The first shots were fired at about eleven-thirty on a Sunday morning in June; 1815; by nine o'clock that night; forty thousand men lay dead or wounded; and Napoleon had abandoned not only his army; but all hope of recovering his empire. From the recollections of the men who were there; esteemed author David Howarth has recreated the battle as it appeared to them on the day it was fought. He follows the fortunes of men of all ranks and on both sides. But it is on the French side that the mysteries remain. Why did Ney attack with cavalry alone? And was Napoleon's downfall really due to the minor ailment he suffered that day? Beautifully written; vivid; and unforgettable; this illuminating history is impossible to put down.
#2336565 in Books Osprey Publishing 2001-04-25 2001-04-25Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 245.62 x 3.56 x 7.23l; .55 #File Name: 184176055264 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. What You'd Expect MoreBy Dean M. MotoyamaNot a typical Osprey book in that it covers a number of personalities in such a small space; however; if you understand this; you'll be very happy with the book. The illustrations alone are worth it. If anything it'll give some otherwise unknown anecdotal info that'll have you wanting to do more research.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Great illustrationsBy A CustomerI bought this book for only one purpose; the illustrations by P Courcelle; never mind the text! I have seen this artist's works in other books but he has particularly excelled himself in this book. His drawings have a certain vitality and the colours are fantastic. It also helps that the costumes of some of Napoleon's commanders bordered on the extravagant!
