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The Peninsular War: A New History
For centuries Spain had been the most feared and predatory power in Europe - it had the largest empire and one of the world's great navies to defend it. Nothing could have prepared the Spanish for the devastating implosion of 1805-14. Trafalgar destroyed its navy and the country degenerated into a brutalized shambles with French and British armies marching across it at will. The result was a war which killed over a million Spaniards and ended its empire.
This book is the first in a generation to come to terms with this spectacular and terrible conflict, immortalised by Goya and the arena in which Wellington and his redcoats carved out one of the greatest episodes in British military history.
This book is the first in a generation to come to terms with this spectacular and terrible conflict, immortalised by Goya and the arena in which Wellington and his redcoats carved out one of the greatest episodes in British military history.
586 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
November 28, 2013
Charles Esdaile's book on the Peninsular War offers readers a comprehensive and in-depth study of this savage conflict that raged across Spain and Portugal between 1808 and 1814. In over 510 pages of text the author takes us through the reasons why this war started, the battles and campaigns as it progressed over the years and the many interesting facets behind the characters involved. Not only does the author cover the military aspects in detail but also he does not neglect those other important factors such as the politics of the Spanish Junta, Guerilla warfare and the effects on the civilian population.
All the major battles and campaigns are covered and I found the author to be refreshingly non-biased in his writing, offering laurels to those armies, soldiers and commanders that deserved praise, regardless of origin. The maps supplied, 22 in number, were detailed enough to follow the narrative but they could have been of a higher quality. The illustrations, 28 in number, were excellent. The choice of pictures and their quality (all colour prints) was outstanding and made the book that little bit more special.
I must confess that at times the narrative appeared to bog down, mainly when covering the politics of the war. That's not the author's fault but mine, I tend to appreciate the military aspects of a story more. These areas covered by the author in this regard where quite important to the story but I was always itching to get back to the battlefield and to follow the movement of the French and British armies as they maneuvered for another pitched battle.
Overall this is a great book covering this most important Napoleonic campaign. The author utilises numerous first-hand accounts from participants, both military and civilian and they blend in perfectly with the narrative. Its one of the better one-volume accounts and I would rank it along side another one of my personal favourites; The Spanish Ulcer by David Gates. I am sure that anyone who appreciates military history will enjoy this new title by Charles Esdaile.
All the major battles and campaigns are covered and I found the author to be refreshingly non-biased in his writing, offering laurels to those armies, soldiers and commanders that deserved praise, regardless of origin. The maps supplied, 22 in number, were detailed enough to follow the narrative but they could have been of a higher quality. The illustrations, 28 in number, were excellent. The choice of pictures and their quality (all colour prints) was outstanding and made the book that little bit more special.
I must confess that at times the narrative appeared to bog down, mainly when covering the politics of the war. That's not the author's fault but mine, I tend to appreciate the military aspects of a story more. These areas covered by the author in this regard where quite important to the story but I was always itching to get back to the battlefield and to follow the movement of the French and British armies as they maneuvered for another pitched battle.
Overall this is a great book covering this most important Napoleonic campaign. The author utilises numerous first-hand accounts from participants, both military and civilian and they blend in perfectly with the narrative. Its one of the better one-volume accounts and I would rank it along side another one of my personal favourites; The Spanish Ulcer by David Gates. I am sure that anyone who appreciates military history will enjoy this new title by Charles Esdaile.
October 30, 2025
Carving Out Victory
Charles J Esdaile’s The Peninsular War is a wonderful addition to anyone’s Napoleonic War bookshelf. The war needed a revisit when Esdaile first wrote this in 2002 and twenty years later it still remains the authority (of course Sir Charles Oman discounted here). Since 16th century Spain had been the dominant force in Europe with its rich and vast global empire and huge influence under the Habsburgs and then Bourbon monarchs. However, as the French Revolution erupted and the phenomenon of Napoleon Bonaparte was born, Spain and its Ancien Regime collapsed. No one could have seen the implosion which followed between 1805-14. The Battle of Trafalgar destroyed its navy which protected its empire and the internal fighting left little money or resources to anything about it. Spain was devastated with French and British armies marching, eating and fighting their way through it. As a result over one million Spaniards died and Spains decline began.
