The Duke of Wellington was not only an incomparable commander in battle but also a remarkable writer. His dispatches have long been viewed as classics of military literature and have influenced all military accounts after his. This selection follows the campaign of the British against Napoleon in Wellington’s own words, telling the story of the conflict from its desperate beginnings in Portugal to the final triumph at Waterloo.

June 1815: The Duke of Wellington, the Prince of Orange, and Napoleon will meet on the battlefield--and decide the fate of Europe With the emperor Napoleon at its head, an enormous French army is marching toward Brussels. The British and their allies are also converging on Brussels--in preparation for a grand society ball. It is up to Richard Sharpe to convince the Prince of Orange, the inexperienced commander of Wellington's Dutch troops, to act before it is too late. But Sharpe's warning cannot stop the tide of battle, and the British suffer heavy losses on the road to Waterloo. Wellington has few reserves of men and ammunition; the Prussian army has not arrived; and the French advance wields tremendous firepower and determination. Victory seems impossible.

On a Sunday afternoon in June 1815, Napoleon and Wellington maneuvered their armies for a final confrontation on the ridgelines near Waterloo. McDonough recaptures this great battle with a devotion to historical accuracy, an understanding of the strategic and tactical thinking of the antagonists, and a sensitivity to human emotions. Maps.

"The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson", Harriette Wilson. Harriette Wilson was a celebrated British Regency courtesan (1786-1845).