Open Daily: 10am - 10pm | Alley door pickup 10am - 7pm 3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
612-822-4611

  • Open Daily: 10am - 10pm
    Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm

    3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
    612-822-4611

Open Daily: 10am - 10pm | Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm
3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
612-822-4611
Wellington's Operations in the Peninsula 1808-1814: Volume 2-The Investiture of Badajoz to the Campaign in Southern France, 1814

Wellington's Operations in the Peninsula 1808-1814: Volume 2-The Investiture of Badajoz to the Campaign in Southern France, 1814

Butler, Lewis William George

Hardcover

Biographies GeneralMilitary Strategy

ISBN10: 0857065270
ISBN13: 9780857065278
Publisher: Leonaur Ltd
Published: Mar 11 2011
Pages: 336
Weight: 1.24
Height: 0.88 Width: 5.50 Depth: 8.50
Language: English
Volume 2-the investiture of Badajoz to the Campaign in Southern France, 1814

The author of this history of Wellington's Peninsular War, Captain Lewis Butler of the Rifles, declares himself at the outset to be a disciple of William Napier and an enthusiastic student of that 'incomparable classic' for which Napier is principally known. His objective is to provide a 'concise' history of the conflict for those who may lack the capacity or time to engage with Napier's massive opus. Readers should note that the author actually sells himself somewhat short. In fact, Butler's work encompasses the entire war-not confining itself only to Wellington's involvement as his title suggests. Within the two substantial volumes-concise being a relative term-of his history he gives us his own narrative of the war in an easy to read but thorough and engaging style. Modern students have often taken the criticism (by others) of Butler's mentor Napier as 'given wisdom.' Much controversy concerning Napier's history originated from those involved in the war, who had personal reasons for taking exception to his perspectives, this did not therefore mean that he was inevitably wrong. The view that his is an overworked reference in no way detracts from its value-particularly for those not familiar with it. Furthermore, Butler points out that his history contains 'certain points of military detail which are omitted from or in all events not prominently brought forward' by Napier in his work. The coy tone and often apologetic conventions of 19th century prefaces are often not in the best service of the reader in enabling one to appreciate the full merits of the work in hand. Modern readers may be assured that Butler's is an excellent, original account in its own right and not-irrespective of the value of such a work-an edited rewrite of Napier. It will both interest general readers and be a valuable addition to every library of the history of the Napoleonic Wars.

1 different editions

Also available

Also in

Biographies General

View All