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Through Spain with Wellington
The Letters of Lieutenant Peter Le Mesurier of the 'Fighting Ninth'
 
 
Edited by Adrian Greenwood
Transcribed by Gordon Rigby
 
  • Publisher: Amberley Publishing
  • Price £20
  • Format: Hardback | 272 pages
  • Publication date: 15 February 2016
  • ISBN-10: 1445654563
  • ISBN-13: 978-1445654560
 

 

Gazetted into the 9th Foot as an ensign in 1808, Peter Le Mesurier saw action from the earliest days of the Peninsular War almost to its end. The ‘Fighting Ninth’ were in the thick of it, and his letters describe nearly every major engagement of the war; the retreat to Corunna, the Walcheren Expedition, the sieges of Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Burgos and San Sebastian, and the battles of Salamanca, Vitoria, the Nivelle and the

Nive. The correspondence of this young officer provides a unique and fresh insight into the campaigns of Moore and Wellington against Napoleon. They also show the transformation of the boy into the man. He falls in love, suffers retreats and celebrates victories, witnesses sieges, rape and plunder, always spicing his letters with fascinating asides, wry humour, rich period detail, some very human fears and admissions, and the casual understatement of the British officer. Any

unpublished letters from the conflict are scarce, but such an extensive unpublished collection is rare indeed. With background information and commentary provided by expert Adrian Greenwood, meticulously footnoted, this is a worthy addition to the literature of the Napoleonic Wars.

One of the most revealing first-hand accounts of life in Wellington’s army to be discovered for many years.

 

Rory Muir, author of 'Wellington'

Adrian Greenwood has produced an absolute gem of a book. The letters and background information are seamlessly woven together resulting in an eminently readable book which will appeal to both scholar and lay reader. [Rated five out of five]

 

Army Rumour Service

Victoria's

Scottish Lion

 

  • Publisher: The History Press Ltd

  • Price £25

  • Format: Hardback | 496 pages

  • Dimensions: 156mm x 234mm x 46mm | 1,070g

  • Publication date: 28 July 2015

  • ISBN 10: 0750956852

  • ISBN 13: 9780750956857

  • Illustrations: 65 black & white illustrations, 32 colour plates

 

 

The career of the soldier who saved India for the British Empire, a man who spent fifty-five years fighting Frenchmen, Americans, Irish, Chinese, Russians, Pathans, Indians and the British establishment. The first major biography of Campbell since 1880.

SHORT-

LISTED

FOR THE

TEMPLER

MEDAL

 

One of the best military history books I've read for some time.

Rated five out of five.

 

The Army Rumour Service

A most valuable biography which casts considerable illumination upon the campaigns in which Campbell was such a significant participant and in the process throws light upon imperial territories and the treatment of their indigenous peoples.

 

With that mordant and often cruel wit of the Victorians, Colin Campbell’s critics dubbed him Sir Crawling Camel ... Now we have this excellent new biography to demonstrate how wrong the critics were.

 

Professor John M. Mackenzie, University of Edinburgh

I got this just two days ago and finished it LAST night. It really is that good ... This book is one of the best military biographies I have read. Since my military book collection will soon touch a thousand that means I've read a lot. Take my word for it, if you are interested at all in the Mutiny or Crimea this book will please you immensely.

 

William Wright, author of 'Warriors of the Queen'

This is a weighty, well researched biography which is a must read for all students of military history

 

Colonel Ian McVittie - The Thin Red Line

 

Sparkling and engaging.

 

Not only is this first modern biography constructed on solid research, but its many keen insights shed new light on a man who was much deeper and more interesting than other writers have suggested.

 

Trevor Royle (author of 'Crimea') - The National

This a scholarly account of his life, sources meticulously recorded ... I warmly recommend it.

 

Praise for 'the huge contribution this book makes to study of our war and its personalities, and to military history generally.'

 

Major Colin Robins - The War Correspondent

 

A great achievement by the author - thoroughly researched and engagingly written.

 

 

Campbell has waited a long time for a new biography, and it's so good to see one that has done him justice.

 

Philip Haythornthwaite

 

Read the interview with Adrian at the online review and preview site Edinburgh49

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