Publications

  From the PressA reappraisal of Nelson, exploring his life, times, and historical legacy. Edited by historian, David Cannadine, 'Admiral Lord Nelson' includes contributions from Colin White, Martin Downer and Nicholas Rodger, among others. Nelson was a colourful and complex character, whose supremely successful naval career quickly attained legendary status. By 1803 he was Britain's […]

 From the press:In Seize the Fire, Adam Nicolson, takes the great naval battle of Trafalgar, fought between the British and Franco-Spanish fleets in October 1805, and uses it to examine ideas of heroism and the heroic. Is violence a necessary aspect of the hero? And daring? Why did the cult of the hero flower in […]

Tracing the historical route from Amiens to Pressburg, Robert Goetz gives even non-military historians a clear and measured view of the battle. His bibliography is detailed in French, German- and Russian- language source material (as befits a specialist of the Russian Army). Includes orders of battle, detailed maps, tables and many illustrations. With an explicit […]

This book is a translation by Rosemary Brindle of the memoirs of Colonel Jean-Nicolas-Auguste Noël, initially published in French by Berger-Levrault, Paris 1895, under the title Souvenirs militaire d'un officier du Premier Empire. It includes an introduction giving a biograhpical of sketch of Noël. There are useful maps, but the original illustrations of the French […]

In this most welcome book, Peter P. Hill charts in even-handed detail the comings and goings of Franco-American diplomacy. He produces a vision of worlds driven as much (if not more so) by commercial priorities rather than by ideological, emotional entente. Napoleon may not have treated American shipping as badly as Britain did, but the […]

Aside from books published in 2005, this selection of reading matter for the beach is unashamedly naval and 1805-related, but also aims to provide something for everyone. NAVAL– ADKINS Roy, Trafalgar: the biography of a battle– BENNETT Geoffrey, The Battle of Trafalgar– FRASER Edward, The Enemy at Trafalgar (new introduction by Marianne Czisnik and Michael Nash)– […]

 From the press:The 1807–1814 war in the Iberian Peninsula was one of the most significant and influential campaigns of the Napoleonic Wars. Arising from Napoleon's strategic necessity to impose his rule over Portugal and Spain, it evolved into a constant drain on his resources. Sir Charles Oman's seven volume history of the campaign is an […]

David Miller's book is a detailed monograph on a famous historical event, the remarkable 'Duchess of Richmond's ball' which took place the night before Waterloo. His wish list of questions in the introduction is admirable: Why did it take place and where? Who actually attended and what happened? Indeed, who were the Duke and Duchess […]

This excellent little book brings to modern readers the charming (but out-of-print) account of the time that Betsy Balcombe (aged 14), daughter of the William Balcombe, purveyor of supplies to the island of St Helena during the Emperor's exile, spent with Napoleon. On arriving on the island of St Helena on 15 October, 1815, Napoleon […]

Beautifully produced illustrated memoirs of the 1812 campaign, up to the taking of Moscow. Includes a short but ueful introduction, text taken from Adam's memoirs and his captions to his engravings, and 77 colours plates.   Jonathan North is editor in chief of Napoleonic publishers Ravenhall Books and author of an illustrated edition of the […]