Abell, Lucia Elizabeth Balcombe
To Befriend an Emperor: Betsy Balcombe’s Memoirs of Napoleon on St. Helena
Reviewed by Tom Holmberg
The memoir of the teen who stole an Emperor’s heart…
Adye, Ralph Willett
The Bombardier and Pocket Gunner, 1813
Edited by Stpehen
Summerfield
Reviewed by Don Graves
Superb edition of a classic manual on an artillerist’s
duties. . .
Barlow, George Ulrich.
A Light Infantryman with Wellington: The Letters of Captain George Ulrich Barlow, 52nd and 69th Foot, 1808-1815
Reviewed by Bill Haggart
A valuable and eye-opening addition to any Napoleonic library…
Bogle, James and Andrew Uffindell (editors)
A Waterloo Hero: the Reminiscences of Friedrich Lindau
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
Translated from the German for the first time. Lindau served in
the 2nd KGL Light Battalion.
Bonaparte, Napoleon
Le Souper de Beaucaire or the Supper at Beaucairet
Reviewed by Ira Grossman
Napoleon’s early foray into French politics…
Brandt, Heinrich von
In the Legions of Napoleon: The Memoirs of a Polish Officer in Spain and Russia, 1808-1813
Reviewed by Kevin Kiley
The memoirs of a Polish Parquin who fought in Napoleon’s armies
from the Spanish peninsula to the snows of Russia…
Brown, William
With the 45th at Badajoz, Salamanca, and Vittoria
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
This rare enlisted man’s memoir is among the greatest. . .
Bunbury, Thomas
Reminiscences of a Veteran
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
One of the best of British memoirs of the Napoleonic
Wars . . .
Cameron, John
The Letters of Lt. Colonel Sir John Cameron, 1st Battalion, 9th Regiment of Foot, 1808-14
Edited by Gareth Glover
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
Gareth Glover unearths another valuable
memoir of the British Army…
Capel, Lady Caroline
The Capel Letters 1814-1817; Being the Correspondence of Lady Caroline Capel
Reviewed by Anne Woodley
The letters of Marquess of Anglesey’s sister and nieces during
the Hundred Days and beyond give a personal and decidedly “civilian”
look at the events surrounding the great battle of Waterloo…
Coignet, Captain Jean-Roch
The Note-Books of Captain Coignet
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
The strength of Coignet’s writing lies not in his battle scenes,
but in his ability to describe what life was like both on campaign and
in garrison.
Cowan, Paul
With Wellington in the Peninsula: the Adventures of a Highland Soldier, 1808 – 1814
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
A rare memoir of a British enlisted man in the Peninsula…
Davidov, Denis
In the Service of the Tsar Against Napoleon – The Memoirs of Denis Davidov, 1806 – 1814
Translated and edited by Gregory Troubetzkoy
Reviewed by Alfons Libert
Memoirs of a colorful Russian cavalry officer and partisan
leader of the Napoleonic Wars who served as the model for a character
in Tolstoy’s War and Peace.
Dawson, Henry and Charles.
“Every Implement of Destruction Was Used against Us”: The Lives of Henry and Charles Dawson, 52nd Regiment of Light Infantry Based on their Peninsular War Letters
Edited by
Philip Abbott
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
Blurb: A rare collection of letters from the Peninsula…
Drummond, John.
Journal of Ensign John Drummond of the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, Peninsular War 1812 – 1814
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
Everyday life of a privileged junior officer on campaign in the Peninsula…
Ebbecke, Ludwig
A Hussar Sergeant in the King’s German Legion: the Memoirs of Cavalry Sergeant Ebbecke, 2nd Hussar Regiment King’s German Legion, 1803 – 1815
Edited by Gareth Glover
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
Unique memoir by a sergeant in the King’s German Legion…
Ewart, John F.
The Peninsular War Diary of Captain John Frederick Ewart, 52nd Light Infantry, 1811-12
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
A look at the life of a company officer. . .
