Dancing into Battle: A Social History of the Battle of Waterloo - Rilegato

Foulkes, Nicholas

Rilegato

ISBN 10: 0297850784 ISBN 13: 9780297850786

Casa editrice: W&N, 2006

Riassunto

The battle in which Napoleon was finally defeated by British, Dutch, Belgian and German forces commanded by Wellington, and the Prussians under von Blucher, on 18 June 1815 at Waterloo in Belgium has become one of the most famous in history.

Battles were then localised affairs: Waterloo was fought on a piece of land approximately the size of Central Park or the combined areas of London's Hyde, Green and St James's Parks. Parks are an apt analogy, lending the sense that war was something of a social occasion. The famous quote about the battle having been 'won on the playing-fields of Eton' has a resonance that goes beyond its apparent fatuity.

For a good many of the men who fought at Waterloo, war was something of a sporting occasion in England. Indeed the sense of Waterloo as a 'school match' is reinforced by such images as the Duke of Richmond turning up at the battle to cheer on his sons who were fighting.

However, there are few social and sporting occasions that end with 56,000 dead, dying and wounded men, and at least 10,000 horses in a similar state strewn across an area the size of Central Park.

Nick Foulkes' brilliantly realised portrait of the eve of battle brings a fresh perspective to this turning-point in European history.

Su questo libro

Recensione:

[Foulkes is] a scholarly researcher as well as a witty chronicler. (Andrew Roberts)

¿a well-researched social portrait...Foulkes entertainingly and gracefully brings to life the Regency upper-class at war." (Simon Sebag Montefiore)

an elegant and colourful companion to the more traditional perspectives on Waterloo. (Annabel Venning BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE (December 2006))

a fascinating new perspective to one of the most famous conflicts in British military history. (Saul David TELEGRAPH (16.12.06))

Foulkes is strong on the historical side of events, most interesting is what he observes about the mythologising of the ball as it blended seamlessly into the battle. (Frances Wilson SUNDAY TELEGRAPH (31.12.06))

Foulkes has written a wonderful book. Drawing on a rich stock of memoirs from those who fought and those who partied at Waterloo, he creates a picture that is gaudy, sad, elegant and impeccably English. (Kathryn Hughes MAIL ON SUNDAY (31.12.06))

[an] entertaining chronicle...Foulkes's description of combat is as deliciously British as his vignette of teacakes and cream. (Chloe Todd Fordham THE OBSERVER (7.1.07))

[an] enthralling social history of the Battle of Waterloo. (Katie Hickman DAILY MAIL (12.1.07))

A fresh and vivid reconsideration of one of official British history's greatest triumphs. (Michael Kerrigan THE SCOTSMAN (13.1.07))

[an] entertaining book...[it] contains sex, shopping, parties, gossip and glamour. (Paul Donnelley THELONDONPAPER (9.1.07))

Descrizione del libro:

The social backdrop, vividly described, to one of the greatest battles in European history, Waterloo 1815.

Su questa edizione

• Editore: W&N
• Data di pubblicazione: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0297850784
• ISBN 13: 9780297850786
• Rilegatura: Copertina rigida
• Numero edizione: 1
• Numero di pagine: 288