Esdaile is no fan of Napoleon and makes it easy to see why, he was the master of his own downfall and failed to see the limits of his own generalship, army and political administration. Along with this refreshing view, what I enjoyed about this book was that it placed the Peninsular War out of the focus of the traditional narrative of Sir John Moore and the Duke of Wellington and the British efforts. Instead, providing a whole picture of the struggle from Bourbon Spain before the French Revolution to the invasion of Spain and Portugal, to then the intervention of the British. This was needed to be done as the Portuguese and Spanish need to be rightly acknowledged in their own history. The importance of Wellington does feature near the end, albeit I sense Esdaile is not a huge fan of him either. Is he a ‘cup half empty’ kind of guy? I don’t know.
The war is shown as years of struggle, one of immense suffering and misery for the local population, where victory and defeat hung on a knife edge for both sides. Mass desertion, lack of supplies and ill prepared and ill equipped troops in a harsh climate made the fight even more difficult. As Esdaile makes clear this is not a military history, as he argues that is irrelevant to the understanding of the war. What is a more political leaning account. As he states the war began and ended with absolutism of the Bourbon monarchy. Esdaile shows how the war did not have a major effect on the outcome of the Napoleonic Wars (I disagree to a large extent here, although there is merit in some of his thought), but rather a huge everlasting impact on the history of Spain and Portugal.
It is good to read history in this way. Someone with clear ideas and opinions who is not afraid to show their knowledge in presenting them. He doesn’t conform but boosts his opinions with facts. With this, his style of writing is also easy to follow, balanced neatly between quotes, analysis and factual presentation. The Peninsular War is great book and essential reading for anyone interested in The Napoleonic Wars. This is a theatre of the conflict that doesn’t seem to have too much attention, unless centred around Wellington, and it is great to get a wider view as the history is rich and fascinating.
Charles J Esdaile’s The Peninsular War is a wonderful addition to anyone’s Napoleonic War bookshelf. The war needed a revisit when Esdaile first wrote this in 2002 and twenty years later it still remains the authority (of course Sir Charles Oman discounted here). Since 16th century Spain had been the dominant force in Europe with its rich and vast global empire and huge influence under the Habsburgs and then Bourbon monarchs. However, as the French Revolution erupted and the phenomenon of Napoleon Bonaparte was born, Spain and its Ancien Regime collapsed. No one could have seen the implosion which followed between 1805-14. The Battle of Trafalgar destroyed its navy which protected its empire and the internal fighting left little money or resources to anything about it. Spain was devastated with French and British armies marching, eating and fighting their way through it. As a result over one million Spaniards died and Spains decline began.
Esdaile is no fan of Napoleon and makes it easy to see why, he was the master of his own downfall and failed to see the limits of his own generalship, army and political administration. Along with this refreshing view, what I enjoyed about this book was that it placed the Peninsular War out of the focus of the traditional narrative of Sir John Moore and the Duke of Wellington and the British efforts. Instead, providing a whole picture of the struggle from Bourbon Spain before the French Revolution to the invasion of Spain and Portugal, to then the intervention of the British. This was needed to be done as the Portuguese and Spanish need to be rightly acknowledged in their own history. The importance of Wellington does feature near the end, albeit I sense Esdaile is not a huge fan of him either. Is he a ‘cup half empty’ kind of guy? I don’t know.
The war is shown as years of struggle, one of immense suffering and misery for the local population, where victory and defeat hung on a knife edge for both sides. Mass desertion, lack of supplies and ill prepared and ill equipped troops in a harsh climate made the fight even more difficult. As Esdaile makes clear this is not a military history, as he argues that is irrelevant to the understanding of the war. What is a more political leaning account. As he states the war began and ended with absolutism of the Bourbon monarchy. Esdaile shows how the war did not have a major effect on the outcome of the Napoleonic Wars (I disagree to a large extent here, although there is merit in some of his thought), but rather a huge everlasting impact on the history of Spain and Portugal.
It is good to read history in this way. Someone with clear ideas and opinions who is not afraid to show their knowledge in presenting them. He doesn’t conform but boosts his opinions with facts. With this, his style of writing is also easy to follow, balanced neatly between quotes, analysis and factual presentation. The Peninsular War is great book and essential reading for anyone interested in The Napoleonic Wars. This is a theatre of the conflict that doesn’t seem to have too much attention, unless centred around Wellington, and it is great to get a wider view as the history is rich and fascinating.
December 7, 2020
This is an excellent addition to the large body of work on the Peninsular war and serves as a very strong one volume overview of the situation. The book describes the strategic and operational events in a clear and logical sequence, sometimes going into tactical description when necessary.
Esdaile does a very good job in setting the stage and explaining the political situation as influenced not only by Napoleon and his brother Joseph, but also by Carlos III, Carlos IV, and Fernando VIII and the various special interests. While this is not very exciting, it is essential in order to understand the various efforts and contributions made by all parties involved.
Along with the political/strategic picture, Esdaile explains the various societal pressures and the groups that formed out of those pressures in both Portugal and Spain. He clearly explained the formation of the various Juntas across Spain and their political relationships. This was very well organized and truly brought clarity to the chaotic situation on the ground. He also made very smooth transitions between military action and the socio-political events behind the maneuver. I can’t emphasize enough how well written this was in explaining the politics of the campaign, which is essential for a complete understanding of the Peninsular War. Esdaile’s narrative clearly makes this struggle between Spain and France the main effort, with England and Portugal as supporting efforts.
The book’s bibliography is truly prodigious. Esdaile makes use of substantial primary source documentation found in Spanish and Portuguese libraries, in addition to French and English sources. He also utilizes diaries and letters, and quotes from these extensively, allowing the participants to tell their stories. There are 22 detailed maps, which is a significant strength for this book, as without them, Esdaile’s narrative would not be clear. And finally, Esdaile’s prose is clear and easy to read and understand. All of these things make this book a solid 4/4.5 for me.
Esdaile does a very good job in setting the stage and explaining the political situation as influenced not only by Napoleon and his brother Joseph, but also by Carlos III, Carlos IV, and Fernando VIII and the various special interests. While this is not very exciting, it is essential in order to understand the various efforts and contributions made by all parties involved.
Along with the political/strategic picture, Esdaile explains the various societal pressures and the groups that formed out of those pressures in both Portugal and Spain. He clearly explained the formation of the various Juntas across Spain and their political relationships. This was very well organized and truly brought clarity to the chaotic situation on the ground. He also made very smooth transitions between military action and the socio-political events behind the maneuver. I can’t emphasize enough how well written this was in explaining the politics of the campaign, which is essential for a complete understanding of the Peninsular War. Esdaile’s narrative clearly makes this struggle between Spain and France the main effort, with England and Portugal as supporting efforts.
The book’s bibliography is truly prodigious. Esdaile makes use of substantial primary source documentation found in Spanish and Portuguese libraries, in addition to French and English sources. He also utilizes diaries and letters, and quotes from these extensively, allowing the participants to tell their stories. There are 22 detailed maps, which is a significant strength for this book, as without them, Esdaile’s narrative would not be clear. And finally, Esdaile’s prose is clear and easy to read and understand. All of these things make this book a solid 4/4.5 for me.
January 26, 2019
A first rate history. The seven volume history by Sir Charles Oman graces my bookshelves and I have read it through twice, with deep enjoyment. I therefore wasn’t sure if this much more concise volume would teach me anything new. To my delight, it did. Oman is of course rather dated now, and Esdaile points out that the weakness of Oman is his lack of attention to the Spanish political background. This is by no means a dry subject: the complex interplay of ideas in nineteenth century Spain – from reactionary ultra conservatism to extreme liberalism, and all shades in between – had consequences that could easily get you killed. The squabbles between the junta and the generals, and between the Spanish generals themselves, make far more sense when one sees them as a battleground between competing ideologies (and not just competing egos). The Spanish adherents of Joseph Bonaparte, “el rey intruso”, were not all corrupt chancers and traitors: some genuinely saw themselves as pledging allegiance to a new kind of liberal Spain. I find this kind of thing absorbing, and Esdaile is brilliant at showing not just the complex nuances of Spanish politics but how these had a direct influence on battlefield events. This gives the whole conflict a clarity which is lacking in Oman, where sometimes the mass of battlefield accounts are difficult to follow because they lack a political context.
Of course the battles are not forgotten here, and there are some good maps to complement the text. The disgraceful behaviour of many British soldiers off the battlefield made me wince. But all sides in this conflict get their due, and Esdaile shows that those on all sides could perform heroically at some times and with cowardice or criminality at others. Esdaile also gives every general a pungent pen portrait – even if it is only to refer to him as a “nonentity” - which adds a further level of flavour to one’s understanding. Really good stuff.
Of course the battles are not forgotten here, and there are some good maps to complement the text. The disgraceful behaviour of many British soldiers off the battlefield made me wince. But all sides in this conflict get their due, and Esdaile shows that those on all sides could perform heroically at some times and with cowardice or criminality at others. Esdaile also gives every general a pungent pen portrait – even if it is only to refer to him as a “nonentity” - which adds a further level of flavour to one’s understanding. Really good stuff.
September 26, 2020
Napoleon Bonaparte's decision in 1808 to occupy Spain typically is ranked second only to his invasion to Russia in terms of the disastrous mistakes made by the French emperor. What began as a swift military operation soon degenerated into an "ulcer" that tied down thousands of troops, slowly bleeding France's strength. For this reason, the Peninsular War has never wanted for attention, especially among British historians who have long chronicled the campaigns waged by Arthur Wellesley in his ascent to glory as the Duke of Wellington.
Yet for all of the attention the war has received Charles Esdaile is able to offer something different from most English-language accounts of the war, which is a Spanish-centric focus. This allows him to highlight a number of important points lacking from previous accounts, not the least of which is the importance of the war to the history of Spain itself. This self-evident point is detailed superbly in his book, which shows how the French occupation played into Spanish politics. Dominated by the royal favorite Manuel Godoy, Spain agreed in 1807 to support France invasion of Portugal. Godoy's unpopularity with both the Spanish public and the heir, the future Ferdinand VII, did little to warm the Spanish political nation to their involvement. The political crisis created by the Mutiny of Aranjuez gave Napoleon the opportunity to intervene by exploiting the request to arbitrate the succession crisis between Ferdinand and his father Charles IV by installing his own brother Joseph as king.
Esdaile is sympathetic to el rey intruso, presenting Joseph as a man with good intentions thrust by his younger brother onto a throne he did not desire. These intentions were often thwarted by Spain's limited resources (which Napoleon expected would finance the expensive occupation) and by the war. Esdaile does not minimize the brutality of the conflict, detailing the outrages and atrocities committed on all sides. He is particularly judgmental about the sometimes romanticized guerrilleros, viewing them as having a negligible military impact and describing how they were often viewed as the greater evil by many Spaniards. Esdaile is no less critical of the activities of the Spanish junta and their armies, though he gives them due credit for their performance in several battles.
Nonetheless Esdaile argues that for all of the efforts of the junta and the Anglo-Portuguese army to resist the French occupation, the French were enjoying considerable success in establishing control over Spain prior to 1812. In this respect, the key event in Spain's liberation was not any one battle or domestic political development but Napoleon's decision to invade Russia, which resulted in the withdrawal of French units necessary for maintaining control. Facing a weakened opponent, the Spanish-Anglo-Portuguese forces were able to unravel French control, driving French forces out of most of Spain by 1814 and setting Spain down a path of political turmoil that would last for over a century.
