HomeGroupsTalkMoreZeitgeist
Search Site
This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and (if not signed in) for advertising. By using LibraryThing you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your use of the site and services is subject to these policies and terms.

Results from Google Books

Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.

Loading...

Journal of the Waterloo Campaign

by General Cavalie Mercer

Series: Napoleonic Library (1)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingConversations
531486,114 (4.2)None
"An outstanding picture of the haste, confusion, and uncertainty of both the campaign and the battle, written by a man who definitely was there!"--Col. John R. Elting, author of Swords Around a Throne: Napoleon's Grande Armee Journal of the Waterloo Campaign remains one of the most famous personal accounts of the climactic three days which ended the military career and empire of Napoleon Bonaparte. Captain Cavalié Mercer (1783-1868), commander of G Troop of the Royal Horse Artillery in Wellington's army, was a skilled writer who recorded the day's events each evening. As a result, readers can experience through Mercer's keen eye the turbulence and graphic immediacy of the entire campaign: the news of Napoleon's return from Elba; the landing of Wellington's forces in Belgium; the lulls and hard marching; the battle at Quatre Bras (where Mercer fired a few rounds at Napoleon himself); Wellington's retreat; the ferocious fighting at Waterloo; and Mercer's own bold contribution to the larger Allied victory.… (more)
None
Loading...

Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book.

No current Talk conversations about this book.

Well-written account of the whole campaign from the embarkation and through to the occupation of Paris. First third is a primarily a travel journal (similar in feel to Moyle Sherer's memoir) with an interesting description of the landing at Ostend and descriptions of the Belgian countryside and the character of its towns and people. Memorable scenes at Gaasbeek castle with Paul Arconati Visconti.
The Battle of Waterloo itself is only one chapter--Mercer specifically notes the fog of battle and the impossibility of seeing any more than what is immediately around a position. Especially interesting are the scenes of the occupation of Paris in the final third of the book. Wellington does not fare well and comes across as temperamental and vindictive.
Napoleonic Library copy missing a few pages throughout; had to find and read online. ( )
  ShaneTierney | Jun 26, 2012 |
no reviews | add a review

Belongs to Series

You must log in to edit Common Knowledge data.
For more help see the Common Knowledge help page.
Canonical title
Original title
Alternative titles
Original publication date
People/Characters
Important places
Important events
Related movies
Epigraph
Dedication
First words
Quotations
Last words
Disambiguation notice
Publisher's editors
Blurbers
Original language
Canonical DDC/MDS
Canonical LCC

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English (2)

"An outstanding picture of the haste, confusion, and uncertainty of both the campaign and the battle, written by a man who definitely was there!"--Col. John R. Elting, author of Swords Around a Throne: Napoleon's Grande Armee Journal of the Waterloo Campaign remains one of the most famous personal accounts of the climactic three days which ended the military career and empire of Napoleon Bonaparte. Captain Cavalié Mercer (1783-1868), commander of G Troop of the Royal Horse Artillery in Wellington's army, was a skilled writer who recorded the day's events each evening. As a result, readers can experience through Mercer's keen eye the turbulence and graphic immediacy of the entire campaign: the news of Napoleon's return from Elba; the landing of Wellington's forces in Belgium; the lulls and hard marching; the battle at Quatre Bras (where Mercer fired a few rounds at Napoleon himself); Wellington's retreat; the ferocious fighting at Waterloo; and Mercer's own bold contribution to the larger Allied victory.

No library descriptions found.

Book description
Haiku summary

Current Discussions

None

Popular covers

Quick Links

Rating

Average: (4.2)
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3 1
3.5
4 2
4.5
5 2

Is this you?

Become a LibraryThing Author.

 

About | Contact | Privacy/Terms | Help/FAQs | Blog | Store | APIs | TinyCat | Legacy Libraries | Early Reviewers | Common Knowledge | 204,453,717 books! | Top bar: Always visible