Waterloo

There are some events in history that seem to grab the imagination more than others. The Battle of Waterloo (June 1815) is one of those events. Great works of literature (Vanity Fair), the military adventures of Bernard Cornwell (Waterloo: Sharpe's last adventure), the romantic novels of Mary Balogh (Slightly Tempted), the historical fiction of Georgette Heyer (An Infamous Army), even lame disco music ('Waterloo', ABBA Gold: greatest hits) all use this historic battle as inspiration. In novels the battle is often in the background, with interaction between the characters taking center stage. But in his new book Waterloo: 1815 campaign, Jacques Logie presents a beginner's guide to the event itself.
It's a very good overview. He starts with the political background of the Napoleonic Wars and explains the methods of warfare used at the time. He introduces the various generic players (infantry, cavalry, camp followers) and the big name generals (Wellington, Blucher, Napoleon, Soult). He then explains how the battle unfolded, day by day. He discusses the effect of the victory on the participants, including the poor local peasants whose towns and fields were destroyed during the campaign. He also discusses the political, cultural and historical legacy of Waterloo. Military history buffs might find this book too superficial for their tastes, but if your knowledge of the battle and 19th-century warfare is limited, then this book is a great introduction.