Esdaile's arguments may challenge the assumptions of some of his readers about the war, but his arguments are difficult to deny. Based on an impressive range of Spanish, English, and French sources, they offer a valuable multi-dimensional account of a complicated and often vicious conflict. While his prose is often blunt, his combined analysis of military operations and Spanish politics make his book necessary reading for anyone interested in the Peninsular War or the history of modern Spain. Though it will hardly be the final word on the subject it will long be one that people will need to consult to understand this event and its lasting repercussions for all involved.
Yet for all of the attention the war has received Charles Esdaile is able to offer something different from most English-language accounts of the war, which is a Spanish-centric focus. This allows him to highlight a number of important points lacking from previous accounts, not the least of which is the importance of the war to the history of Spain itself. This self-evident point is detailed superbly in his book, which shows how the French occupation played into Spanish politics. Dominated by the royal favorite Manuel Godoy, Spain agreed in 1807 to support France invasion of Portugal. Godoy's unpopularity with both the Spanish public and the heir, the future Ferdinand VII, did little to warm the Spanish political nation to their involvement. The political crisis created by the Mutiny of Aranjuez gave Napoleon the opportunity to intervene by exploiting the request to arbitrate the succession crisis between Ferdinand and his father Charles IV by installing his own brother Joseph as king.
Esdaile is sympathetic to el rey intruso, presenting Joseph as a man with good intentions thrust by his younger brother onto a throne he did not desire. These intentions were often thwarted by Spain's limited resources (which Napoleon expected would finance the expensive occupation) and by the war. Esdaile does not minimize the brutality of the conflict, detailing the outrages and atrocities committed on all sides. He is particularly judgmental about the sometimes romanticized guerrilleros, viewing them as having a negligible military impact and describing how they were often viewed as the greater evil by many Spaniards. Esdaile is no less critical of the activities of the Spanish junta and their armies, though he gives them due credit for their performance in several battles.
Nonetheless Esdaile argues that for all of the efforts of the junta and the Anglo-Portuguese army to resist the French occupation, the French were enjoying considerable success in establishing control over Spain prior to 1812. In this respect, the key event in Spain's liberation was not any one battle or domestic political development but Napoleon's decision to invade Russia, which resulted in the withdrawal of French units necessary for maintaining control. Facing a weakened opponent, the Spanish-Anglo-Portuguese forces were able to unravel French control, driving French forces out of most of Spain by 1814 and setting Spain down a path of political turmoil that would last for over a century.
Esdaile's arguments may challenge the assumptions of some of his readers about the war, but his arguments are difficult to deny. Based on an impressive range of Spanish, English, and French sources, they offer a valuable multi-dimensional account of a complicated and often vicious conflict. While his prose is often blunt, his combined analysis of military operations and Spanish politics make his book necessary reading for anyone interested in the Peninsular War or the history of modern Spain. Though it will hardly be the final word on the subject it will long be one that people will need to consult to understand this event and its lasting repercussions for all involved.
April 24, 2020
This was long. Not as long as the Peninsular War itself, which lasted from 1808 to 1814. Over the years, I’ve seen references to this war, and wanted to better understand what happened. This book offers a thorough narrative political/military history of the conflict, with the emphasis on Spain’s domestic political dynamics.
Two factors make the book a challenging read. First, most of the time the author doesn’t use topic sentences. The narrative has a structure and flow, and the author has interesting things to say - but if your practice when reading nonfiction is, as mine, to note or highlight the topic sentences as a way to retain the thread of the argument, that doesn’t work here. As a result, it takes more effort to build and retain a clear picture of the sequence of events and the author’s interpretive arguments. Second, one should ideally come to this account with a really clear sense of the geography of the Iberian peninsula, including locations of most major rivers and cities. That’s because the heart of the story is that, following invasion by France and establishment of Napoleon’s brother Joseph as king, Spain effectively fell apart into multiple pieces, with local politics unfolding in each region. As a result, Esdaile jumps from one region of the Peninsula to another, and sometimes forwards or backwards in time to trace these various local histories.
