Waterloo: Wellington's Victory and Napoleon's Last Campaign

by Christopher Hibbert

The defining military engagement of the nineteenth century. The epic battle that forever ended one man’s dreams of a European empire unified under his rule. Weaving together an immense array of original sources to reveal personalities, forces and nations, this epoch-defining conflict would ultimately be remembered for the showdown between two of history’s most legendary the Duke of Wellington, and Napoleon Bonaparte. Divided into three parts, Christopher Hibbert masterfully depicts first Napoleon and his rise to power, then a portrait of Wellington and the allied armies, and lastly the steps leading up to and the battle itself, the final clash on the fields of Waterloo. A gripping, succinct and panoramic survey of this legendary battle, the history surrounding the conflict, and the personalities that defined both the battle itself, and a generation.

Genres: History

368 pages, Paperback

Published November 25, 2021

About the author

Christopher Hibbert, MC, FRSL, FRGS (5 March 1924 - 21 December 2008) was an English writer, historian and biographer. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and the author of many books, including Disraeli, Edward VII, George IV, The Rise and Fall of the House of Medici, and Cavaliers and Roundheads.

Described by Professor Sir John Plumb as "a writer of the highest ability and in the New Statesman as "a pearl of biographers," he established himself as a leading popular historian/biographer whose works reflected meticulous scholarship.

Reviews

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

June 18, 1815, the Battle of Waterloo, the culmination of fighting between the Allies and the French, well, actually the Allies (Britain, Prussia, and some other smaller but important armies in defense) against Napoleon. Napoleon was the declared enemy. He hoped to once more create a miracle, a miracle that only war could bring him. 120,000 men, many of whom had fought at Napoleon's side for years, but there were many young men who had never fought before. Still, most did their duty for one more shot at glory.

The book talks about the lead-up battles of Ligny and Quatre Bras on the 16th, the former a victory against the Prussians while Quatre Bras proved indecisive against the Allies by Marshal Ney. On the 17th the victor was rain, a drenching downpour which delayed the culminating battle the next day.

There are many important phases to the battle of Waterloo, but all were drenched in blood as the Allies under the Duke of Wellington stood on the ridge of Mt. St. Jean for hours, defying infantry and cavalry charges to open the way to victory for the French.

Later in the day the Prussians, under Fieldmarshal Blucher, honoring his promise to support Wellington, arrived on the French right flank, just as the French Guard was to attack, hoping for final victory. As we all know it failed; however, Napoleon's legend has only grown, partly because of his own propaganda. As the years passed, 'la gloire' of those twenty years were something to remember and cherish by many French citizens--much as the U.S. South chose to remember the American Civil War, however falsely.

This book is an adequate overview, but there are no maps and little about Hougoumont. There are many books about this campaign in Belgium for all levels of interest. June 18, 1815, is a date to long remember.

[Neville Filar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes but what does our "author" think

This book consists almost entirely in quotations from other works. Often these quotations run through many paragraphs. All are footnoted so we can see that the latest one is from the 1960's. So they are none of them at the forefront of modern scholarship. They are all genuine I am sure but their truth is not attested to. Does Hibbert agree with a source of not. And if so why ? We are not told. Why are these sources chosen and not others? We do not know. All in all this is a lazy work. What does Hibbert think enough the events described?

If the book had been titled as a collection of out of copyright sources we'd be forewarned. But the title page stated that Hibbert is the author. And he isn't.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

excellent companion piece to Christopher Herald's Napoleon, this book gives a vivid portrayal of the last grand campaign and brings the Napoleonic saga to a much more complete resolution. I'm glad I didn't start with this book, though, since it really dives in and takes for granted a starting knowledge of names and places and battles leading up to Elba, where the story of this book begins.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy to follow and entertaining account of the build-up and finally the battle itself. With the words of some who were there and views of other authors and scholars, it gives a feel to the people and events of this truly historic time.

[George Polansky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read.