Waterloo: The History of Four Days, Three Armies, and Three Battles

By: Bernard Cornwell

Narrated by: Dugald Bruce Lockhart, Bernard Cornwell

Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's Summary

From the internationally best-selling author of the Sharpe novels and in the bicentenary year of the battle - this is the true story of Waterloo.

On the 18th June, 1815, the armies of France, Britain, and Prussia descended upon a quiet valley south of Brussels. In the previous three days the French army had beaten the British at Quatre Bras and the Prussians at Ligny. The Allies were in retreat.

The blood-soaked battle of Waterloo would become a landmark in European history, to be examined over and again, not least because until the evening of the 18th, the French army was close to prevailing on the battlefield.

Now, brought to life by the celebrated novelist Bernard Cornwell, this is the chronicle of the four days leading up to the actual battle and a thrilling hour-by-hour account of that fateful day.

In his first work of non-fiction, Cornwell combines his storytelling skills with a meticulously researched history to give a riveting account of every dramatic moment, from Napoleon's escape from Elba to the smoke and gore of the battlefields. Through letters and diaries he also sheds new light on the private thoughts of Napoleon and the Duke of Wellington, as well as the ordinary officers and soldiers.

Published to coincide with the bicentenary in 2015, Waterloo is a tense and gripping story of heroism and tragedy - and of the final battle that determined the fate of Europe.

©2014 Bernard Cornwell (P)2014 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic Reviews

Praise for Bernard Cornwell:
"Cornwell's narration is quite masterly and supremely well-researched." ( Observer)
"The best battle scenes of any writer I've ever read, past or present. Cornwell really makes history come alive." George R.R. Martin
"Bernard Cornwell is a literary miracle. Year after year, hail, rain, snow, war and political upheavals fail to prevent him from producing the most entertaining and readable historical novels of his generation." ( Daily Mail)

Probably the best book on waterloo on audible

I've played napoleon total war and listed to other stories as well as watched sean bean on waterloo plus sharpe's waterloo. I've watched waterloo uncovered (archeology videos on youtube) so I wasn't expecting to learn anything new but I heard new stories and more detaila about the days leading up to the battle and proceeding the battle that expanded my understanding of those days. I can't wait to see the battlefield myself.

A little loose and undramatic

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Probably wouldnt recommend this to a friend, no. It jumps backwards and forwards in time, repeats minor details with aggravating regularity, and even misses out key parts of the battle in order to focus on minor events. The story rambles back and forth between dramatic scenes and entirely bland stock information. It becomes entirely impossible to feel engrossed in the battle as precious little is seen from the perspective of those involved. The author spends too much time arguing about how much of his own writing is affected by conjecture and hearsay - a tendency which entirely removes the listener from the drama. Even though there are a lot of interesting facts thrown into this story - it is told in a very dry manner, with the narrator giving no indication of excitement at key points in the battle. I couldnt help but feel that, had the story been written by someone like Anthony Beevor, it would have contained far more cutting drama, more chilling facts and more intense and descriptive narration.

Would you be willing to try another book from Bernard Cornwell? Why or why not?

As I understand it, this is one of Cornwell's first forays into Non-Fiction. I certainly hope that he involved more intensity in his description of events in other works, because the visualisation of events in this audiobook are very weak. I never felt involved at all. I'd give his other stuff a try. He seems to be a decent enough writer, with good control over the facts, but he seems simply unwilling to chain together events in a dramatic manner, instead choosing to whip back and forth between (sometimes minor) events.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The period when the battlefield was being populated and the placement of the troops was intriguing. This was were Cornwell shone. He managed to keep the listener interested during this sequence to really get an idea of where everything was. Its a shame that the battle itself, and the destruction of the regiments involved, was not translated with more vigourous grammar.

Could you see Waterloo: The History of Four Days, Three Armies, and Three Battles being made into a movie or a TV series? Who would the stars be?

Well, Waterloo certainly has already been a film, and would benefit from being revisited by someone who has excellent control of CGI - but I think it would have to feel a lot more dramatic, panoramic, vicious and personal than this interpretation.

Any additional comments?

If you have a spare credit it might be worth a listen - but if you are looking for the close up action of war, this will a rather dry listen.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

It rattles along.

A concise telling of the battle of waterloo and it does a cracking job. It does enough to encourage more investigation into events of the battle and the history of Europe at the time.

The narrator keeps things lively without going wild at important events.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

gripping account

loved it. even though you know the final outcome it keeps you hooked. The attack and defeat of the French Imperial Guard is impressive.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

read and celebrate

outstanding book and narrator
listen to it now and celebrate the bi centenary in June

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Better than fiction

I felt I was living the battle in this excellent and we'll researched audio book. Cornwell States that a good story bears retelling and this is ever true here. I also found the post script letters to be emotional, some more of the emotional experience would have made this 5/5

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

History brought to life

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If you want history to be interesting then ask Bernard Cornwell to tell the story. As he says himself, the story of Waterloo tells itself; but it doesn't hurt to have the author of the legendry Sharpe novels help it along. This could easily be a novel and not a factual telling of real events.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I think as an Englishman, you have to say the Duke of Wellington (I mave just spoiled the ending).

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The unbeaten vs. the unbeatable.

Any additional comments?

If you only read one history book, this is it

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Excellent History

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely, while brief, this history is one of the best overviews of the battle of Waterloo that I have read. I am no academic scholar, but having visited the battlefield several times, as well as having read numerous histories on the battle itself, Mr. Cornwell's history is by far and above the one of the best accounts so far. For those familiar with Bernard Cornwell's writing, he does not disappoint in his first work of nonfiction. His writing flows easily page after page,and he does not get bogged down in details like so many other authors.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Waterloo: The History of Four Days, Three Armies, and Three Battles?

Mr. Cornwell used letters and diary entries from soldiers in the ranks as well as officers and the generals to give the reader a sense of the time and place, and to truly bring these real people to life

Which character – as performed by Bernard Cornwell and Dugald Bruce Lockhart – was your favourite?

Being nonfiction, this work is a narrative of a battle and dialogue is not used except when quoting letters home, of which there are very many. Dugald Bruce Lockhart is an outstanding narrator, and his narration is a perfect fit for this book.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I did have an emotional reaction to this book. Having been a soldier myself, I could relate to certain aspects of the battle, the story of which, in Mr. Cornwells capable hands, becomes much more than a list of units and movements, but a visceral struggle between real people with real emotions

Any additional comments?

I wish this book was bit longer because of the pure joy of reading his work, but it is quality rather than quantity that counts. Mr. Cornwell should continue to pursue his nonfiction writing (as well as fiction of course), as it is truly top-notch.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Waterloo A Hard Won Day

The narrative brings the battle into all it's bloody hell. A superbly researched construction of a close run victory that ensured the end of the Nepolian era.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Superb

One of the very best histories of Waterloo that I have read. Absolutely outstanding book. Thoroughly recommended.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Excellent

Easy to listen to and digest
Clear very engaging. It's like a novel but real
Top stuff!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful