Four Days in June

by Iain Gale

A remarkable debut novel, 'Four Days in June' is an imaginative but accurate reconstruction of five men - all real figures - five points of view, and four days of one of the world's most famous battles. Four days in June, 1815. Five men, three armies, on the fields of Waterloo. A battle for honour, glory, civilisation. And two great leaders, Napoleon and Wellington, in direct confrontation for the first time, to take their nations to victory. General De Lancey, Wellington's new Quartermaster-General, recently married and yearning for his beautiful wife. Colonel MacDonnell, a Scot who must hold his post to the last man. General Ziethen of the Prussian army, distrustful of the British but vital to their cause. Marshall Ney, mistrusted by Napoleon but revered by the French soldiers. And Napoleon, who must prove his worth as a great warrior for the glory of France. As the battle develops over the four days, it is seen through the very different positions and characters of the front men. From the eve of the battle to its bloody conclusion, there is defiance, desperation and great courage on both sides. Iain Gale, in his first novel, draws the scene, the devastation, the stench of war, with such vitality that, though the outcome is known, the tension of war comes vividly to life.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, War, Historical

369 pages, Paperback

First published April 24, 2006

About the author

Iain Gale has always had a passion for military history. He is the Editor of the National Trust for Scotland magazine and Art critic for Scotland on Sunday. He lives outside Edinburgh with his wife and children. His first novel, Four Days in June, is a stand-alone military adventure set on the battlefields of Waterloo.

He is also the writer of eleven non-fiction books.

Reviews

[Supratim · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a nice and decent read!

The story revolves around the battles fought in the Waterloo campaign and is narrated through the experiences of four men – all military officials serving in the British, French and Prussian army. The author has himself stated that the book is not a historical record of the Waterloo campaign but attempts to see inside the minds of the protagonists.

The year is 1815 and three armies – the British and their allies, the German, Dutch and Belgians; the Prussians and finally the French, led by their emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte himself – have amassed in the fields of Waterloo. The real battle was between Wellington and Bonaparte.
The novel chronicles the events that had transpired during 15-18 June, 1815.

The writing is smooth and helps you to vividly visualize the events – the action, the uniform of the soldiers, the surroundings. I enjoyed the reading experience and I felt that I suspense even though I knew the final outcome.

I have read other historical fictions around war but this experience was new as instead of tanks, machine guns and fighter jets – the story took back to the time when soldiers wore colourful but impractical uniforms; people used cannons, muskets, sabres and cavalry charge to fight.

This is a war novel; therefore please expect violence, gore, brutality and some romanticized notion of war, courage and honour. To give the author credit, he did try to show the human side of soldiers as they experience fear, confusion and longed to be back with their family and loved ones.

Wellington has been portrayed as a genius, which he was but Napoleon has been shown as a petulant man-child. I have no knowledge about Napoleon or his state of mind during the war but he is still acknowledged as one of the greatest military leaders of the world. Thus, I found it a bit weird.

You know what was my biggest learning from this book? I learnt that it is the poor who always suffers in any country of the world. The author mentioned in the Postscript that officers were rewarded but some of privates who were discharged due to wounds or reduction in army size ended up as beggars due to unemployment. Two years after the war, every British soldier who had fought in it were given monetary rewards – a general received £1,275; a colonel £433 while a private got only £2. Kings and dictators fought wars for their glory and greed, but it was the common man who was always the biggest loser.

Anyways, if you love war-centric historical fiction and are looking for a action/adventure book then you might want to check this out. Please don’t expect anything serious or insightful and you might enjoy it.

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in 2007, and this is a standalone book about final four days before and at the Battle of Waterloo, accurately reconstructed around five men.

Storytelling is of a superb quality from the author, every character, whether they are the five real figures dominating this wonderful tale, as well as other main figures acting in this famous Battle at Waterloo in June AD 1815, and all come vividly to life within this amazing tale of war and peace.

From the British and their Allies point of view, these men are: General Zeithen of the Prussian Army, De Lancey Wellington's Quartermaster-General, Colonel MacDonnell, and from the French side, they are, Napoleon himself, and Marshal Ney.

