Gazetted into the 9th Foot as an ensign in 1808; Peter Le Mesurier saw action from the earliest days of the Peninsular War almost to its end. The ‘Fighting Ninth’ were in the thick of it; and his letters describe nearly every major engagement of the war; the retreat to Corunna; the Walcheren Expedition; the sieges of Ciudad Rodrigo; Badajoz; Burgos and San Sebastian; and the battles of Salamanca; Vitoria; the Nivelle and the Nive. The correspondence of this young officer provides a unique and fresh insight into the campaigns of Moore and Wellington against Napoleon. They also show the transformation of the boy into the man. He suffers retreats and celebrates victories; witnesses sieges; rape and plunder; and falls in love; his letters are spiced with fascinating asides; wry humour; rich period detail; some very human fears and admissions; and the casual understatement of the British officer. Any unpublished letters from the conflict are scarce; but such an extensive unpublished collection is rare indeed. With background information and commentary provided by expert Adrian Greenwood and meticulously footnoted; this is a worthy addition to the literature of the Napoleonic Wars.
#1496242 in Books Donald Ralph 2017-03-08Original language:English 9.38 x .88 x 6.28l; #File Name: 1442277262274 pagesHollywood Enlists Propaganda Films of World War II
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