Wellington

Renowned military historian Richard Holmes here turns his expertise to the story of the Duke of Wellington, a man regarded as Britain's 'greatest-ever soldier' in a beautiful book that serves as a companion to the lavish BBC series of the same name. The introduction pays tribute to Wellington, and reveals the huge impact he had on the author as a young boy. Acknowledging the fact that the Duke may not have always been good, Holmes defends him as being 'unquestionably great', and takes the reader back to his childhood days as Arthur Wesley, a member of the Protestant minority under siege in 18th-century Ireland. A far from ideal financial situation drove the family to England, where the young Arthur went to Eton as 'a shy young Irishman in England, an outsider'. Having dabbled in politics, he found himself in a British army smarting from defeat in America, and he returned from a disastrous military campaign in March 1795 all the wiser for having 'learnt what not to do'. The history of the times are expertly considered - from the development in weaponry to the enormous events unfolding across the continent of Europe - as they form a background to Wellington's life and his illustrious military career. But Holmes doesn't just discuss his role as a soldier; we also hear of his political idealism, his philandering and his skill with a well-placed pithy remark. Complete with maps, illustrations and colour plates, this book pretty much says all that needs to be said about Wellington, and very readably too. (Kirkus UK)