Each and everyone has his own concerns and problems concerning loyalty and trust against treachery and distrust between factions within and without, and not to forget the fear, bravery, faith or uncertainty about the outcome of this famous battle, and so everything, whether it is human and/or professionally will come to the forefront of this grand tale.

Told in a marvellous fashion by the author each and everyone's perspectives during those final four days are brought to us in a most original and absorbing way, and in these four days the reader will be taken along in this whole feel of Battle, its drama and finally the ultimate outcome.

Highly recommended, for this is in my view the most excellent fictional standalone book about Waterloo I've read, and that's why I like to call it: "A Glorious Four Days In June"!

[Arlomisty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book... historical fiction about the battle of Waterloo... The story focuses on five or six different Generals and commanders during the battle... the action didn't stop from the beginning of the story to the end. The author did an excellent job portraying what it must have felt like to be in the thick of it during a Napoleonic battle... cannons roaring, thousands of muskets firing, the sound of thousands of cavalry charging....The agony of being wounded.... it's all here. I will look for more books that this author wrote... very well done!

[Gary Wallis · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you don`t know alot about the battle of Waterloo, this book is for you. The author pretty much puts you in the middle of the fight and his descriptions of the battle are excellent. The narrative is great and I felt like I was watching a movie. As a matter of fact, I kept looking up the movie "Waterloo" to see the action , as created by the movie makers. This is one great book and I highly recommend it. So, if you want to exposed to this battle, this is your book.

[Ken · Rating 2 out of 5]

Four days in the lives or deaths of people who took part in the Battle of Waterloo.
A reasonable read but not gripping, all the folks in the book are as far as I know historical characters. I would suggest for a better sword wielding novel Sharpe's Waterloo would be a better read, or an actual history of the battle of which there are many

[Maurice · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wonderful insight in one of the most important pre-20th century battles in Europe. OK, granted, it is fiction, but the way the characters are described and come to live gives me better feeling of being there than actually visiting the battlefield.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wonderful historical fiction of the Battle at Waterloo, Belgium is a wonderful jewel of a tale. Resplendent in both fictional and real characters, Gale actually captures the tone and temper if the battle through research which would make any formal historian stand proudly. Sometimes great historical fiction illustrates those moments which traditional scholarship leaves blank and the best of those pieces (and authors) are truly gems if great value. Kudos to Gale and his Four Days in June!

[Ross Tennant · Rating 4 out of 5]

a real page turner

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read about the Battle of Waterloo. The men were brought to life, and although this is fictional, it is a good history.

[Philip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Essentially a retelling of the Waterloo campaign from the points of view of several of the participants. Military history aficionados may indulge of detailed tactical and battle descriptions, and the abundance of military terms thrown pretty much everywhere is pleasing.

The downside is that the narrative is rather bland, the use of real life characters does not leave a lot of space for twists - all that happened to them is very well known - and despite the fact that there are five POV characters, from all sides of the conflict, the book is very predominantly British focused. Don't let the fact that the very first chapter is from the perspective of Hans von Ziethen from the Prussians fool you, he has the lowest overall chapter and page count and is the only representative of the Prussian side. Napoleon's chapters are... tedious and single sided. Those from the Michel Ney's perspective are actually good, and those from the two British officers are dominant. The worst thing is that while the British thoughts and are well presented and flavorful, the French and Prussians are not. Gale has simply didn't invest that much in the way they think and rationalize.

And yet I actually enjoyed the book. The whole Waterloo campaign was presented thousand times better than in the recent Ridley Scott's movie, and I actually needed to fix my taste from that.

[Josh Wigley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A jolly good read

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title, of course, is a reference to the Waterloo campaign of 1815, where the Emperor Napoleon was finally defeated for good by a combined Anglo-Prussian army led by Wellington (for the Anglo-Dutch army) and Blucher (Prussian).

