Waterloo Witnesses : Military and Civilian Accounts of the 1815 Campaign

**"Hughes is an engaging writer, whose light touch and keen eye for a good anecdote or pithy quote ensures that the book is an effortless read. The book is thoughtfully written, setting the scene incredibly well, and providing a wealth of interesting information while pivoting rapidly from extract to pertinent extract, drawing the reader in, and not relenting until the last shots have been fired." ― The Napoleonicist Podcast** The events of Sunday, 18 June, stand as the defining moment of the year 1815, if not of an entire era. The allied victory over Napoleon’s French army at the Battle of Waterloo reshaped governments and boundaries, made or broke fortunes and touched thousands of lives in ways both large and small, and it has been analysed, dissected and refought on paper a hundred times. Perhaps, though, the very best words ever written about that momentous campaign are the first-person accounts recorded as events unfolded. It is these vivid accounts that Kristine Hughes has collected together in order to convey the hopes, fears and aspirations of their authors. They inject the story of the battle with a level of humanity that reclaims it from the realm of legend and restores it to the people who witnessed it. In chronological order her work pieces together a novel view of the battle and events surrounding it as they were experienced by both military men and civilians. The result is a fascinating and varied picture of the individuals involved and the society of the period. Their words make compelling reading. Cover Book Title Copyright Contents List of Plates Acknowledgements Preface Dedication Chapter 1 Civilians and Celebrations Chapter 2 The British Invasion Chapter 3 Planned Arrivals and an Unexpected Departure Chapter 4 Gathering the Troops Chapter 5 Ruffled Feathers Chapter 6 The Calm Before the Storm Plate section Chapter 7 15 June Chapter 8 16 June Chapter 9 17 June Chapter 10 18 June Chapter 11 19 June Chapter 12 20 June Chapter 13 Life Goes On Epilogue Notes Bibliography Index Back cover The story of the Battle of Waterloo makes gripping reading and all the more so when it is told in the words of those who were there. For anyone who is not familiar with the material concerned, this new work is a very good place to start.... Charles Esdaile, author of Walking Waterloo: A Guide and Peninsular Eyewitnesses