Martin Robson

The title is a bit misleading, as the account ends with the arrival of Wellesley's first army in Portugal and before the actual fighting there begins. But if you are looking for a close examination of the diplomacy between Spain, France, Portugal and Great Britain prior to the commitment of a British army in 1808, this is your book. There is also an examination of the British relations with Portugal and Spain's colonies in South America, an often ignored area. While the book is under mapped, show more and the prose is more workmanlike than lively, this is a benchmark for studies in this particular field. show less