East Baton Rouge Parish Library

Waterloo, the history of four days, three armies and three battles, Bernard Cornwell

eng

Includes bibliographical references and index

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index present

non fiction

Waterloo

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906826172

Bernard Cornwell

the history of four days, three armies and three battles

From the internationally bestselling author of the Sharpe novels and in the bicentenary year of the battle - this is the true story of Waterloo. On the 18th June, 1815 the armies of France, Britain and Prussia descended upon a quiet valley south of Brussels. In the previous three days the French army had beaten the British at Quatre Bras and the Prussians at Ligny. The Allies were in retreat. The blood-soaked battle of Waterloo would become a landmark in European history, to be examined over and again, not least because until the evening of the 18th, the French army was close to prevailing on the battlefield. Now, brought to life by the celebrated novelist Bernard Cornwell, this is the chronicle of the four days leading up to the actual battle and a thrilling hour by hour account of that fateful day. In his first work of non-fiction, Cornwell combines his storytelling skills with a meticulously researched history to give a riveting account of every dramatic moment, from Napoleon's escape from Elba to the smoke and gore of the battlefields. Through letters and diaries he also sheds new light on the private thoughts of Napoleon and the Duke of Wellington, as well as the ordinary officers and soldiers. Published to coincide with the bicentenary in 2015, Waterloo is a tense and gripping story of heroism and tragedy - and of the final battle that determined the fate of Europe

Glorious news! Nap's landed again in France, Hurrah! -- Napoleon has humbugged me, by God! -- The fate of France is in your hands! -- Avancez, mes enfants, courage, encore une fois, Français! -- Ah! Now I've got them, those English! -- A cannon ball came from the Lord knows where and took the head off our right-hand man -- The Big Boots don't like rough stuff! -- Those terrible grey horses, how they fight! -- We had our revenge! Such slaughtering! -- The most beautiful troops in the world -- Defend yourselves! Defend yourselves! They are coming everywhere! -- Next to a battle lost, the greatest misery is a battle gained -- Aftermath: a thousand shall fall beside thee, and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee