The Waterloo Companion: The Complete Guide to History's Most Famous Land Battle

by Mark Adkin

There have been many books about Waterloo, but never one to rival this in scale or authority. The text, based upon extensive research, describes both the battle and the campaign that preceded it in detail, drawing upon the first-hand accounts of participants on all sides in order to give the reader a vivid feeling for the experiences of those who fought upon this most celebrated of all battlefields. The many full-color maps, all specially commissioned for the book, and the numerous diagrams and photographs, the majority in color, as well as sixteen pages of original paintings, make the book a feast for the eyes and a collector's dream.

Genres: History, Military History, Nonfiction, Military Fiction, European History

448 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Mark Adkin became a professional soldier in 1956. After leaving the British Army he was one of the last British District officers (in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands) and as the Caribbean Operations Staff Officer he participated in the US invasion of Grenada in 1983. He has written several books on military subjects, including Urgent Fury, Goose Green, Prisoner of the Turnip Heads and The Charge.

Reviews

[James Mace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is THE guidebook to the Waterloo Campaign. Those with a military background will appreciate the sheer level of detail given, not just to the tactics and strategy, but also right down to the uniforms and equipment used by all sides. It also tackles a number of myths that have persisted ever since the last shot was fired. I also appreciated the sections showing pictures and lengthy descriptions of the numerous monuments that cover the landscape.

As an author who is writing a novel about the campaign, this has been by far my best resource for ensuring historical accuracy and integrity. Highly recommended for Napoleonic enthusiasts.

[Paul Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitive guide to the most famous battle in history, marvellous detail.

[Errol Cavan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Invalauble and detailed volume on the momentous battle where the ogre Napoleon finally 'met his Waterloo' at the hands primarily of Wellington and belatedly (but timely) Blucher.

If you visit the battlefield there is practically nothing about the victors and an awful lot about the vanquished such that you would think he had won the battle. Why does the myth of Napoleon persist even on the field of his ignominious defeat?

He was, in short a tryant, who caused the death of hundreds of thousands, deserted his army in both Egypt and Russia, and plunged Europe into yet more bloodshed after his victors had merely exiled him to Elba. These days he woulkd face a War Crimes Tribunal.

This book is well produced, has good maps and will tell you alsmost everything you need to know.

The others in the same series on Trafalgar, Gettysburg, and the Western Front are qually good.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent reference work.

[Chuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent coverage of the Battle of Waterloo. The author goes into great detail about every facet of the Battle. He even provides current pictures of the battlefield with probable positions of the units overlayed on them.

I greatly appreciated his detailed coverage on a number of other topics. The Prussian attacks on the French right flank, with assessments of the tactics of both French and Prussians and well as the effect the attacks had on the French. was something that I had rarely seen in English language accounts. His observations on the paucity of French infantry was a confirmation of my conclusions as well. Clearly Napoleon had planned on fighting a very different battle than he was handed. And, most surprising to me was the observation that a major reason for the delay in starting the French attack was not because the artillery could not maneuver. It was instead that French units were still marching onto the battlefield. The mud and limited road network had caused a tremendous traffic jam amongst the French unit trying to reach the battlefield.

All in all a very good book for those understanding the basic account of the battle and wishing to get a deeper understanding of what happened in Belgium in June 1815.

[Conrad Kinch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book represents a massive work of scholarship on the battle of Waterloo, collecting an extraordinary amount of detail. Not a work for the beginner, this large hardback is really more for the hardened Waterloo buff. But it's got just about everything maps, pen portraits of the commanders down to the divisional level, information on organisation, tactics, formations and contraversies surrounding the battle.

I'd start with another book just to get your bearings (I'd recommend Jac Weller), but if you really want to understand the battle in exhaustive detail - this should be your next port of call.

[Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adkin's Waterloo Companion is an amazing tour de force of meticulous research combined with clarity of presentation. I don't know how many times I've went back to this book and I always seem to find something new & interesting that catches my attention. An essential resource for someone wishing to research the climactic finale of Napoleon's long and storied career as the greatest military captain of his age.

[Luke O'Neill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly indepth but still place for Adkins personal views. Love the inclusions of tiny details such as the way the spirits provided to troops were watered down! Loved Adkin's other Napoleonic work on Trafalgar too. I'm going to the battle field soon and will be taking this book with me (even if it is massive)!

[Jimmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good adjunct to more traditional histories of the battle, giving detailed looks at the battlefield itself, monuments, orders of battle for each army, etc. Several sections (such as five through seven covering infantry, artillery, and cavalry) also works as a good overview of the Napoleonic Wars in general.

[Geoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good reference work

[Mr L.W.Pickering]

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