Waterloo

October 1, 2014

To commemorate the upcoming bicentennial (2015) of the Waterloo Campaign, historian Lipscombe (Bayonne and Toulouse 1813-14: Wellington Invades France) presents a visual history of the ultimate battle of the Napoleonic Wars. This pertinent collection of primary and secondary sources humanizes the conflict, featuring numerous photos of Napoleon and his nemesis Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, alongside several memoir excerpts from subordinates. The editor relays how the steadfast loyalty between the Duke of Wellington and his Prussian ally Gebhard von Blucher ensured Napoleon's defeat and how that humiliation led to the rise of military theorist Carl von Clausewitz. Tangential topics, such as common risks associated with the popular musket "Brown Bess," add creative interest. While Lipscombe's research is visually compelling, the inclusion of copious source material leaves little room for analysis and might disappoint readers seeking an enumerated account of the battle. VERDICT Recommended only to libraries in need of a picturesque complement to comprehensive works such as Alessandro Barbero's The Battle, or in need of a supplement to brief entries from electronic resources. Those interested in an overall account of Napoleon's military strategy at Waterloo and other battles within the Hundred Days should consider Andrew Roberts's Napoleon: A Life.--Stephanie Sendaula, Library Journal

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