This novel tells the story through the eyes of five different characters involved in that battle: De Lancey, MacDonnell, Ziethen, Ney and Napoleon. While it also involves the battles of Quatre-Bras and Ligny, a ;arge part of the novel - not surprisingly - concentrates on the Battle of Waterloo itself. What may be surprising, however, is on how much it concentrates on the battle for La Haye Sainte (within Waterloo)!

I must admit, I also found. Some of the. Writing. To be a bit dis. jointed (I'm exaggerating here for effect), with very short, 'choppy' sentences.

As it's a period of history I'm interested in, I can now say that I've read the book. However, it's not one that I'd be rushing back to: not as good as, say, 'Sharpe's Waterloo' which has a similar approach.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is set around the Battle of Waterloo and tells the story from different viewpoints. Well written.

[Bob Cantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read several books by Iain Gale and this one was just like the other, great in my opinion. The story is about one of the major battles of history, Waterloo. Although it is a fictionalized account of the battle it does ring true to the events. There are no surprise heroics just men fighting for their countries and the men standing next to them. The details of the battle can be graphic to some readers, but you have to remember that war is a never a pretty event. This comes out in the thoughts of the officers, who observe the total it takes in human life and suffering. For the reader of the Napoleonic Wars this is a choice selection for the end of a legendary battle between two military giants, Napoleon and Wellington.

[Rod · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining read you need to get to the halfway mark before it becomes quite gripping.
Excellent development of the main characters...and wonderful reporting of the fighting. At times I felt I was there, hearing the sounds, seeing the sights and smelling the grossness of the damage war dies...including the lack of care for each human life.

[Mark Donald · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books about Waterloo I've read. Good to get a insight of the people who were there and what they experienced action pretty much from the start

[Stefan Koepeknie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Soon there would be peace but first was Wellington."

[Charlie Richardson]

An interesting book, worth a read.

[Bettie · Rating 2 out of 5]

blurb - Four days in June, 1815. Five men, three armies, on the fields of Waterloo. A battle for honour, glory, civilisation. And two great leaders, Napoleon and Wellington, in direct confrontation for the first time, to take their nations to victory.

On the battlefield, there is room for humanity, room for the hearts of men in times of great hardship. Four Days in June goes straight to that heart, and to the men who were integral to this most famous of battles. Wars are won by the men who lead them. This is the story of those men's strength, their courage, their thoughts and their fears.

General De Lancey, Wellington's new Quartermaster-General, recently married and yearning for his beautiful wife. Colonel MacDonnell, a Scot who must hold his post to the last man. General Ziethen of the Prussian army, distrustful of the British but vital to their cause. Marshal Ney, mistrusted by Napoleon but revered by the French soldiers. And Napoleon, who must prove his worth as a great warrior for the glory of France.

As the battle develops over the four days, it is seen through the very different positions and characters of the front men. From the eve of the battle to its bloody conclusion, there is defiance, desperation and great courage on both sides. Iain Gale, in his first novel, draws the scene, the devastation, the stench of war, with such vitality that, though the outcome is known, the tension of war comes vividly to life.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read. A book of fiction, set during the Battle of Waterloo, and the period leading up to it. It tells the story of the battle through the eyes of men on both sides; General De Lancey, Wellington's new Quartermaster-General, Colonel MacDonnell, a Scot who must hold his post to the last man, General Ziethen of the Prussian army, Marshall Ney, mistrusted by Napoleon, and Napoleon Bonaparte himself.
There are maps to show the disposition of the armies, and it does feel like an account of this most historical battle, which shaped Europe's future in the 19th century. Nevertheless it is a graphic novel, well written by a master craftsman.

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never read a war book before this and I loved it so much, I became a fan of the genre. The first few chapters are a little slow, but other than that, really great. Would 100% recommend if you have not read a war book before but are interested.

[Tigor Sitorus · Rating 4 out of 5]

war, war, war, and WAR!!!!!!!

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

War is heck. Waterloo was a famous big battle. The uniforms were cool. Glory is an illusion. Nothing new here.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listening to it rather than reading and I'm really enjoying it much to my surprise

[Michael Merry]

Very good read

Excellent story direct locations and characters. Well written and edited. Definitely a book to read and learn from. Would highly recommend.