1812: War with America

by Jon Latimer

Listen to a short interview with Jon Latimer
Chris Gondek | Heron & Crane In the first complete history of the War of 1812 written from a British perspective, Jon Latimer offers an authoritative and compelling account that places the conflict in its strategic context within the Napoleonic wars. The British viewed the War of 1812 as an ill-fated attempt by the young American republic to annex Canada. For British Canada, populated by many loyalists who had fled the American Revolution, this was a war for survival. The Americans aimed both to assert their nationhood on the global stage and to expand their territory northward and westward. Americans would later find in this war many iconic moments in their national story--the bombardment of Fort McHenry (the inspiration for Francis Scott Key's "Star Spangled Banner"); the Battle of Lake Erie; the burning of Washington; the death of Tecumseh; Andrew Jackson's victory at New Orleans--but their war of conquest was ultimately a failure. Even the issues of neutrality and impressment that had triggered the war were not resolved in the peace treaty. For Britain, the war was subsumed under a long conflict to stop Napoleon and to preserve the empire. The one lasting result of the war was in Canada, where the British victory eliminated the threat of American conquest, and set Canadians on the road toward confederation. Latimer describes events not merely through the eyes of generals, admirals, and politicians but through those of the soldiers, sailors, and ordinary people who were directly affected. Drawing on personal letters, diaries, and memoirs, he crafts an intimate narrative that marches the reader into the heat of battle.

Genres: History, War, American History, Nonfiction, American, Military Fiction

656 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2007

About the author

Educated at Christleton County High School in Chester, Jon Latimer studied for a geography degree at University College, Swansea but switched course to graduate in oceanography. He worked as an oceanographer until becoming a full-time writer in 1997.

Reviews

[QOH · Rating 5 out of 5]

If what you know about the War of 1812 amounts to a bunch of pretty embarrassing American losses in Canada (and pretty much elsewhere), a few wins at sea, and oh, yes, the burning of Washington, D.C....well, you have it in one.

No, I don't count the "Battle of New Orleans" as a win (the song or the battle).

But there's so much more to the story, so much nuance. 1812: War with America lays it all out. Take the New England Federalists who traded with the British throughout the war (and the wartime American crops that went to feed Wellington's troops). They were paid in specie, a rare commodity at the time, and those New England riches went on to fund the American Industrial Revolution.

It may not be obvious from the title, but this is a rare history of the War of 1812 (the American War, to the British at the time), written from a British point of view. It's the most thorough history of the war I've ever read, and I've read a few.

The book is really only 408 pages (not 656). The rest are notes, AMAZING notes, and bibliography. The notes alone make this book worth the investment. I spent as much time perusing them and discovering sources that I want to read as I did reading the actual text.

There are places where I bristled. I think I'm open-minded and skeptical, but some national heroes/myths die hard. Every time I felt I was getting little annoyed or wondering about British bias (a complaint I'd seen in Amazon reviews), I stopped and realized that my bias was what was causing the cognitive dissonance. It was painful to realize how far astray I'd been led.

(However, I'm still pissed off about the sack of Washington. The Library of Congress! Bastards!)

Definitely a must-read if you love American history, especially during these bicentennial years. Truly masterful. (It's also the only history that I've read and thought, "Damn, I wish I'd written this.")

[Jerome Otte · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent, comprehensive history of the War of 1812. Latimer provides in-depth coverage of all the issues involved, such as the New England federalists that traded with the British during the war and considered secession.

Latimer’s book is particularly strong on the Anglo-Canadian perspective and also does a good job setting the war in the context of the Napoleonic Wars. Latimer does a good job covering the American political factions that supported England (who in reality did not actually impress that many Americans on the high seas), France (even though Napoleon arguably caused more harm to US interests than the British), or neutrality to whatever extent, as well as the War Hawks.