Fletcher, Ian (editor).
Voices from the Peninsula: Eyewitness Accounts by Soldiers of Wellington’s Army, 1808 – 1814
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
A compelling compilation of first-hand account of the British Army in the Peninsula…
Franklin, John
Waterloo, Netherlands Correspondence: Volume 1 – Letters and Reports from Manuscript Sources
A welcomed look at the overlooked Netherlands contribution to the
victory at Waterloo. . .
Waterloo Hanoverian Correspondence, Vol. 1: Letters and Reports from Manuscript Sources (Waterloo 1815)
Reviewed by Dr. Stephen Summerfield
Unique archive of primary sources in English. . .
Glover, Gareth
The American Sharpe: the Adventures of an American Officer of the 95th Rifles in the Peninsula & Waterloo Campaigns
Reviewed by Robert BurnhamA rarity among British primary sources: an American officer’s diary.
A Young Gentleman at War: the Letters of Captain Orlando Bridgeman 1st Foot Guards in the Peninsula and at Waterloo 1812 – 15
Reviewed by Robert BurnhamA new favorite British memoir. . .
Eyewitness to the Peninsular War and the Battle of Waterloo: the Letters and Journals of Lieutenant
Colonel the Honourable James Hamilton Stanhope, 1803 to 1825
Reviewed by Robert BurnhamAnother superb production by Gareth Glover…
Waterloo: the Letters and Journals of Two Napoleonic Hussars, 1801-1816
Reviewed by Robert BurnhamWaterloo: the Letters and Journals of Two Napoleonic Hussars, 1801-1816
Reviewed by Steve BrownTwo ‘lost’ memoirs of the Peninsular war
by British hussars…‘It all Culminated at Hougoumont’: the Letters of Captain John Lucie Blackman, Coldstream Guards 1812
– 15
Reviewed by Robert BurnhamThe prolific letters of a privileged officer of the Coldstream Guards.
. .Seven Years on the Peninsula: the Memoirs of Private Adam Reed, 47th (Lancashire) Foot 1806-1817
Reviewed by Robert BurnhamThe memoirs of a lovable rogue in the Peninsular. . .
The Diary of William Gavin, Ensign and Quartermaster of the 71st Highland Regiment, 1806-1815
Reviewed by Robert BurnhamAnother “lost” memoir edited by the indefatigable
Gareth Glover…The Journal of Trooper Samuel Gallagher, 5th Dragoon Guards in Spain, Portugal and France, 1810 – 1815
Reviewed by Robert BurnhamA Scots Grey at Waterloo: the Remarkable Story of Sergeant William Clarke
Reviewed by Robert BurnhamUnique account of life of an enlisted soldier in the British cavalry…
The Texas Papers: a Collection of Peninsular War Letters, Written by Various Senior British & Portuguese Officers held at the Woodson Research Center, Rice University, Texas
Reviewed by Robert BurnhamRare, first-hand accounts by British officers serving in the Portuguese Army from the always reliable Gareth Glover…
The Waterloo Archive Volume I: British Sources
Reviewed by Robert BurnhamAn exciting new series that provides primary source material on
the Waterloo Campaign that has never been published before or hasn’t
been published in over 100 years.The Waterloo Archive Volume II: German Sources
Reviewed by Robert BurnhamA rare chance to read German eyewitness accounts of this famous
battle…The Waterloo Archive Volume III: British Sources
Reviewed by Ron McGuiganA worthy addition in the Waterloo Archives series…
The Waterloo Archive: Volume IV British Sources
Reviewed by Robert BurnhamThe best volume in the Waterloo Archives series yet…
The Waterloo Archive Volume V: German Sources
Reviewed by Robert BurnhamMore German eyewitness accounts of Waterloo in Gareth
Glover’s essential series…The Waterloo Archive Vol. VII: British Sources
Reviewed by Robert BurnhamAnother fine collection of primary sources on the Waterloo campaign…
The Waterloo Archive Vol. VIII: German and Netherlands Sources
Reviewed by Robert BurnhamThe latest Waterloo Archive fills a big gap in the history of the famous campaign…
Wellington’s Voice: the Candid Letters of Lieutenant Colonel John Fremantle, Coldstream Guards,
1808-1837
Reviewed by Robert BurnhamMassive collection of letters by a Peninsular
Guards officer and politically well-connected aide to Wellington…
Gordon, Alexander
At Wellington’s Right Hand: the Letters of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Alexander Gordon, 1808 – 1815
Edited by Dr. Rory Muir
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
A previously unpublished set of letters written by Wellington’s chief
aide-de-camp.
