Waterloo

Great Battles

by Alan Forrest

Waterloo was the last battle fought by Napoleon and the one which finally ended his imperial dreams. It involved huge armies and heavy losses on both sides. For those who fought in it - Dutch and Belgians, Prussians and Hanoverians as well as British and French troops - it was a murderous struggle. For all its ferocity, it was a battle that would be remembered very differently across Europe. In Britain it would be seen as an iconic battle whose memory would be enmeshed in British national identity across the following century. It failed to achieve this iconic status elsewhere. In Prussia it was overshadowed by the Battle of the Nations at Leipzig, while in Holland it was a simple appendage to the prestige of the House of Orange. And in France it was the epitome of a heroic defeat that served to sustain the romantic legend of the Napoleonic Wars and contributed to the growing cult of Napoleon himself. Whereas most works on the battle of Waterloo are only military in nature, Alan Forrest's outstanding work-the first in the Great Battles series -- describes every aspect of how the battle was fought but deals equally with the how it has been commemorated, and its legacy. The GREAT BATTLES seriesCertain battles aquire iconic status in history. Each book in this new series will examine both the battle itself, and also its legacy in the imaginations of the victors and the vanquished. Titles in preparation Agincourt, Lutzen, Hattin, El Alamein, and Gettysburg."

Genres: History, Historical

Hardcover

First published April 1, 2015

About the author

Alan Forrest is Emeritus Professor of Modern History at the University of York. He works on modern French history, especially the period of the French Revolution and Empire, and on the history of modern warfare.

He serves on the editorial boards of French History and War in History, and is a member of the advisory committee for Annales historiques de la Revolution Francaise. He also co-edits a series for Palgrave-Macmillan on 'War, Culture and Society, 1750-1850'.

Reviews

[Cold War Conversations Podcast · Rating 3 out of 5]

Concise overview of Waterloo, but more about its aftermath.

Alan Forrest is a Professor of Modern History at the University of York, UK. He has published widely on French revolutionary and Napoleonic history, especially on social history and on the military and is the author of a biography of Napoleon.

It feels as though he’s put together his undoubtedly extensive lecture notes to take advantage of the 200th anniversary of the battle and the associated interest but with a different slant to most by looking at the memory rather than the event.

If you are looking for an extensive book on Waterloo you will be disappointed. However if you are looking for knowledge as to how the battle has been remembered by the victors, the vanquished and elsewhere then this will be an interesting read.

Particularly interesting is how the Germans consider the Battle of the Nations at Leipzig as the decisive battle, with Waterloo no more than a historical aside.

Not a great read, but a useful insight into the memory of Waterloo as a propaganda tool and an icon of British military prowess (according to Wellington who airbrushes the Germans out of his later accounts…)

[Maitrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good overview of how the Battle of Waterloo was viewed in various countries that took part in the event.

Alan Forrest is a historian specialising in French history, and especially Napoleon. This gives the book a nice ring of authority.

Waterloo is treated in a straight forward manner with a straight up discussion of a prelude to the battle, the battle itself, and then how the battle was perceived in the eyes of history.

I especially liked the sections on how the Battle of Waterloo was used by the British for propaganda purposes, and more or less or appropriated by them, to the detriment of the Germans. I also liked the sections on how the Germans weren't a united front either and it was seen through different eyes in Hannover (which had dynastic ties with Britain) and Prussia (the other principal participant in the Allies). Surprisingly, Waterloo only plays a role similar to a footnote in German nationalistic history, and Leipzig was given pride of place instead.

The writing is crisp, and although Forrest isn't a great stylist, you're not bored by the content either. A little knowledge of Napoleon and his exploits will help you appreciate the book a lot better.

P.S. I was given an ARC by the publisher in exchange for a review.

[Brad H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great short history of the battle of Waterloo (assumes some pre knowledge of Napolean and world politics at the time) and its lasting legacy.

[Lawrence Patterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this was not what I expected but probably because I am more used to accounts of more modern conflicts ie Defeat into Victory, Arnhem, Berlin, The Somme to mention just a few. It is a long time since I read so much propaganda and armchair commentary used as evidence of feeling and after effect on anything. Things such as British nationalism, French nostalgia, German superiority all shone through but in my view too much was repeated and any views from fifty or a hundred or two hundred years on needs to be taken with a pinch of salt -I mean what intelligent person can relate the blunders of Vietnam or even the landings on the Falklands today and yet only a generation has passed. Whilst historians must take account of afterwards comment and opinion they should not be fooled by political and nationalistic misinterpretation and deception - the commentary in any newspaper whatever its status is pure opinion and little actual fact gets a very big backseat at times when trying to make both thunderous or timid impressions on actual history. After an hour or two's reading before sleep, I didn't have nightmares but thinking about some very longwinded words did not enthuse me to automatic slumber. If you are studying European history this book will be worth a quick read but otherwise, for those interested in human conflict there are probably better tomes.

[Jack Vasen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The historical context and description of the battle itself consume the first 54 pages (just under 1/3rd of the text before notes). The rest is things like:
Public reaction
Memoirs
Commemoratives
Monumnets and memorials
Views of Wellington
Battlefield tourism
Views from the French
Views from the Germans and other nationalities
Waterloo in literature

It looks like an excellent work of research on a broad scope.

The historical background was brief with little discussion of what took place prior to 1814. The battle description was organized and informative but not extensive. (But I wonder if I would have wanted more detail.) The discussion of post-Waterloo Europe was brief and interspersed within all the other topics.

Too much junk and not enough history.

[David Montgomery · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brief overview of the Battle of Waterloo and the different ways in which it lingered in the historical memory. Britons turned the battle, and Wellington, into national emblems — though dissidents weren't so keen on it, especially as Wellington moved into politics, and even in victory the Brits remained obsessed with Napoleon. The Prussians and other Germans, whose support had been essential to the Allied victory, tended to downplay it in favor of other battles (but were still miffed when the Brits tried to write them out). The French had the most mixed opinions, wanting to commemorate their countrymen's valor without wallowing in their defeat. Not too deep, but very readable and good from start to finish.

[Terry Hinkley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very in depth account of events leading up to, during and aftermath of the battle. How the English took credit for the victory and brushed aside their allies contribution. Also some interesting observations of certain aspects of societal reaction to the victory and how the defeat changed French culture and politics. Point of view analysis from countries that participated or were affected by the battle in ways most authors would not dwell upon.

[Jason Goodrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating look into the aftermath of Waterloo and how the Battle influenced opinions throughout the nations involved.

This book only briefly describes the battle so if you are looking for something more in depth about that then this may not be the right book for you!

[Kevin Moynihan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. To cover so much in such detail is an accomplishment. Builds your desire to read more about Napoleon.

[Matt Hageman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gave up on this book at 80%. Very disappointed.

[Patrick Shrier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a history of the battle, it is a history of the ow the battle has been remembered in the public sphere. It was definitely not what I expected.