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)

9781108024228, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 17 February 2011

736 pages, 8 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 5 is prefixed by further refutations of published criticisms. It then covers the period from the siege of Badajoz and the Allies' military setbacks of late 1812 to the battle of Vitoria in June 1813, a crucial victory which ultimately led to French troops retiring from Spain.

Notice
Answer to Robinson's Life of Picton
Answer to the Quarterly Review
Counter-remarks, &c.
Book XVII: 1. Summary of the political state of affairs
2. Progress of the war in different parts of Spain
3. Operations in Valencia and Murcia
4. Operations in Andalusia and Estremadura
5. Political situation of France
6. Political state of Portugal
Book XVIII: 1. Numbers of the French in the Peninsula shewn
2. Campaign of 1812
3. Bonet arrives in the French camp
4. Clauzel passes the Tormes at Alba
Book XIX: 1. State of the war
2. Operations in Andalusia
3. Wellington's combinations described
4. State of the war in various parts of Spain
5. The king and Soult advance from Valencia to the Tagus
6. Continuation of the Partizan warfare
7. General observations
Book XX: 1. Political affairs
2. Political state of Portugal
3. Napoleon's embarrassed position
4. Operations south of the Tagus
5. Operations north of the Tagus
6. Wellington restores the discipline of the allied army
7. Dangerous discontent of the Portuguese army
8. Confused state of the French in the basin of Vittoria
Appendix.

Subject Areas: Military history [HBW]