Gronow, R.H.
Captain Gronow: His Reminiscences of Regency and Victorian Life 1810-60
Reviewed by Anne Woodley
An amusing and gossipy look at nineteenth century society,
but as to accuracy -well, the jury is still definitely out…
Guyot, Général Comte.
Carnets de Campagne, 1792-1815
Edited with comments by Jean-Hughes de Font-Réaulx
Reviewed by Yves Martin
The highly interesting “rough notes” of a Colonel in Napoleon’s
Chasseurs à Cheval de la Garde.
Hale, James
The Journal of James Hale, late Serjeant in the Ninth Regiment of Foot
Reviewed by Alfons Libert
The memoirs and journals of simple soldiers, men who only
saw and experienced what happened to them or right in front of them,
give us an insight in how it really was.
Hamilton, Anthony
Hamilton’s Campaigns with Moore and Wellington during the Peninsular War
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
The memoirs of a soldier who served with the British 43rd
Light Infantry for most of the Peninsular War.
Harley, John.
The Veteran of 40 Years’ Service in the British Army: the Scurrilous Recollections of Paymaster John Harley 47th Foot – 1798- 1838
Edited by Gareth Glover
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
A look at the “Scurrilous” side of war…
Hausmann, Lieutenant Joseph
A Soldier for Napoleon: The Campaigns of Lieutenant Joseph Hausmann 7th Bavarian Infantry
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
The Hausmann papers will be invaluable to both the connoisseur of
Napoleonic memoirs and to those who are have a general interest in
the period. They are rich in detail and fill a large gap in the information
on the lives of the Germans who fought under the French Eagle.
A Soldier for Napoleon: The Campaigns of Lieutenant Joseph Hausmann 7th Bavarian Infantry
Reviewed by Donald Graves
The 2016 reprint of this long out-of-print book!
Hay, Andrew
Reminiscences 1808-1815 under Wellington. The Peninsular and Waterloo Memoirs of William Hay
Edited by Andrew Bamford
Reviewed by Donald Graves
A new edition recounting the life and times of a British officer in the Peninsula and at Waterloo…
Henegan, Richard D.
Seven Years Campaigning in the Peninsula and the Netherlands, 1808 – 1815
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
An eyewitness account by a Military Commissary of hard campaigning.
. .
Hildebrand, John
Fighting Napoleon: the Recollections of Lieutenant John Hildebrand 35th Foot in the Mediterranean and Waterloo Campaigns
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
A vivid memoir of fighting in a forgotten theater…
Jackson, Thomas
Narrative of the Eventful Life of Thomas Jackson: Militiaman and Coldstream Sergeant, 1803 – 1815
Edited by
Eamonn O’Keeffe
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
A rare memoir by a British militia sergeant…
Fighting Napoleon: the Recollections of Lieutenant John Hildebrand 35th Foot in the Mediterranean and Waterloo Campaigns
Reviewed by Josh Provan
The life of a British subaltern whose adventures rival those of a fictional character…
Johnston, R.M. (Editor)
In the Words of Napoleon: The Emperor Day by Day
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
Napoleon’s life presented in his own words…
Kincaid, John
Adventures in the Rifle Brigade: In the Peninsula, France and the Netherlands from 1809 to 1815
Reviewed by Anne Woodley
The irrepressible classic of life in the 95th Regiment…
King, Dean and Hattendorf, John B.