Latimer does a good job describing how unprepared the US was for war; the US army was easily one of the worst in existence at the time. And unfortunately for the US, the army’s more able officers such as Winfield Scott or Jacob Brown were unable to contribute much due to their confinement to relatively unimportant theaters.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good history of the War of 1812 seen from the British point of view.

[Clinton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I remember being taught in school about the War of 1812 is that the cause was primarily the British kidnapping of American sailors and disruption of free trade with Europe and that the Americans won the war. What I learned in this book is that many of the kidnapped sailors were formerly from the Royal Navy and deserted to US merchantmen for higher pay and better working conditions. Much of the free trade was with France, with whom the British were at war and had blockaded. Also, the primary American objective of the war was to assume complete control over Canada, something I don't remember being taught.

As far as winning the war, I'm not sure one could declare the winner to be the protagonist who had his capital seized and burned, lost almost all of the land battles and failed to accomplish any of his objectives. When the war ended, things remained pretty much as they had been at the start.

This is the most thorough of the books I have read on this subject. I found it very enlightening after being fed a lifetime of spin in my education.

[Scott Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This work looks at the War of 1812, but from the British/Canadian perspective. This is primarily a military history, looking at the naval war between British and American ships and the various land fights between the US and Britain/Canada. The Canadian operations were of interest, as over 200 years later, there are once again some conversations about America trying to claim parts of Canada again. The US did have some military success, but they were also poorly lead, and by the end of the war, the US gained nothing of Canada. 1812 might go down as one of the dumber wars in US history, and this military history doesn't do much to dispel that sentiment. True, this war effectively ended the British military threat to the US, but perhaps that could have happened without the war. If you want just the military perspective, this one is for you.

[Glenn Hammer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was Ok but could have been better. More of an introduction or transition between the American and Canadian perspectives, locations and times would have made it easier to follow. Some numbers were not internally consistent. Overall a nice non-american perspective.

[Aaron Lorenz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The First academic book I ever read and somehow I couldn’t put it down. Only a few potential errors which don’t harm the quality of the narrative or scholarship

[Riley Haas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't write a review when I finished this at the time, but it's a solid account of the war, from the oft-overlooked British perspective, thereby lacking the silly patriotic tendencies of American and Canadian writers.
Actually I did:
"A few strange passages where the English is...well, odd. A few places where he doesn't really draw conclusions for some reason. Otherwise, good. Lots of information, and it's well documented. A fresh perspective."

[Jonathan Beams · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable history which sometimes requires close reading to follow the thread of events. Slightly and pleasantly partisan after the manner of acolytes of the Georgian era. Sparkles in moments when the abatis of Latimer's historical detachment succumbs to the temptation of a sharp and undeniably witty remark. Example:

"Madison's self-congratulatory proclamation that the peace treaty was 'highly honorable to the United States, and terminates, with particular felicity, a campaign signalized by the most brilliant successes,' was a singular piece of political spin from a man who led to war a nation totally unprepared for it, and had recently been a bewildered refugee in back-country Virginia while his capital burned behind him."

Zing! Not exactly the kind of thing you'd read in a David McCullough book, and as refreshing at times as a nice pink gin. Enjoy in moderation.

[Tony · Rating 1 out of 5]

I liked that this book tells the story of the War of 1812 from the British point of view. Aside from that, I found it very hard to read. Difficult to tell which side the military commanders were on - references were made to people we seem expected to recognize. I spent a lot of time flipping back to figure out who someone was.

[Dreyton · Rating 2 out of 5]

It... wasn't that interesting, I learned some stuff, but it wasn't exciting stuff. About all I can remember is the first British cammander in Canada was named Brock. I got so tired of it I didn't even make it to the burning of Washington D.C.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not only did I learn about a war I don't know too much about, it was written by an Englishman, so it came from a point of view that you don't generally get to hear in this country.

[Rob Kranski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots and lots of battles. Really just a long military narrative. Great if you are into this sort of history.

[Matthew Ericson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good overview of the conflict