Title: Waterloo: The True Story of Four Days, Three Armies and Three Battles
Author: Bernard Cornwell
First published January 1, 2014
352 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780007539383 (ISBN10: 000753938X)
Rating: 4.23
Overview
In his first venture into non-fiction, bestselling author Bernard Cornwell brings to life the epic battle of Waterloo, a turning point in European history that changed almost everything. With a focus on the experiences of those on the battlefield, Cornwell takes the reader on a journey through four days, three armies, and one campaign.
Whether you were a British officer or a French private, he makes you feel as though you are right there in the thick of it. The combination of his captivating writing style and meticulous attention to historical detail makes this a must-read for anyone interested in the Battle of Waterloo.
With heroism, tragedy, and misery on both sides, Cornwell brings the combatants back to life, using their memories to recreate what it must have been like to fight in one of the most brutal battles in history. With Napoleon and Wellington, two of the greatest soldiers of the age, finally facing off, the stakes were high, and the outcome would be judged by history.
In the end, it was a victory for Wellington, but the cost was high, and even he wept openly at the sight of the casualty lists. This is a story for the ages, expertly told by one of the greatest storytellers of our time.
About the Author
Bernard Cornwell was born in London in 1944 to an English mother and a Canadian airman father. He was adopted by the Wiggins family, who were members of a strict Protestant sect called the Peculiar People.
After leaving them, he changed his name to his birth mother’s maiden name, Cornwell.
Cornwell attended Monkton Combe School and the University of London before working as a teacher. He attempted to join the British armed services but was rejected due to myopia.
He then worked for BBC’s Nationwide and Thames Television before moving to the United States in 1980 and becoming a novelist.
Inspired by the lack of novels following Lord Wellington’s campaign on land, Cornwell created the Richard Sharpe series, starting with a couple of “warm-up” novels before moving onto the Siege of Badajoz in his third Sharpe novel. He and his wife Judy also co-wrote a series of novels under the pseudonym “Susannah Kells.”
Cornwell has been awarded the Officer of the Order of the British Empire and his latest work, , is about an archer who participates in the Battle of Agincourt during the Hundred Years War.
Editoral Review
Bernard Cornwell, the renowned author of The Last Kingdom series and creator of the iconic character Richard Sharpe, introduced us to the world of Napoleon and the Duke of Wellington in his book Waterloo: The True Story of Four Days, Three Armies and Three Battles. Published on January 1, 2014, this historical work sets itself apart from other books about the famous battle by providing readers with a concise and gripping narrative of what truly happened on that fateful day in 1815.
Cornwell’s style is both accessible and engaging, making the book appealing to both history buffs and casual readers alike. He blends rigorous historical analysis with vivid storytelling, allowing readers to delve into the battles themselves and truly understand the tactics that shaped the course of the war.
The book takes us through three pivotal days in June 1815, when the armies of Britain, Prussia, and France clashed for the last time on the battlefield of Waterloo. Cornwell focuses on the main characters of the battle, including Napoleon, Wellington, and Blucher, and brings them to life with rich detail and engaging prose.
He allows us to see the battle through their eyes and understand their strategies and motivations. What sets this book apart is Cornwell’s ability to contextualize the battle within broader historical and cultural themes.
He explores how concepts of honor, duty, and nationalism played a key role in shaping military tactics and political alliances, and how the battle of Waterloo marked the end of an era in European history. While some readers may find that Cornwell’s writing occasionally leans towards the melodramatic, this is a minor quibble compared to the book’s overall strengths.
His storytelling is impeccable, and he keeps the reader engaged throughout the book despite the complexities of the battle and the historical period itself. Overall, Waterloo: The True Story of Four Days, Three Armies and Three Battles is a must-read for anyone interested in military history or the cultural and political factors that shape warfare.
It is an engaging and accessible introduction to the battle of Waterloo, and a compelling account of the end of an era in European history. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