Every Man Will Do His Duty: An Anthology of Firsthand Accounts From the Age of Nelson, 1793-1815
Reviewed by Kevin Kiley
An excellent source of interesting and varied eyewitness accounts
of the naval battles of the Napoleonic age…
Kinloch, Charles.
A Hellish Business: the Letters of Captain Charles Kinloch 52nd Light Infantry 1806 – 1816
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
A rare set of letters from an officer in the 52nd Light
Infantry. . .
Laidlaw, Elizabeth.
The Making of a Rifles Officer: the Life and Letters of Colonel George Miller CB FRS (1786 – 1843
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
The trials and tribulations of a young officer in the 95th Rifles. . .
Le Mesurier, Peter.
Through Spain with Wellington: The Letters of Lieutenant Peter Le Mesurier of the ‘Fighting Ninth.’
Edited by
Adrian Greenwood
Reviewed by Rory Muir
A substantial and fascinating memoir of an officer in one of the Peninsula’s less famous divisions. . .
Le Mesurier, Peter.
Through Spain with Wellington: The Letters of Lieutenant Peter Le Mesurier of the ‘Fighting Ninth.’
Edited by
Adrian Greenwood
Reviewed by Josh Provan
Rediscovered letters of a young British officer…
Leventhal, Lionel
On Publishing: A Professional Memoir
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
How all those books get published…
Lowry, James
Fiddlers and Whores: the Candid Memoirs of a Surgeon in Nelson’s Fleet
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
A gem of a book on life in Nelson’s navy that is quite readable
and highly entertaining.
Macdonald, Jacques Etienne
The French Macdonald: The 1825 Travel Diary of Jacques Etienne Joseph Alexandre Macdonald
Reviewed by Susan Howard
A French Marshal returns to his Scottish roots. . .
Machell, Lancelot
The Peninsular War Letters of Lancelot Machell RE
Edited by Mark S. Thompson
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
A set of letters by an officer who served in the Royal Corps of Miners and Sappers.
Madden, George
The Services of General Sir George Madden 1789-1814
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
Rare memoir of a British officer in command of Portuguese cavalry fighting with the Spanish in the Peninsula….
Markham, J. David (editor)
Napoleon and Doctor Verling on St Helena
Reviewed by Tom Holmberg
The last remaining unpublished account of Napoleon’s final years…
McClure, George
Causes of the Destruction of the American Towns on the Niagara Frontier, and Failure of the Campaign of the Fall of 1813
Reviewed by Donald E. Graves
The justifications of the author of a disaster and the novel it inspired…
Miller, Benjamin
The Adventures of Serjeant Benjamin Miller whilst Serving in the 4th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Artillery: 1796 to 1815
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
The memoirs of a soldier who served with the British Royal Artillery
during the Napoleonic Wars
Moiret, Joseph-Marie
Captain Joseph-Marie Moiret: Memoirs of Napoleon’s Egyptian Expedition 1798 – 1801
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
A first-hand look at Napoleon’s Egyptian adventure…
Morris, Roger
With the Guards in Flanders: the Diary of Captain Roger Morris 1793 – 1795
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
A candid memoir of Britain’s campaign in Flanders…
With the Guards in Flanders: The Diary of Captain Roger Morris, 1793-1795
Reviewed by Steve Brown
A valuable first-hand source on a disastrous campaign…
Müffling, Friedrich Karl Ferdinand Freiherr von
The Memoirs of Baron von Müffling: a Prussian Officer in the Napoleonic Wars
Reviewed by Steve Brown
A Prussian “view from HQ”…
Noël, Jean-Nicolas-Auguste.
With Napoleon’s Guns: The Military Memoirs of an Officer of the First Empire
Translated and edited by Rosemary Brindle
Reviewed by David McCracken
A unique inside look at Napoleon’s artillery…
Packe, Henry.
