Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington (1769–1852)

This is a heavily annotated collection and selection of the Duke's correspondence from Spain. It rather irritatingly stops with the 1814 invasion of France. No index. Otherwise a good atmospheric read. The maps are ugly and awkward. There are a number of colourful anecdotes and the flow of the commentary smooths out the awkward bits. there are sketches of the countryside, more or less period thatt serve as well as photographs. Not a bad trot through the campaigns of the duke, who is somewhat show more flattered. show less

These supplementary despatches are primarily letters and memoranda. They are extraordinarily clear and detailed; a necessary consequence, I suppose, of the hand-written word being the only means of communication available. Wellesley's attention to detail and high level of mental organization is not a surprise; what is a bit of a surprise is how he immediately seems to have hit the ground running. The volume is very readable.