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Wellington: The Years of the Sword
For most of us Wellington equals Waterloo. But Waterloo was one peak only in the career of this phenomenal man, and it is the achievement of this major biography that it reveals the subtlety and full variety of Wellington's genius as well as the fascinating complexity of England in his time.
He was born Arthur Wesley, third son of the Earl of Mornington, in 1769--the same year as Napoleon. His family, which belonged to the ruling caste of Englishmen in Ireland, was long on the tradition of proud service to the King and chronically short of funds. Neither his childhood nor his years at Eton were happy; but when he went to Anjou at seventeen, to study at France's Royal Academy of Equitation, he came into his own, learned well, and emerged qualified and cosmopolitan.
He joined the British Army as an ensign and, for the next few years, rose through the ranks. He courted Kitty Pakenham but her family would not allow his suit--his family was not rich enough-- so he went to India at the age of twenty-seven still a bachelor.
It was in India that he made his name. There he became a scholar and a soldier. He returned a Knight of the Bath, a major-general, a hero to his countrymen and acceptable, at last, to the Pakenhams. (He had courted Kitty by post over the twelve intervening years; it was scarcely surprising that the woman he married proved different indeed from the charming girl he had left.)
When he was forty, the youngest lieutenant-general in the army, he took command of the allied armies in the Peninsular War. With Napoleon's downfall, abdication and exile to Elba, the hero of Europe began a gay career as ambassador to Paris. All the ladies, from the formidable Madame de Staël to the melting Signora Grassini, vied--often successfully--for his favors. His behavior with them and as a diplomat caused some disquiet, and there was evident relief when he was dispatched to the Congress of Vienna. When word came of Napoleon's escape, Wellington took command once more, and after the spectacular eve-of-battle ball in Brussels, led the British and Dutch-Belgian armies to triumph at Waterloo.
Lady Longford's unique biography draws on new material from private papers and Wellington's own uninhibited correspondence. Wellington: The Years of the Sword is a worthy successor to her superb Queen Victoria: Born to Succeed.
He was born Arthur Wesley, third son of the Earl of Mornington, in 1769--the same year as Napoleon. His family, which belonged to the ruling caste of Englishmen in Ireland, was long on the tradition of proud service to the King and chronically short of funds. Neither his childhood nor his years at Eton were happy; but when he went to Anjou at seventeen, to study at France's Royal Academy of Equitation, he came into his own, learned well, and emerged qualified and cosmopolitan.
He joined the British Army as an ensign and, for the next few years, rose through the ranks. He courted Kitty Pakenham but her family would not allow his suit--his family was not rich enough-- so he went to India at the age of twenty-seven still a bachelor.
It was in India that he made his name. There he became a scholar and a soldier. He returned a Knight of the Bath, a major-general, a hero to his countrymen and acceptable, at last, to the Pakenhams. (He had courted Kitty by post over the twelve intervening years; it was scarcely surprising that the woman he married proved different indeed from the charming girl he had left.)
When he was forty, the youngest lieutenant-general in the army, he took command of the allied armies in the Peninsular War. With Napoleon's downfall, abdication and exile to Elba, the hero of Europe began a gay career as ambassador to Paris. All the ladies, from the formidable Madame de Staël to the melting Signora Grassini, vied--often successfully--for his favors. His behavior with them and as a diplomat caused some disquiet, and there was evident relief when he was dispatched to the Congress of Vienna. When word came of Napoleon's escape, Wellington took command once more, and after the spectacular eve-of-battle ball in Brussels, led the British and Dutch-Belgian armies to triumph at Waterloo.
Lady Longford's unique biography draws on new material from private papers and Wellington's own uninhibited correspondence. Wellington: The Years of the Sword is a worthy successor to her superb Queen Victoria: Born to Succeed.
552 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1969
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
October 29, 2020
This is the first of two volumes covering the life of the Duke of Wellington and takes the reader from his birth as the younger son of impoverished Irish aristocrats to his ultimate victory over Napoleon at Waterloo. The second volume covers his subsequent political career. It was published fifty years ago, but remains one of the most popular biographies of the Iron Duke.
