Bernard Cornwell

It is a rare thing for an author to draw me into a story so deeply that I didn't want it to end...and when it did I felt as if I had said good-bye to a group of friends (and fiends) I'll never see again. A bittersweet finale to a 1,500 page saga that gripped me right from page one, book one. Although he kept the magical elements of the tale at arm's length in the first two books, in this final instalment Cornwell makes them an integral part of the narrative ramping up the violence, show more despotism, and heroism for a climax that I'm still replaying in my head. I doubt I'll ever be able to read another take on the legend of Arthur without comparing it...unfavourably... to this one. And despite his efforts to de-romanticize the story using realistic characters and earthy asides regarding living conditions in 5th century Britain, Cornwell has succeeded in weaving a tall tale which fits comfortably between historical fiction and high fantasy. Beautifully done. show less

Bernard Cornwell, known for his historical fiction, has compiled a detailed account of the Battle of Waterloo, which took place in Belgium in 1815 and ended Napoleonic Wars. As Cornwell points out, "it is one of the most studied and written-about battles in history" but I had never before read a comprehensive account. It involved over 300,000 troops. This narrative non-fiction vividly portrays what it was like on the field of battle. Cornwell had heavily researched the Napoleonic Wars for show more his Sharpe Series, and here he compiles his research into an eminently readable narrative of the events leading up to the battle, the battle itself, and the impact of the results on history.

It relies heavily on journals written by the combatants on both sides. I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of the contrasting leadership styles of Bonaparte and the Duke of Wellington. It clearly delineates the role of the Prussians, under Field Marshall von Blücher, who honored his word to come to the aid of Wellington. Cornwell employs his immense authorial skills to create a sense of dramatic tension even though the reader already knows the ending. He establishes the context and analyzes the “what ifs” that always arise in a conflict of this size and import. If you have never read a full account of what happened at Waterloo, this book definitely provides all the essential information (and more) in a manner that is easily digested. show less

I loved Waterloo: The History of Four Days, but its appeal is probably limited to those who are interested in (1) the battle at Waterloo; (2) the Napoleonic Wars; (3) war in the early 1800s; or (4) anything Cornwell writes. This is really well done - his only nonfiction book so far. It has the page-turning character of a novel.

The battle took place in fields just south of Brussels in June, 1815. Around 200,000 men (and at least one disguised woman) fought each other in a five mile square show more area. The Duke of Wellington squared off with the genius Napoleon, and Wellington became known as the Conqueror of the Conqueror of the World. However, it was a brutal battle, or really three battles, with around 50,000 dead or wounded by the end. Three battles: there was Wellington vs. the French and slow-to-act General Ney at nearby (and crucially located) Quatres Bras, the French successfully attacking the Prussian army at Ligny the next day, and then the battle of Waterloo with Wellington's Anglo-Dutch forces eventually being joined by the Prussians against the French.

Telling the story well had to take discipline and persistence. Wellington himself said: “The history of a battle is not unlike the history of a ball. Some individuals may recollect all the little events of which the great result is the battle won or lost; but no individual can recollect the order in which, or the exact moment at which, they occurred, which makes all the difference as to their value or importance.”

Cornwell does a superb job of telling that story. He has honed his storytelling skills in many historical novels, including the famous Sharpe series, and this is his first venture into nonfiction. He had told the story through Sharpe's eyes in Sharpe's Waterloo, but this is much more in-depth. He has drawn on a huge archive of letters and diaries written by soldiers from all three armies at the battles. Some of the most riveting material comes from those archives. For example, the perspective of a surviving Ensign recently graduated from Eton College:

"You perceived at a distance what appeared to be an overwhelming, long moving line, which, ever advancing, glittered like a stormy wave of the sea when it catches the sunlight. On came the mounted host until they got near enough, whilst the very earth seemed to vibrate beneath their thundering tramp. One might suppose that nothing could resist the shock of this terrible moving mass. They were the famous cuirassiers . . . "

Part of why the Waterloo battles are so famous is that the outcome was very much in doubt throughout. Cornwell aptly points out many "what if"s - what if a Dutchman, Major-General Rebecque, hadn't recognized the strategic significance of Quartres-Bras, and disobeyed orders in order to protect it? What if French General Ney hadn't inexplicably waited so long to attack Quartres-Bras (probably due to wariness of Wellington's strategic reputation), allowing reinforcements to arrive? There are many of these moments described by Cornwell which could have turned the tide the other way. Napoleon's often brilliant strategy is explained, but it was subject to the vagaries of battle and at times erroneous execution by his staff in chaotic circumstances. We also get to see the bravery and clear-headedness of many, especially those who eventually turned the battle into the allies favor.

The devastating loss of lives and the awful injuries are unstintingly portrayed, with Wellington professing his hope that he would never go to war again. This is a page-turning account of the famous battle, and a great place to start in understanding it. show less

A wonderful retelling of King Arthur, with all the narrative freedom that the lack of information of the Dark Ages can give you. In this case it brings the story without actual magic, but with the bottomless superstition of those times, and because they believed in magic, it feels that it exists. Even though the rituals and spells are completely ridiculous. There's complex politics and a deep sense of honor between the most powerful characters. The personalities are all well fleshed out, and show more nobody is lost in the epic of it all, even the smallest ones. The story is told by an old Derfel telling the story to his Queen Igraine.

Some quotes that I liked:

"There was something about the hopelessness of our plight that eroded normal behaviour and so we crammed as much living as we could into those hours before our expected deaths."

"I learned that the joy and the fear are the exact same things, the one merely transformed into the other by action."

"I do understand that you can look into someone's eyes,' I heard myself saying, 'and suddenly know that life will be impossible without them. Know that their voice can make your heart miss a beat and that their company is all your happiness can ever desire and that their absence will leave your soul alone, bereft and lost." show less