Ultimately, Esdaile argues that the Peninsular War, while important for the subsequent history of both Spain and Portugal, was not that critical in bringing down Napoleon. Rather, Napoleon’s deep-seated inability to acknowledge the limits of his own power drove both France’s repeated strategic overreaches in Spain and the catastrophic decision to invade Russia in 1812. Esdaile doesn’t wallow in the atrocities committed by French, British, Portuguese, and Spanish troops - he has another book on the social history of the war that appears to do that - but he does make it clear that the conflict was hell for much of the Iberian population. The frequent desertions of Spanish recruits makes perfect sense to me; I wouldn't have felt it was meaningful to die for any of the factions in this war, and yet so many residents had no way to avoid being swept up into the conflict on one side or another.
Two factors make the book a challenging read. First, most of the time the author doesn’t use topic sentences. The narrative has a structure and flow, and the author has interesting things to say - but if your practice when reading nonfiction is, as mine, to note or highlight the topic sentences as a way to retain the thread of the argument, that doesn’t work here. As a result, it takes more effort to build and retain a clear picture of the sequence of events and the author’s interpretive arguments. Second, one should ideally come to this account with a really clear sense of the geography of the Iberian peninsula, including locations of most major rivers and cities. That’s because the heart of the story is that, following invasion by France and establishment of Napoleon’s brother Joseph as king, Spain effectively fell apart into multiple pieces, with local politics unfolding in each region. As a result, Esdaile jumps from one region of the Peninsula to another, and sometimes forwards or backwards in time to trace these various local histories.
Ultimately, Esdaile argues that the Peninsular War, while important for the subsequent history of both Spain and Portugal, was not that critical in bringing down Napoleon. Rather, Napoleon’s deep-seated inability to acknowledge the limits of his own power drove both France’s repeated strategic overreaches in Spain and the catastrophic decision to invade Russia in 1812. Esdaile doesn’t wallow in the atrocities committed by French, British, Portuguese, and Spanish troops - he has another book on the social history of the war that appears to do that - but he does make it clear that the conflict was hell for much of the Iberian population. The frequent desertions of Spanish recruits makes perfect sense to me; I wouldn't have felt it was meaningful to die for any of the factions in this war, and yet so many residents had no way to avoid being swept up into the conflict on one side or another.
May 4, 2018
I will say it again. I really think this website needs half star intervals. I really couldn't give this book 3 stars, but it's also hard to give 4 at some points. It has great analysis, is a particularly good military narrative for being more political than military, and is written very well. It's just....you ever have a book you're reading underwhelm you, but you don't know why? That's this book for me. Esdaile does make great points about French abilities militarily to win this war at multiple points, even as late as early 1812, but fails to give analysis on the WHY in terms of Napoleon's inactivity in 1811-13 (The only time from '05 to '15 that he is not at war). You probably could draw your own conclusions in all fairness to the author (seeing as how the Spanish factions couldn't stand Napoelon as soon as '08), but a little insight from the author would be nice. Again, super hate that I didn't like this book more.
July 1, 2025
všetok rešpekt pánovi historikovi, ale ak toto mal byť New history tak ja som sám Napoleon, najviac Basic analýza, s vymenovaním bitiek vlastne, dosť slabé aj citovanie, celkovo Faux Pas
December 4, 2021
Review forthcoming.
July 28, 2014
Terrible book so bias against the English you would think the Spanish actually had an army in the field that did something. in stead of running away at Talavera (not even mentioned) can not say more this book made me so angry
March 22, 2023
A conflict that seems to have receded in memory in this country st least. Yet there is lots here to savour: the retreat to Corunna, Torres Verdes, Badajoz, Talavera, Salamanca, Vitoria…..
