|
|
Books > Humanities > History > European history > 1750 to 1900
The Battle of Waterloo has been studied and dissected so
extensively that one might assume little more on the subject could
be discovered. Now historian Peter HofschrOEer brings forward a
long-repressed commentary written by Carl von Clausewitz, the
author of On War.Clausewitz, the Western world's most renowned
military theorist, participated in the Waterloo campaign as a
senior staff officer in the Prussian army. His appraisal, offered
here in an up-to-date and readable translation, criticized the Duke
of Wellington's actions. Lord Liverpool sent his translation of the
manuscript to Wellington, who pronounced it a "lying work." The
translated commentary was quickly buried in Wellington's private
papers, where it languished for a century and a half. Now published
for the first time in English, HofschrOEer brings Clausewitz's
critique back into view with thorough annotation and contextual
explanation. Peter HofschrOEer, long recognized as a leading
scholar of the Napoleonic Wars, shows how the Duke prevented the
account's publication during his lifetime-a manipulation of history
so successful that almost two centuries passed before Clausewitz's
work reemerged, finally permitting a reappraisal of key events in
the campaign. In addition to translating and annotating
Clausewitz's critique, HofschrOEer also includes an order of battle
and an extensive bibliography.
The lives and careers of Sir Charles Stewart and his brother Lord
Castlereagh take in a grand stage, from Britain and Ireland to the
kingdoms and empires of western and central Europe. Throughout his
life Stewart played a key role in shaping Europe: his is a Regency
drama beyond anything imagined by Jane Austen: warfare, diplomacy,
affairs, royal scandal, a romantic and brilliant marriage, and a
brother's suicide. Stewart was at the heart of some of history's
greatest events which took him from the bloodiest actions of the
Napoleonic Wars to the palaces of Europe's ruling dynasties. For an
all too brief period, Stewart blazed across the battlefields and
chancelleries of Europe, enjoying a meteoric rise to the highest
positions and influence, in a career indelibly linked to his
brother's and one which is virtually unique. Stewart even found
time to enjoy his share of scandal, from affairs and parties in
Vienna to running a spy network which aimed to charge a Princess of
Wales with adultery. Reider Payne's book is international in its
scope and ambitions: with Stewart's military and diplomatic theatre
of operations including Portugal, Spain, Prussia, Saxony, France,
Austria and the Austrian territories in Italy. Stewart sat at the
heart of the intrigues and social circles of Regency England, and
his life story offers an unrivalled viewpoint into the competing
claims and demands of Europe's courts.
The Mediterranean was one of Napoleon's greatest spheres of
influence. With territory in Spain, Italy and, of course, France,
Napoleon's regime dominated the Great Sea for much of the early
nineteenth century. The 'Napoleonic Mediterranean' was composed of
almost the entirety of the western, European lands bordering its
northern shores, however tenuously many of those shores were held.
The disastrous attempt to conquer Egypt in 1798-99, and the rapid
loss of Malta to the British, sealed its eastward and southern
limits. None of Napoleon's Mediterranean possessions were easily
held; they were volatile societies which showed determined
resistance to the new state forged by the French Revolution. In
this book, acclaimed historian and biographer of Napoleon, Michael
Broers looks at the similarities and differences between Napoleon's
Mediterranean imperial possessions. He considers the process of
political, military and legal administration as well as the
challenges faced by Napoleon's Prefects in overcoming hostility in
the local population. With chapters covering a range of imperial
territories, this book is a unique and valuable addition to the
historical literature on Napoleonic Europe and the process and
practice of imperialism.
From its origins as the Consular Guard of the French Republic, and
as Napoleon's personal bodyguard, the Imperial Guard developed into
a force of all arms numbering almost 100,000 men. Used by Napoleon
as his principle tactical reserve, the Guard was engaged only
sparingly, being deployed at the crucial moment of battle to turn
the tide of victory in favour of the Emperor of the French.
Naturally, the Imperial Guard has been the subject of numerous
books over many decades, yet there has never been a publication
that has investigated the uniforms and equipment of the infantry of
the Imperial Guard in such detail and with such precision. The
author has collected copies of almost all the surviving documents
relating to the Guard, which includes a vast amount of material
regarding the issuing of dress items, even in some instances down
to company level. This information is supported by an unrivalled
collection of illustrations, many of which have never been
published before, as well as images of original items of equipment
held in museums and private collections across the globe. In
addition, the renowned military artist, Keith Rocco, has produced a
series of unique paintings commissioned exclusively for this book.
This glorious book is, and will remain, unsurpassed as the standard
work on the clothing and equipment of the Imperial Guard, and will
not only be invaluable to historians, but also reenactors,
wargamers and modellers. It is one of the most important
publications ever produced on this most famous of military
formations.
William Clarke of Prestonpans, Scotland, joined the 2nd Royal North
British Dragoons, the Scots Greys, in 1803\. Clarke had risen to
the rank of sergeant by the time the regiment was ordered to
Belgium on the news that Napoleon had escaped from Elba. Forming
part of what became known as the Union Brigade, the Scots Greys
played a key role in Napoleon s defeat at Waterloo. The John
Rylands Library, Manchester, recently acquired William Clarke s
600-page, hand-written memoir describing his enlistment and
military career, the highlight of which was the Waterloo campaign,
which he describes in unusual detail in the vernacular of the day,
presented and annotated by the renowned historian Garth Glover.
Thanks to this rare discovery, the reader can follow the movements
of the Scots Greys at every stage of the action throughout the
three days from Quatre-Bras to that climatic encounter on the Mont
St Jean. Clarke naturally portrays the charge of the Union Brigade
in dramatic and heroic terms, but he claims that the man who led
the charge, Major General William Ponsonby, was killed by a musket
ball and not cut down by French cavalry, as is usually stated, for
recklessly charging too far. After the battle, Clarke was part of
the Burial Party. He then graphically describes the sad scene as he
does the trail of the defeated French army as the pursuing
Prussians cut a merciless path on their way to Paris. A Scots Grey
at Waterloo provides the reader with an exceptionally in-depth
account of the actions of the cavalry at Waterloo that will mark
this memoir out as one of the most significant to have been
published in the last 200 years.
 |
On War
(Paperback)
Carl Von Clausewitz
|
R631
Discovery Miles 6 310
|
Ships in 18 - 22 working days
|
|
|
 |
On War Volume III
(Paperback)
Carl Von Clausewitz; Translated by Colonel J. J. Graham; Introduction by Colonel F M Maude
|
R564
Discovery Miles 5 640
|
Ships in 18 - 22 working days
|
|
|
|
|