Waterloo: Four Days That Decided Europe's Fate

From June 15 to 18, 1815, French forces and the coalition armies fought three battles near Brussels that would determine the fate of Europe.

On the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo, Tim Clayton draws extensively on newly discovered sources to reassess this old legend in meticulous, hour-by-hour detail. He seeks to establish the true sequence of events throughout the campaign, enabling readers to weigh the many controversies surrounding Waterloo. He also sets out the perspectives of all sides, portraying the battle through the eyes of the French, Germans, Dutch, Belgians, and British, and offering as balanced an account as possible of the roles played by the armies of each nation.

The book also vividly tells the stories of people who endured frantic marches, extreme weather, and brutal fighting in the last major battle of the age of horses, rifles, and cannons, yet showed extraordinary courage. It offers general readers glimpses into the lives and thoughts of those who took part, bringing the battle into sharper focus.