Waterloo

#1 Bestseller in the U.K. From the New York Times bestselling author and master of martial fiction comes the definitive, illustrated history of one of the greatest battles ever fought—a riveting nonfiction chronicle published to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Napoleon‘s last stand. On June 18, 1815 the armies of France, Britain and Prussia descended upon a quiet valley south of Brussels. In the previous three days, the French army had beaten the Prussians at Ligny and fought the British to a standstill at Quatre-Bras. The Allies were in retreat. The little village north of where they turned to fight the French army was called Waterloo. The blood-soaked battle to which it gave its name would become a landmark in European history. In his first work of nonfiction, Bernard Cornwell combines his storytelling skills with a meticulously researched history to give a riveting chronicle of every dramatic moment, from Napoleon‘s daring escape from Elba to the smoke and gore of the three battlefields and their aftermath. Through quotes from the letters and diaries of Emperor Napoleon, the Duke of Wellington, and the ordinary officers and soldiers, he brings to life how it actually felt to fight those famous battles—as well as the moments of amazing bravery on both sides that left the actual outcome hanging in the balance until the bitter end. Published to coincide with the battle‘s bicentennial in 2015, Waterloo is a tense and gripping story of heroism and tragedy—and of the final battle that determined the fate of nineteenth-century Europe. Historical Nonfiction from a Master Storyteller: Bernard Cornwell applies his legendary skill for narrative to create a historical account that reads with the suspense of a cliffhanger novel. The Three-Army Clash: Goes beyond the famous duel between the Duke of Wellington and Napoleon to give a full account of the vital role played by Blücher and the Prussian army. You-Are-There History: Uses the letters and diaries of generals and ordinary soldiers alike to plunge you into the smoke and chaos of the battlefield, showing what it truly felt like to fight. The Hundred Days Campaign: Follows every dramatic moment, from Napoleon‘s daring escape from Elba to the pivotal, bloody prequel battles at Ligny and Quatre-Bras.