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I find that the Peninsular War is one of those where authors sort of assume you know what happened, a bit like the American War of Independence. Sadly until reading this book, I didn't have much of an idea. That is why I was delighted to get this reprint, which canters through the war and shows why Wellington was such a good general. The text is clear and well-written and studded with maps. The decisions of Napoleon (basically bad at every turn) are sharply criticised and there is no misty-eyed romanticism about Bonaparte as afflicts other writers. The bearing of victories like Salamanca and Vitoria on the fighting in the Eastern theatre is also made clear. The Peninsula was no sideshow - it was one of the key drivers of the anti-Bonaparte alliance. This book reminds me of Nigel Bagnall's book on the Punic Wars - Spain again - in it's no nonsense, yet analytical approach. It is not simply a narrative. It explains why the British, Spanish and Portuguese were triumphant. A perfect introduction to the Peninsula War. If only someone would tell me a similar volume for the Ajmerican War of Independence.
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