I found the title of this book rather misleading. The work should have been entitled "A military history of the British French struggle with remarks on Joseph Bonaparte, King of Spain. Michael Glover has come to my attention as a blow-by-blow military guy, and he doesn't go far enough away from that territory for this book to be good. Glover dismisses a detailed look at the Spanish military effort, either against Napoleon or for his program for Spain, on the grounds that it would make for a far thicker book, and the details would confuse his readers. I picked up this book looking for a more detailed look on what local support Joseph managed to garner, and I am therefore disappointed. I am also saddened at the paucity of information about Joseph himself, and while he may have been a remarkably dull person, I'm still looking for enough material to explain that view adequately.
In favour of Glover's effort, the Anglo-French war is admirably described, and the best description of the battle of Vitoria, and the reasons for it, is found in this book. That's the reason for a whole star. ( )