This is a solid piece of historical research rich in source material such as letters, quotes and anecdotes. The military detail is covered well, and follows his evolution from an obscure junior officer through to Field Marshal when still only in his mid-forties. This was achieved through a combination of patronage, particularly through his older brother Richard, and his repeated successes in the field. I particularly enjoyed the final section, with a good summary of the Waterloo campaign and an excellent account of the battle itself.
But for me this biography was flawed in several ways. Firstly, while I was impressed by Wellington’s long list of victories, I came away without understanding how they were achieved. Why was he so successful when so many generals who faced the French, of all nationalities, were not? Much is made by the author of the excellence of the redcoat infantry Wellington commanded, but he was not the only British general to do so. I also came to wonder if Longford (a descendant of the Duke’s) was the best person to be tackling this subject. While undoubtedly a brilliant man, Wellington had several noticeable flaws. His courtship of Kitty, who became his wife, was cruel at times – including a nine-year period with no contact between them. Yet this, together with his repeated affairs after they were married was lightly brushed over. He was also flawed as a leader, refusing to delegate or even share his plans with his subordinates, and intolerant of any display of initiative. In this regard he compares poorly with both his contemporaries Napoleon and Nelson.
This is a solid piece of historical research rich in source material such as letters, quotes and anecdotes. The military detail is covered well, and follows his evolution from an obscure junior officer through to Field Marshal when still only in his mid-forties. This was achieved through a combination of patronage, particularly through his older brother Richard, and his repeated successes in the field. I particularly enjoyed the final section, with a good summary of the Waterloo campaign and an excellent account of the battle itself.
But for me this biography was flawed in several ways. Firstly, while I was impressed by Wellington’s long list of victories, I came away without understanding how they were achieved. Why was he so successful when so many generals who faced the French, of all nationalities, were not? Much is made by the author of the excellence of the redcoat infantry Wellington commanded, but he was not the only British general to do so. I also came to wonder if Longford (a descendant of the Duke’s) was the best person to be tackling this subject. While undoubtedly a brilliant man, Wellington had several noticeable flaws. His courtship of Kitty, who became his wife, was cruel at times – including a nine-year period with no contact between them. Yet this, together with his repeated affairs after they were married was lightly brushed over. He was also flawed as a leader, refusing to delegate or even share his plans with his subordinates, and intolerant of any display of initiative. In this regard he compares poorly with both his contemporaries Napoleon and Nelson.
October 31, 2022
This book reads like a novel. And if anyone asked me for a book that made the era of Waterloo come alive, I’d recommend this one.
The author has a talent for explaining the complex and making it lucid. She also has a talent for putting you in a saddle as a cavalry trooper, placing you behind the bayoneted musket of an infantryman, and making you boil over having to make a life or death decision for your men as an officer.
She makes you feel the loss warfare always entails.
Recommended.
The author has a talent for explaining the complex and making it lucid. She also has a talent for putting you in a saddle as a cavalry trooper, placing you behind the bayoneted musket of an infantryman, and making you boil over having to make a life or death decision for your men as an officer.
She makes you feel the loss warfare always entails.
Recommended.
November 3, 2022
This epic biography covers the first half of the Duke’s life is full of his voice and those of his contemporaries. I can’t say that I enjoyed the many battles described but I do feel that I understand something of Wellington’s character now.
November 8, 2019
Countess Longford was one of the great British historians of the 20th Century. I am very reluctantly giving this first volume of her two-volume biography of the Duke Wellington. The problem is that despite its title it does not cover his military career very well. Longford understands the British aristocracy very well and writes brilliantly about British politics. However, she studied at Oxford not the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Thus for the Dukes' actions as a military man she has to rely on the opinions of true military historians. Any GR reader looking for a true military history will be disappointed.
What Longford does do is describe how a young nobleman used his remarkable talent and connections within the British artisocracy to become a General in India, a Field Marshall in the Peninsular War and ultimately Napoleon's vanquisher at Waterloo. Thus "Wellington: The Years of the Sword" very competently prepares the reader for "Wellington: Pillar of State" devoted to her subject's political career. "Wellington: The Years of the Sword" is not by any means as good as the second volume where Longford's best qualities are brilliantly displayed.
Longford portrays Wellington as a man who defeated Napoleon out of personal ambition not out of any passion for warfare. Welllington was the third son of an Anglo-Irish noble family and thus destined to slide into obscurity. A miliary career offered the only way for him to rise in station and thus he through himself into with all his energy. He succeeded because he was intelligent and disciplined. He impressed his colleagues with his moral integrity and he had the physical stamina required for the rigours of military campaigning. Early in his career his family's connections also proved useful. Being perfectly aware that she was not truly qualified to assess Wellington as a military tactician, she merely notes that he was a consistent winner in three different campaigns.
Do not start reading this work unless you are resolved to procede on to the second volume.
What Longford does do is describe how a young nobleman used his remarkable talent and connections within the British artisocracy to become a General in India, a Field Marshall in the Peninsular War and ultimately Napoleon's vanquisher at Waterloo. Thus "Wellington: The Years of the Sword" very competently prepares the reader for "Wellington: Pillar of State" devoted to her subject's political career. "Wellington: The Years of the Sword" is not by any means as good as the second volume where Longford's best qualities are brilliantly displayed.
Longford portrays Wellington as a man who defeated Napoleon out of personal ambition not out of any passion for warfare. Welllington was the third son of an Anglo-Irish noble family and thus destined to slide into obscurity. A miliary career offered the only way for him to rise in station and thus he through himself into with all his energy. He succeeded because he was intelligent and disciplined. He impressed his colleagues with his moral integrity and he had the physical stamina required for the rigours of military campaigning. Early in his career his family's connections also proved useful. Being perfectly aware that she was not truly qualified to assess Wellington as a military tactician, she merely notes that he was a consistent winner in three different campaigns.
Do not start reading this work unless you are resolved to procede on to the second volume.
January 30, 2010
This seemed to be pretty good book on Wellington, from his childhood through the Battle of Waterloo. It was disorganized in the beginning, as the author didn't really have much to say about his youth, and remained so through his time in India, but the narrative improved significantly once the Peninsular campaign began. The book focused almost exclusively on Wellington the military commander and provided only a few glimpses of his personal life. And of course it felt incomplete, since it stopped rather abruptly after Waterloo.
I found some bits of the book incomprehensible, but it's likely that the author expected the reader to have more background knowledge of Wellington than simply having read all of the Richard Sharpe novels.
I found some bits of the book incomprehensible, but it's likely that the author expected the reader to have more background knowledge of Wellington than simply having read all of the Richard Sharpe novels.
January 30, 2023
Enjoyable & readable with good use of sources & quotes but without slowing the narrative. Waterloo is treated as a fabulous set piece in almost a novelistic fashion. Wellington isn’t quite as cold & machine-like here as he often has been painted. He makes mistakes but does learn from them unlike his famous protagonist. He reckons himself “just a man” unlike his famous protagonist! His dispatches are factual & generous to his opponents when he is strategically outmanoeuvred. The thing that comes over with absolute clarity is that his battles were controlled with careful husbandry of reserves & mostly clear & concise orders.
October 19, 2016
Very readable biography of Wellington.
July 31, 2014
I didn't realize that this is volume one of two when I started reading it. A thorough biography of Wellington's military years. It ends with the battle of Waterloo and immediate aftermath. While there are interesting stories in his history up to Waterloo, the battle itself and it's telling was (for me) the pinnacle of the book.
On the personal front, one of the interesting things about Wellington's life was his marriage. He loved a girl and proposed marriage. She, thru her family, turned him down because he was to poor despite his advancement to Colonel in the British military. Not long later he moved to India to make his fortune as an officer. It took him nine years but he eventually returned to England with a decent amount of wealth. He didn't keep in touch with the woman he loved during that nine years. But he kept in touch with a mutual friend. Thru her messaging back and forth he verified that she might still be interested in him. However, in the nine years she had fallen in love but then been rejected. The outgoing vivacious girl Wellington had fallen in love with had much changed. Without renewing their relationship so that they could see how nine years of absence had changed them Wellington proposed and she accepted. They were together for a few years. Did not meld really well and then Wellington was called to the campaign against France in Spain and Portugal. He was away from her for five years while she raised their two young sons alone in England. Not really a happily ever after story. There were tales of Wellington's unfaithfulness to her but it's difficult to know if they went beyond play and flirtation and into any physical relations.
Wellington was a singular man of strategic skill. Few other generals in his time were near his equal in strategy on the battlefield. He went from a minor aristocrat from a poorish family to a wealthy Duke because of his victories for Britain and her allies.
The battle of Waterloo is dealt with over the course of about 50 pages. Wellington rode thru bullets and cannon shot to make sure his troops got the guidance he felt they needed as well as the steadying effect of his presence. Most of his many aides and friends around him were shot and many of them died on the day of the battle.
The author tells the story of the battle with clear facts but spirited details. There were some tremendous feats of arms done at the battle. One of the more moving passages came towards the end of the battle as the British army and allies moved into a final charge to drive the French from the field: "One British regiment did not join in the advance but remained quietly on the ridge. This was the 27th Foot. They lay dead to a man in their square."
On the personal front, one of the interesting things about Wellington's life was his marriage. He loved a girl and proposed marriage. She, thru her family, turned him down because he was to poor despite his advancement to Colonel in the British military. Not long later he moved to India to make his fortune as an officer. It took him nine years but he eventually returned to England with a decent amount of wealth. He didn't keep in touch with the woman he loved during that nine years. But he kept in touch with a mutual friend. Thru her messaging back and forth he verified that she might still be interested in him. However, in the nine years she had fallen in love but then been rejected. The outgoing vivacious girl Wellington had fallen in love with had much changed. Without renewing their relationship so that they could see how nine years of absence had changed them Wellington proposed and she accepted. They were together for a few years. Did not meld really well and then Wellington was called to the campaign against France in Spain and Portugal. He was away from her for five years while she raised their two young sons alone in England. Not really a happily ever after story. There were tales of Wellington's unfaithfulness to her but it's difficult to know if they went beyond play and flirtation and into any physical relations.
Wellington was a singular man of strategic skill. Few other generals in his time were near his equal in strategy on the battlefield. He went from a minor aristocrat from a poorish family to a wealthy Duke because of his victories for Britain and her allies.
The battle of Waterloo is dealt with over the course of about 50 pages. Wellington rode thru bullets and cannon shot to make sure his troops got the guidance he felt they needed as well as the steadying effect of his presence. Most of his many aides and friends around him were shot and many of them died on the day of the battle.
The author tells the story of the battle with clear facts but spirited details. There were some tremendous feats of arms done at the battle. One of the more moving passages came towards the end of the battle as the British army and allies moved into a final charge to drive the French from the field: "One British regiment did not join in the advance but remained quietly on the ridge. This was the 27th Foot. They lay dead to a man in their square."
March 22, 2009
This book is an interesting read for those who are intrigued by the Napoleonic Wars and by its characters. There is no doubt Arthur Duke of Wellington was an extremely gifted and tireless commander, one who had a knack for the details of warfare and a very thorough approach to front-line reconnaissance. He often went to the front lines to personally observe the French positions. Several times, he nearly got himself captured by skirmishers. His cool headedness in battle enabled him to turn the tide in his favor when crises occurred. His disdain of whimsical public opinion, manipulated by sensationalistic and partisan London newspapers, allowed him to forge ahead despite minor setbacks towards one victory after another in the Peninsular Campaign. As a military man and a Protestant, he was diplomatic towards his Catholic allies, the Spanish and Portuguese. He even ordered his troops to salute and present arms to the Blessed Sacrament if encountered in procession in the streets.
