Waterloo: The Truth At Last: Why Napoleon Lost the Great Battle

During October 2016, Paul Dawson visited French archives in Paris to continue his research surrounding the events of the Napoleonic Wars. He examined material that had never been accessed by researchers or historians before, and discovered that many of the accepted stories about the battle of Waterloo were false. This book, Waterloo, The Truth at Last, demonstrates how much of what we think we know about the battle simply did not occur in the manner or to the degree previously believed, and is sure to generate enormous interest and alter our previously-held perceptions forever.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 568 pages
Publication date: 08 August 2023
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

During October 2016, Paul Dawson ventured to the French archives in Paris to delve deeper into his research surrounding the events of the Napoleonic Wars. Among the materials he examined was a collection of files that had been sealed in 1816, never before accessed by researchers or historians. These seals remained unbroken until Paul received permission to break them and unravel their contents.

Forget the narratives you've encountered about the Battle of Mont St. Jean on June 18, 1815. They are inaccurate. The commencement of the battle was not delayed due to the state of the ground. Marshal Ney's reckless charges against the Allied infantry squares did not result in the destruction of the French cavalry. The stubborn defense of Hougoumont, the key to Wellington's victory, where a small garrison of British Guards held the farmhouse against the overwhelming force of Jerome Bonaparte's division and the rest of II Corps, is a myth. Did the Union Brigade truly destroy d'Erlon's Corps? Did the Scots Greys actually attack a massed French battery? Did La Haie Sainte hold out until late in the afternoon? These and many other accepted stories concerning the battle are analyzed through accounts (some 200 in all) previously unpublished, primarily derived from French sources, with startling conclusions.

Most significantly, this book reveals the exact reasons behind Napoleon's defeat. Waterloo: The Truth at Last, through details never made available to the general public before, demonstrates how much of what we thought we knew about the battle simply did not occur in the manner or to the degree previously believed. Described as a game-changer, this book is sure to generate immense interest and will forever alter our previously held perceptions.

Weight: 746g
Dimension: 156 x 235 x 44 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399077415