WATERLOO CASUALTIES

DISPONIBILE APRILE 2024

Attraverso 64 illustrazioni a colori, una nuova e affascinante prospettiva sulla battaglia probabilmente più famosa del diciannovesimo secolo. Presenta la litania dei fallimenti di uno dei principali subordinati di Napoleone, il generale Drouet d'Erlon, che alla fine portò alla sconfitta.

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A fresh and illuminating perspective on arguably the most famous battle of the nineteenth century.

Waterloo is perhaps the most famous battle of the 19th century, and surely in the top ten of all military engagements in the last 500 years. Many have sought reasons why Napoleon lost the great battle. This book presents the litany of failures by one of Napoleon's key subordinates, General Drouet d'Erlon, which led ultimately to defeat. Using newly uncovered source material in archives in Paris, the author presents the campaign from the view point of d'Erlon to explore his failings over four days that changed the course of European history. The book explores for the first time what really happened at Hougoumont, La Haie Sainte, and on the French right wing as the Prussians closed in. The actions between Papelotte and Frischermont were critical in the story of the battle, but have so far been seldom studied. As no red coated soldiers fought here, and the Waterloo mythos says the red coats won the battle, the study of half of the battle has to a large extent been ignored.

• Draws on newly discovered eyewitness accounts from Prussian sources to present new insights into the battle and new areas of combat
• Studies the battle from the unexplored perspective of General Drouet d’Erlon, one of Napoleon’s key subordinates
• Focuses on the lesser-known engagements between the French and Prussians, for which new archaeological evidence has been discovered
• Examines death certificates issued for French officers and men on the day of the battle to suggest it was not the ‘bloodbath’ it is often thought to have been
• The result of twenty years of research in archives in France and German

Many have sought reasons why Napoleon lost the great battle at Waterloo, seen by many as the most famous conflict of the nineteenth century.

Waterloo Casualties presents the litany of failures by one of Napoleon’s key subordinates, General Drouet d’Erlon, which ultimately led to defeat, and explores for the first time what really happened at Hougoumont, La Haye Sainte, and on the French right wing as the Prussians closed in. The actions between Papelotte and Frischermont were critical in the story of the battle, but have, so far, been seldom studied as no red-coated soldiers fought there. They come under scrutiny in Dawson’s meticulous analysis.