History of the War in the Peninsula and in the South of France
From the Year 1807 to the Year 1814

This classic history of the Peninsular War was first published by a participant, Lieutenant-Colonel Napier, between 1828 and 1840.

William Francis Patrick Napier (Author)

9781108024204, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 17 February 2011

732 pages, 12 maps
21.6 x 4.1 x 14 cm, 0.92 kg

Published between 1828 and 1840, Napier's History of the War in the Peninsula was a tremendously influential, if controversial, work. Napier had been actively involved in the campaigns, turning to history in peacetime, in part to refute Southey's account of Sir John Moore. The first volume had a mixed reception, getting both high praise and bitter criticism from participants in the wars. He published several works rebutting his critics while producing the later volumes. Because of his obvious lack of impartiality, modern military historians treat the work with caution, but it remains widely read in the many editions and abridgements subsequently produced. Volume 3 is prefixed with the author's answers to criticisms of the first edition, and covers the period from Talavera to the Battle of Albuera in May 1811. Napier is highly critical of General Beresford's conduct of the battle, but it led to a French retreat.

Justification, &c., &c.
Book IX: 1. Inactivity of the Austrians and Gallicians
2. Continuation of the operations in Catalonia
3. Claros and Rovira attack Bascara and spread dismay along the French frontier
4. Plot at Seville against the Supreme Junta defeated by Lord Wellesley
5. Areizaga takes the command of Eguia's army and is ordered to advance against Madrid
6. King Joseph's return to Madrid
Book X: 1. Joseph prepares to invade Andalusia
2. Operations in Navarre, Aragon, and Valencia
3. Suchet marches against Lerida
4. Reflections on that act
5. Operations in Andalusia
6. Continuation of the operations in Andalusia
7. Situation of the armies north of the Tagus
Book XI: 1. Lord Wellington's policy
2. Greatness of Lord Wellington's plans
3. Lord Wellington's scheme for the defence of Portugal
4. Character of Miguel Alava
5. Slight operations in Gallicia, Castile, the Asturias, Estremadura, and Andalusia
6. Third invasion of Portugal
7. General Pack destroys the bridges on the Criz and Dao
8. Massena resumes his march
9. State of Lisbon
10. Massena's pertinacity
Book XII: 1. General sketch of the state of the war
2. Soult assumes the direction of the blockade of Cadiz
3. Siege of Badajos continued
4. Allies halt for provisions
5. Estimate of the French loss
6. Lord Wellington quits the army of Beira
7. Continuation of the battle of Albuera
Papers relating to the former volumes
Appendix.

Subject Areas: Military history [HBW]