled across the Atlantic to the West Indies. This book recounts Anderson's experiences in an unusual and varied sequence of campaigns and battles from the Napoleonic period and includes a brief history of each of them to provide historical context.
Historical Maps of the Napoleonic Wars - by Simon Forty, Michael Swift
Based on the unique collection at the Public Record Office i Kew, England, this amazing assortment of more than 100 military maps charts the Napoleonic conflict from its start in 1803 to the defeat at Waterloo in 1815. Each one is beautifully hand drawn, accompanied by a caption explaining its significanse. The maps reveal in fascinating detail how the events were plotted out, including the major battles at Trafalgar and Austerlitz. Follow the fighting and clashes on every front, including Germany, Russia, and Austria in the east, and the crucial encounters in Belgium. Simon Forty, a highly praised military writer, presents a concise history of both the war and the military mapping.
The Man Who Broke Napoleon's Codes: The Story of George Scovell - by Mark Urban
This work gives a compelling account of the officer who waged the intelligence battle against Napoleon's army, a forerunner to the great code-breakers of the 20th century. The French army, during the Peninsular War, used a code of unrivalled complexity - the "Great Paris Cipher". Major George Scovell used a network of Spanish guerillas to capture coded French messages, and then set to work decrypting them. The book is actually as much a detailed and engaging history of Wellington's campaign in the Peninsular War between 1809 and 1813, as the story of George Scovell, the junior officer who was entrusted with handling all communications.
Napoleon in the Holy Land - by Nathan Schur
A detailed account containing eyewitness accounts by both sides of Napoleon's 1799 campaign in Syria and Palestine which also outlines the impact of the campaign on Napoleon's military thinking.
Bonaparte in Egipt - by J.Christopher Herold
A fascinating study of the military, political, religius and cultural background to Napoleon Bonaparte's Egyptian adventure, topped and tailed by the extremes of total triumph and utter defeat. In a detailed study, elegantly written, Herold covers all aspects of Bonaparte's expedition: military, political, and cultural. It was a bold adventure, full of drama. Although Bonaparte was victorious at the Battle of the Pyramids and occupied Cairo, his fleet was completely destroyed by Nelson at Abukir Bay and his ambition to conquer the Holy Land was frustrated at Acre. Despite these reverses, Bonaparte returned to France where he was greeted as a hero and seized political power in 1799. His attempt to take permanent control of Egypt and Syria for France was a critical stage on his road to power, and it is one of the most revealing episodes in his spectacular career.
Captain Blaze, Life in Napoleon's Army - by Elzear Blaze
Captain Blaze: Life in Napoleon's Army. Elzear Blaze recounts his life and experiences in Napoleon's army in well - written, articulate and companionable style, that draws the reader in as though listening to a master storyteller in the flesh. Whereas most writers of military memoirs deliver linear accounts of their recollections, Blaze concentrates on the different aspects of the military experience - the soldiers, the food, the uniforms, the camp, the march, etc. - and spins fact and anecdote, both personal and borrowed, into a seamless monologue that evokes the very spirit of the Napoleonic period. Comrades and acquaintances are drawn in convincing detail, with all their idiosyncrasies and humour. Blaze is a different kind of French Napoleonic soldier, and this is a different kind of military memoir. For those who are fascinated by the subject it is essential, taking the reader into the heart of the times, in an intimate portrait of life in the infantry on campaign throughout Europe.
The Empire of the French: A Chronology of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars 1792 - 1815 - by Brian Taylor
A chronological account of the battles and campaigns of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, following the battles of the French Republic and rise and fall of Napoleon Bonaparte. The events of the French Revolution laid the foundations for a quarter century of almost unbroken conflict that stretched from Russia in the east, Spain and Portugal in the west and to the continents of Africa and Asia. An overwiew of the events that led up to the French Revolution and their impact upon not only France, but the rest of Europe, sets the scene for a history of this pivotal period in Europan history. The development of the armed forces under the inspired leadership of Lazare Carnot saved the French nation from foreign invasion. Napoleon Bonaparte's arrival on the scene changed the pace and objectives of campaigns in Europe and his impact upon the armies of the day and the outstanding campaigns of his early years in power are recounted and by following in daily detail we gain and understand the impact of not only his own personal will, but the emerging factors of organisation upon the opposing armies and their increasing speed of manoeuvre. The chronological style adopted allows the reader to study the developing nature of the conflict as Napoleon's ambition plunged more and more of Europe into war. By detailing each campaign front separately, the reader is able to study a chosen area of operations in isolation while also assessing its impact upon the wider campaign.
Napoleon Must Die - by Quinn Fawcett
France is victorious - as her magnificent empire expands under Napoleon Bonaparte's brilliant military leadership. From the ashes of revolution a phoenix has risen to spread the grandeur and glory of parisian culture throughout the world... by force, If necessary. The devoted wife of an ambitious young gendarme, Mme Victoire Vernet - as sparkling and exquisite as a vintage champagne - revels in the Republic's many triumphs. But when her husband is wrongly accused of theft and murder, the indomitable Victoire vows to clear his name - a promise that could prove most perilous indeed for novice investigator... leading Madame from the relative safety of the boudoir into the treacherous heart of an insidious conspiracy to assassinate Napoleon himself.
Napoleon's Enemies - by Richard Warner
A lavish guide to the campaign, histories, uniforms, weapons and equipment of the armies who fought against Napoleon and ultimately defeated him. The text is exceptionally well illustrated with over 200 pictures including 100 original color paintings of uniformed soldiers.
A History of the Peninsular War - by Charles Oman
The 1807 - 1814 war in the Iberian Peninsula was one the most significant and influential campaigns of the Napoleonic Wars. Arising from Napoleon's strategic requirement that he impose his rule over Portugal and Spain, it evolved into a constant drain on his resources. Sir Charles Oman's seven-volume history of the campaign is an unrivalled and essential work. His extensive use and analysis of French, Spanish, Portuguese and British participants accounts and archival material, together with his own inspection of the battle fields, provides a comprehensive and balanced account of this most important episode in Napoleonic military history... The definitive history of the Peninsular War by one of the greatest 20th-century historians. Comprehensive maps, orders of battle and lists of strenghts and casulties.
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