One disappointment in this great man’s life was his treatment of his wife, at least up to the Battle of Waterloo, the ending point of this book. Although faithful to her, as far as is known, he grew cold towards her especially after she displayed inability to deal with the family finances and made some blunders. Perhaps his long years of military service abroad made him deficient in regards to marriage. It was good, however, to see that he did not lower himself to the scandalous behavior of Admiral Lord Nelson, who publicly cohabited with another man’s wife. Wellington abhorred this kind of scandalous behavior especially in public officials and military officers.
It was a pleasure to read about Wellington’s crowning victory at Waterloo, his only direct encounter with Napoleon Bonaparte. Wellington actually believed that the outcome of the Peninsular War would have been different had Napoleon personally led the French in Spain and Portugal. Instead, Wellington would have the honor of dealing the knock-out blow at the Little Tyrant’s attempted re-usurping of France in 1815. Had Napoleon respected Wellington more, he might have succeeded at Waterloo. Surprisingly, Napoleon engaged in a slug-fest, a series of brutal frontal assaults that led to his demise. In all fairness, Wellington was aided tremendously by the return of Blucher’s Prussian Corps at the crucial moment. However, it was the Iron Duke who maintained his soldiers’ nerves and steeled their will to continue repulsing Napoleon’s massive assaults and hold the line until he could signal the pursuit of the retreating Imperial Eagles.
One disappointment in this great man’s life was his treatment of his wife, at least up to the Battle of Waterloo, the ending point of this book. Although faithful to her, as far as is known, he grew cold towards her especially after she displayed inability to deal with the family finances and made some blunders. Perhaps his long years of military service abroad made him deficient in regards to marriage. It was good, however, to see that he did not lower himself to the scandalous behavior of Admiral Lord Nelson, who publicly cohabited with another man’s wife. Wellington abhorred this kind of scandalous behavior especially in public officials and military officers.
It was a pleasure to read about Wellington’s crowning victory at Waterloo, his only direct encounter with Napoleon Bonaparte. Wellington actually believed that the outcome of the Peninsular War would have been different had Napoleon personally led the French in Spain and Portugal. Instead, Wellington would have the honor of dealing the knock-out blow at the Little Tyrant’s attempted re-usurping of France in 1815. Had Napoleon respected Wellington more, he might have succeeded at Waterloo. Surprisingly, Napoleon engaged in a slug-fest, a series of brutal frontal assaults that led to his demise. In all fairness, Wellington was aided tremendously by the return of Blucher’s Prussian Corps at the crucial moment. However, it was the Iron Duke who maintained his soldiers’ nerves and steeled their will to continue repulsing Napoleon’s massive assaults and hold the line until he could signal the pursuit of the retreating Imperial Eagles.
May 29, 2024
Not possible to do Longford's achievement justice. Mountains of information well-organized and beautifully written. There is something magical about this man (a notion which he would repudiate) but not fantasy magic: this is the real magic of a Man and the Moment coming together, in this case, in mid-June, 1815 at the Battle of Waterloo and the final defeat of Napoleon. Arthur Wellesley, a dreamy third son of not well-to-do Anglo-irish Aristocrats is that rare person, through a fascinating mix of character, abilities, and circumstances found his calling--was able to find and develop latent talents to the utmost--and thus was able to fulfill a rare destiny -- I don't know what else to call this! No one does! Even he was bemused by the fact that he and his horse Copenhagen rode about the battlefield for two solid days and neither ever injured. In the very last moment of the last day of the battle as the sun set at the victory was won, a great flash of sunlight illuminated the pair on a hillside! For heaven's sake! Wellington became a tremendous heart-throb in his own time and really, that magic has not diminished! Not for me! Not for Elizabeth Longford either, I expect. On to Volume 2 in which the Duke continues his public service in government. ***** (more stars if I could)
February 21, 2021
Kind of an odd book. A biography of the early life but mostly military career of Wellington by some one who isn't a trained military historian. Her focus on the the man, his private life, and dealings with the aristocracy is interesting but it seems hollow without a deeper analysis of the military aspects of the narrative. It's not as though she completely ignored the campaigns but spends most of the book following them in cursory way. It was interesting and I learned some things but would not recommend this as a first book to read about Wellington. Something else that some times rankled me is the extremely partisan way she sometimes writes.