With the 1st Foot Guards in the Peninsular and at Waterloo: the Letters of Lieutenant Colonel Henry Pack, 1806 – 1816
An excellent account of an officer who missed out…
Pushin,
Pavel.
Diaries of the 1812-1814 Campaigns
Translated and edited by Alexander Mikaberidze
Reviewed by Greg Gorsuch
A firsthand account of the Russian Campaign through the eyes of a Russian Guard
officer…
Radozhitskii,
Ilya.
Campaign Memoirs of the Artilleryman, Part I: 1812. Russian Voices of the Napoleonic Wars
Translated and edited by Alexander Mikaberidze
Reviewed by Greg Gorsuch
A memoir of 1812 that rivals—and was a basis for—War
and Peace…
Riley, Jonathon
A Matter of Honour: The Life, Campaigns and Generalship of Isaac Brock
Reviewed by Ron McGuigan
A new biography of Gen. Brock for the 1812 Bicentennial. . .
Robertson, Ian
The Exploits of Ensign Bakewell – With the Inniskillings in the Peninsula, 1810-11; and in Paris, 1815
Reviewed by Gareth Glover
Schaumann, August Ludolf Friedrich
On the Road with Wellington: The Diary of a War Commissary
Reviewed by Alfons Libert
The captivating story of a commissary officer in the King’s
German Legion that kept me awake all night reading…
On the Road with Wellington: The Diary of a War Commissary
Reviewed by Steve Brown
One of the best memoirs from the Peninsular War…
Smith, Sir Harry
The Autobiography of Sir Harry Smith, 1787-1819
Reviewed by Anne Woodley
The rollicking recollections of an officer of the famous 95th Rifles
written “at the gallop”…
Thompson, Mark S. (editor)
The Peninsular War Diary of Edmund Mulcaster RE, 1808 – 1810
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
The daily life and work of the British engineers in the Peninsula…
Vandeleur, John.
With Wellington’s Outposts: the Peninsular and Waterloo Letters of John Vandeleur
Edited by
Andrew Bamford
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
Annotated version of one of the rarest “memoirs” of a British cavalry officer…
Vionnet, Louis Joseph
With Napoleon’s Guard in Russia: The Memoirs of Major Vionnet, 1812
Translated and edited by Jonathan North
Reviewed by Tom Holmberg
An interesting memoir of the Russian campaign
enhanced by the reminiscences of other memoirists in the same unit…
Walton, George.
George Walton 1796 – 1874: the Journal & Diary of a Rifleman of the 95th Who Fought at Waterloo
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
Was in the 2nd Battalion in the 1813 Campaign in Holland and the Waterloo Campaign,
Willis, Henry
The Letters of Private Henry Willis: 1st Regiment of Life Guards, 1807-14
Edited by Gareth Glover
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
Letters of an unusual Guardsman on campaign…
Yermolov, Alexey
The Czar’s General: The Memoirs of a Russian General in the Napoleonic Wars
Reviewed by: Ron McGuigan
Memoirs of the Napoleonic Wars. Russian Voices of the Napoleonic Wars, Vol. III
Reviewed by Greg Gorsuch
Another unique insight into the workings of the Russian army…
Watson, Edward
Personal Adventures of a Young Officer during Walcheren & the Peninsular War: the Memoirs of Ensign Edward Watson 9th (East Norfolk) Regiment of Foot, 1808 – 11
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
An unusual look at a dissenter in Wellington’s ranks…
Westcott, John
John Westcott’s Journal of the Campaign in Portugal: Late Bandmaster of the Band 1/26th (Cameronian) Regt.
Edited by Gareth Glover
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
Unusual memoir of a bandmaster of a hard-luck regiment…
Woodberry, George
With Wellington’s Hussars in the Peninsula and Waterloo: the Journal of Lieutenant George Woodberry 18th Hussars
Edited by Gareth Glover and Colin Yorke
Reviewed by Robert Burnham
A fascinating memoir of the most undisciplined regiment in Wellington’s army…