This is not an easy read. Esdaile I think correctly makes sure that the political dimension is as important to the narrative as the military one. However this means that the confused state of the Spanish Authorities in particular is very hard to make sense of, especially at the beginning when the French and Spanish cease to be allies. The reader would also benefit from a working knowledge of the geography, essential to understanding the distances, the supply lines and the impracticality of managing vast territories riddled with deserters, guerrillas and desperate locals. The scale of suffering of the common people can only really be hinted at, but with all sides behaving badly, poor harvests and near limitless corruption, it must have been horrendous. He bravely suggests that the influence of the guerrillas is overstated though…. I blame Sharpe…
Here we have the making of Wellington, supported by and financed sufficiently by Great Britain, contrasting with the often starving Portuguese troops. No matter what Marshall stands against him, without Napoleon, he rarely makes a misstep.
1812 and France starts to withdraw regiments and from there the result feels inevitable and the tale moves remorselessly to the borders and the bloody taking of San Sebastián. The sieges, and stormings as the great set pieces are well supported by quotes from journals of the combatants. Sad to hear that the rights for sacking, pillage and rape were unchanged from 1000 years previous.
Money of course is always important and it is striking how the drop in the flow of funds from the American colonies impacts Spain’s ability to wage war - bailed out essentially by Britain.
The conclusions are muddled - was anything truly decisive? But one suspects it frames what then follows in the 20th Century, and therefore is much more vital for the citizens of the region. Russia might have broken the Grande Armée but the end was hastened by the Spanish Ulcer.
June 12, 2023
A tour de force! Over the years I have possibly read more about the Peninsular War than any other conflict but, of course, the focus of my reading has been largely the British experience of the war. This is the probably the first book I have read that, quite rightly, puts the experiences of Spain and the Spanish people centre stage (and to a lesser degree Portugal) - rather than as an exotic and often distasteful backdrop to the exploits of Wellington and his men. Indeed, the British don't really put in much of an appearance until page 87, but the description of the state in which Spain (and Portugal) found itself even before the French 'special operation' is fascinating; they were in a pickle - socially, politically, economically and militarily - even without Bonaparte blundering in and the war just made it all worse. It's a grim tale well told and nobody comes out of it very well, not even Wellington and his army. Some may be shocked by the final conclusion - which I won't give away - but I find it compelling. I'll certainly be returning to the exploits of Wellington's men (I have a shelf of memoirs and diaries to read), but I will certainly be reading them with different eyes after this!
October 29, 2025
The Peninsular War played an important part in the Napoleonic Wars with brutal battles and guerilla warfare dominating in Portugal and Spain. Determined to force the Portuguese and Spanish into line with his Continental System, Napoleon sent thousands of troops into the two countries from 1808-1814 hoping to defeat them. In 1808 Britain joined the fight against the Corsican. For the next 6 years the blood flowed, but eventally the Allied armies pushed the French out of Spain. Arthur Wellesley, who became the Duke of Wellington, fought the French and his allies at times. This book deals with all those encounters, particularly in Spain where the fighting took on massive proportions of cruelty.
It is detailed in the political areas, but less so in the military aspects. For that reason I found it less interesting than some other reads; nevertheless, it offers a different perspective on an essential part of Napoleon's downfall.
It is detailed in the political areas, but less so in the military aspects. For that reason I found it less interesting than some other reads; nevertheless, it offers a different perspective on an essential part of Napoleon's downfall.
November 28, 2023
The version of the Peninsular War that I was taught in school, and subsequently read about (yes, I'm looking at you Arthur Bryant!) was a simple story of the hapless Spanish being rescued again and again by the British and the Duke of Wellington.
This book tells a considerably more nuanced story, going into detail about the whole political, economic and military background. Wellington does come out of it successfully, but not covered with glory. The Spanish forces were ill-disciplined and uncoordinated, but they did achieve some successes by the end.
A well-written and enjoyable book, which greatly enhanced my understanding.
Sadly the main map wasn't very good, missing out many places mentioned in the text.
This book tells a considerably more nuanced story, going into detail about the whole political, economic and military background. Wellington does come out of it successfully, but not covered with glory. The Spanish forces were ill-disciplined and uncoordinated, but they did achieve some successes by the end.
A well-written and enjoyable book, which greatly enhanced my understanding.
