In time for the bicentennial in 2015; a veteran historian brings the campaign and battle; its armies and their commanders; to fresh and vivid life in his brilliant new military history of one of the key battles in world history. Wellington remarked that Waterloo was “a damned nice thing;†meaning uncertain or finely balanced. He was right. For his part; Napoleon reckoned “the English are bad troops and this affair is nothing more than eating breakfast.†He was wrong―and this gripping and dramatic narrative history shows just how wrong. Fought on Sunday; June 18th; 1815; by some 220;000 men over rain-sodden ground in what is now Belgium; the Battle of Waterloo brought an end to twenty-three years of almost continual war between imperial France and her enemies. A decisive defeat for Napoleon and a hard-won victory for the Allied armies of the Duke of Wellington and the Prussians; led by the stalwart Marshal Blucher; it brought about the French emperor’s final exile to St. Helena and cleared the way for Britain to become the dominant military power in the world. The Napoleonic Wars are a source of endless fascination and this authoritative volume provides a wide and colorful window into this all-important climatic battle. 16 pages of color and BW photographs
#1102775 in Books Skyhorse Publishing 2007-03-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.50 x 5.60 x 5.50l; 1.17 #File Name: 1602390452448 pages
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. o good story and a good bookBy austin w boydAlmost unbelievable but you come away from the description with real admiration for the various people who are described. It is different in that the author understates the degree of difficulty. I was mesmerized such that I didn't want to stop even tho I knew the ending. A fine book to have on your shelf to be read again. Walker Boyd7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. A Fascinating and Funny Classic of Travel LiteratureBy Michael P. McCulloughThis was a fascinating and surprisingly humorous memoir by George Kennan who spent a couple of years in Northeast Siberia checking out the land and people in Siberia in preparation for a trans Siberian telegraph line that would connect America with Europe. This was in 1865 or thereabouts. Surprise ending: they never built the telegraph because a trans-Atlantic cable was successful.But this book wasn't about telegraphs it is about the nomadic and settled people who lived in this remarkably harsh land 150 years ago. He spent quite a bit of time traveling with nomadic reindeer herding peoples; he traveled about in dog sleds; and describes; in an often hilarious manner; the pathetic lifestyles of the nomadic people who ended up settling in villages (because at one point; regrettably; their reindeer died).Physically I have some complaints about the book - the font was sort of difficult to read - I think this edition was copied directly from an archaic text. Maybe that adds to the feel of the book - like your reading a hundred year old text. The binding was very tight and I had to wrestle the book open every time I turned a page.But in spite of that I would call this a classic of ravel literature. And the author was very funny; nearly the entire book is humorous.Highly recommended.[...]6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Surveying The Frozen Siberian Wilderness On Foot; In 1865By AnonymousThis is a true narrative; written by George Kennan; a very accomplished journalist; in 1865; who completed what I would consider; an impossible task! George Kennan was chosen to lead a group of surveyers whose job it was to survey the Siberian Wilderness in order for Western Union to create a telegraph line across Alaska; the Bering Strait;and Siberia. This telegraph line was to be an important link with European Russia.It's difficult to imagine being exposed to such harsh elements; and not getting very sick or dying! George Kennan and most of his group had happy; adventurous; dispositions; under unbelieveable circumstances; and survived to tell about it!They traveled for two years; through snow storms; white-outs; drenching rain and fierce blizzards; sometimes without even a tent. They met many nomads; escaped bear attacks; and practically starved to death. They walked for days in soaking wet clothing; and suffered so many hardships!I loved this book and could not put it down!