November 29, 2017
While I learned quite a few facts and details about Wellington and the period he was a part of, I wasn't all that impressed with the author's writing style. While I know from the subtitle that the work focused on his "sword" or combat record, I couldn't help but feel the book ended too abruptly. I would have liked some coverage on his post Waterloo life. It felt the book ended too quickly after the Battle of Waterloo.
Apart from that criticism the writer's style just didn't appeal to me all that much.
Apart from that criticism the writer's style just didn't appeal to me all that much.
January 6, 2024
This book was a journey, I'd say. It took me years to get around to finishing it (yay ADHD!), but it was very much worth it. Longford's research is exhaustive, her prose excellent, and she pulls no punches. I agree with other reviewers on this site - it's got one of the best blow-by-blow accounts of Waterloo I've ever read. Fabulous book.
January 7, 2018
This was probably the best standard biography of Wellington - until Muir's more recent work. Longford is a descendant and this adds interest to the whole work. There is a lot of good material but it is poorly organised and really doesn't really wrap things up into conclusions
March 26, 2022
An excellent history of the Iron Duke. If you enjoy the Richard Sharpe novels and would like to invest some time in the history of the time this book could be for you.
January 12, 2026
While not the most critical biography, the attention to detail and well researched narrative make for an engrossing story of a brilliant military career.
April 19, 2011
My second time with this one. Having just finished Dancing to the Precipice, I decided to revisit the era from this perspective. The world was smaller then, especially where aristos were concerned. Lucie dined with the Sultan Tippoo who was later killed in Wellington's attack on Seringapatan(sp)This biography is a fabulous book. Actually readable. If you only know Wellington from Waterloo, this is an eye-opener. He was sent to Ireland prior to his military career. Had he stayed there and implemented his ideas some of the troubles might have been avoided. Ironic that one country may have been sacrificed to save the world. Especially a country that had once saved the world itself. Highly recommend "How Ireland Saved the World".
July 7, 2016
This is all of it. A slightly hagiographic (the author is a Wellington family member) biography of the great General. But it might be too exhaustive for the general reader. There are constant asides as the author cites every possible text and rights every potential historical wrong ever done to the man. But the real period enthusiast will appreciate all that detail. I'd say that Gamers and Painters can skip this book, but that the period motivated reader will revel in every page. History buffs of both the Napoleonic (we don't call it Wellingtonic do we?) period and British Empire era will find this essential reading. Well worth the slog.
September 24, 2010
This is a nice biography of Wellington for anyone who is interested in the Napoleanic Wars. The book is pretty accessible and easy to read. The Duke of Wellington was a brialliant military man. It was a pity his personal life was not as happy. I would recommend this to readers of Regency romances. You could get an idea of some of the actual history behind the stories of younger sons going off to war.
March 28, 2023
Having read a fictional book on Wellington, I wanted some facts and got them here. At least up to his victory at Waterloo.
I was sailing down the Spanish and Portuguese coast in 2017 so made a point of visiting all the historical places in his Peninsular War - Figuro de Foz, Coimbra etc.
We also look up Sir John Moore's tomb at A Coruna.
I was sailing down the Spanish and Portuguese coast in 2017 so made a point of visiting all the historical places in his Peninsular War - Figuro de Foz, Coimbra etc.
We also look up Sir John Moore's tomb at A Coruna.
September 13, 2008
One of my favourite ever biographies, definitely the best written about this extraordinary man. A book which has provided a wealth of research for other historians and writers of the period. Brings the Peninsular Wars to life.
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March 19, 2010Wellington the Years of the Sword by Elizabeth: Longford (1999)
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