Sadly the main map wasn't very good, missing out many places mentioned in the text.
June 11, 2018
This is an erudite scholarly examination of the Peninsular War. Charles Esdaile has unravelled the twisted strands of political, social, economic and military history that pervade this chaotic period.
Though sometimes heavy going the information is presented in a logical rational manner. A most informative read.
Though sometimes heavy going the information is presented in a logical rational manner. A most informative read.
November 28, 2022
On the last page the author says that he wanted to write a book that was more than a list of battles. He succeeds in that by painting the big pictures -- Napoleon's overall position, UK politics, the utter confusion of Spanish politics, and the anarchy in the Portuguese and especially Spanish countrysides.
April 28, 2024
Accessible account of the Peninsula War ahead of an upcoming visit to Portugal. the book covers not only the battles and campaigns but the also the politics leading up to the war and its impact on Spain and Portugal.
November 18, 2024
Good overview of the Peninsular War, inclusive of the British, French, and Spanish involvement. The Portuguese role seemed wrapped up discussions about Nelson vs. showing their perspective, and the naval roles/blockades were also under-discussed. Still, a good history of the war.
September 20, 2017
The best one volume history of the Peninsular. Esdaile often surprises by coming up with something really worthwhile when you'd think it had all been done and said
April 26, 2020
A mix which neither seemed to go into the detail of the battles or the economic consequences. Seemed to end with more questions.
Want to read
November 23, 2024December 29, 2014
A review by Bernard Cornwell states that he suspects "this will become the standard work on the Peninsular War..." Though i am not a military historian, I found that this volume was very readable and appreciated all of the quotations Esdaile included from contemporary accounts, memoirs, dispatches and the like. These enlivened the narrative and made visualizing the events much easier. The 22 maps of Spain and various campaigns made it easy to follow the battle narratives, though had the map of Spain been a relief map of more detail, it would have increased, I think, my understanding of the challenges facing all armies and generals. I did find at least one quoted source that was not listed in the bibliography, however.
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March 17, 2010This seemed to want to be a book either about how the Josephinian Interregnum reshaped Spanish politics or about How Brutish the British, but it never really managed to be either thing, getting bogged down in descriptions of battles. Or perhaps the descriptions of battles were meant to be the main thing, in which case they could have been augmented by some attempt to explain what bearing the details of a battle might have on anything. The larger problem, I suppose, is that the book is an attempt to reshape a large body of existing work, but is packaged like an introduction to its subject. I can guess that to the specialist it would be intriguing, but to the novice it just seems confused.
October 19, 2010
A decent history that allows one to skip the 125-year-old 8 volume history of the Peninsular war by Oman. Perhaps the author felt that no new ground remained to be plowed in the description of the battles themselves but for whatever reason this book felt unusually weighted towards the social and political history slighting the military history to a degree that made this an unsuitable book for someone unacquainted with this conflict. As it was, while a better knowledge of the milieu and a fresh take on some of the assumptions was interesting I was still hoping for an up-to-date analysis of military tactics and strategies.
December 12, 2008
Filled with compelling first-hand accounts from the generals, soldiers, insurgent, civilians and politicians involved in the war. Once you get used to the pretentious language (keep and Oxford English dictionary nearby while reading), this is a great read for anybody interested in military history.
October 31, 2014
An interesting and useful summary of the Peninsular War with a focus on context and politics. This leaves little space for the military side of things, and I feel this sometimes leaves Esdaile lacking some narrative punch. But on the whole a useful summary for those who have previously only read a military history of the period.
August 20, 2017
A long slog through a war that was an even longer slog. In short: a megalomaniacal tyrant unleashes limitless suffering on people who did nothing to bother him. British come to the rescue. Even more suffering. The author does does creditable work in structuring a narrative around the chaotic story.
May 28, 2016
As my first real book on the period I was hoping for something more in the military history direction. This book is a political history of the Peninsular War. It is is extremely well written and researched but it's more academic focus made is a very slow read for me.
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