- Paperback: 368 pages
- Publisher: Phoenix; New Ed edition (9 Jun 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0304367044
- ISBN-13: 978-0304367047
- Product Dimensions: 2.5 x 12.7 x 20.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 334,772 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Review
'Charles Spencer's new study offers not only a highly accomplished account of the battle and its wider consequences, but also a shrewd and persuasive reassessment of the personalities involved... Spencer's account maintains the detachment of the professional historian, and is safely ancestor-worship free.' (THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH )
'... thoughtful, interesting and well written... Spencer recovers an approach and authorial voice associated with Winston Churchill, whom indeed he quotes effectively and appropriately... From the excellent scene-setting of the Prologue to the effective battle description, which ably draws on the memoirs of the participants, Charles Spencer successfully combines narrative with analysis.' (EVENING STANDARD )
'... the Earl has made a remarkable debut as a popular military historian with the absorbing BLENHEIM: Battle for Europe... not to be missed.' (SOLDIER )
'... compulsively readable. I caught myself biting my fingernails during the account of the Battle of Blenheim... the sheer verve of Spencer's prose brings the battle of Blenheim alive better than any other account I have read since Winston Churchill's... the rest is a fine account of the politics and campaigns of a period that in less capable hands might seem impossibly complicated... vividly written...' (Andrew Roberts MAIL ON SUNDAY )
'Charles Spencer has written a pacey book, on the whole engaging because of, rather than despit, its exuberance and beautifully illustrated... the maps are good... What Spencer does superbly... is draw the connections and relations within Britain and Europe so that the intrigues of the Restoration, the Glorious Revolution, the Hanoverian succession and the dynastic contortions of the continental war come vividly to life.' (THE TIMES )
'Spencer has.... acquitted himself creditably in his debut as a military historian... he displays a lively sense of period... Where Spencer has mad a real contribution to our understanding of the war of the Spanish succession is in his exploitation of the French sources... (THE SUNDAY TIMES )
'From the excellent scene-setting of the prologue to the effective battle description, which ably draws on the memoirs of the participants, Spencer successfully combines narrative with analysis... Charles Spencer is to be congratulated for ably drawing back into focus an earlier period when British forces also played a key role in moulding the fortunes of Europe.' (THE SCOTSMAN )
'Blenheim is a judicious and compelling account of an important but little-known battle.' (DAILY TELEGRAPH )
'pacy and enjoyable... this is a fine, intelligent, patriotic book which deserves to be read ...' (THE SPECTATOR )
'There is much to enjoy in this racy fast-paced narrative... A convincing and sympathetic portrait of the Duke himself is also presented, warts and all... The account of the storming of the Schellenberg heights a month before the battle at Blenheim is truly gripping, making effective use of contemporary accounts.' (TLS )
'Blenheim: Battle for Europe is a lucid work of popular history... vivid portrayal of incidental detail... Charles Spencer's pacy and vibrant account is well worthy of a mention in dispatches.' (LITERARY REVIEW ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
'... thoughtful, interesting and well written... Spencer recovers an approach and authorial voice associated with Winston Churchill, whom indeed he quotes effectively and appropriately... From the excellent scene-setting of the Prologue to the effective battle description, which ably draws on the memoirs of the participants, Charles Spencer successfully combines narrative with analysis.' (EVENING STANDARD )
'... the Earl has made a remarkable debut as a popular military historian with the absorbing BLENHEIM: Battle for Europe... not to be missed.' (SOLDIER )
'... compulsively readable. I caught myself biting my fingernails during the account of the Battle of Blenheim... the sheer verve of Spencer's prose brings the battle of Blenheim alive better than any other account I have read since Winston Churchill's... the rest is a fine account of the politics and campaigns of a period that in less capable hands might seem impossibly complicated... vividly written...' (Andrew Roberts MAIL ON SUNDAY )
'Charles Spencer has written a pacey book, on the whole engaging because of, rather than despit, its exuberance and beautifully illustrated... the maps are good... What Spencer does superbly... is draw the connections and relations within Britain and Europe so that the intrigues of the Restoration, the Glorious Revolution, the Hanoverian succession and the dynastic contortions of the continental war come vividly to life.' (THE TIMES )
'Spencer has.... acquitted himself creditably in his debut as a military historian... he displays a lively sense of period... Where Spencer has mad a real contribution to our understanding of the war of the Spanish succession is in his exploitation of the French sources... (THE SUNDAY TIMES )
'From the excellent scene-setting of the prologue to the effective battle description, which ably draws on the memoirs of the participants, Spencer successfully combines narrative with analysis... Charles Spencer is to be congratulated for ably drawing back into focus an earlier period when British forces also played a key role in moulding the fortunes of Europe.' (THE SCOTSMAN )
'Blenheim is a judicious and compelling account of an important but little-known battle.' (DAILY TELEGRAPH )
'pacy and enjoyable... this is a fine, intelligent, patriotic book which deserves to be read ...' (THE SPECTATOR )
'There is much to enjoy in this racy fast-paced narrative... A convincing and sympathetic portrait of the Duke himself is also presented, warts and all... The account of the storming of the Schellenberg heights a month before the battle at Blenheim is truly gripping, making effective use of contemporary accounts.' (TLS )
'Blenheim: Battle for Europe is a lucid work of popular history... vivid portrayal of incidental detail... Charles Spencer's pacy and vibrant account is well worthy of a mention in dispatches.' (LITERARY REVIEW ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
THE SPECTATOR
'pacy and enjoyable... this is a fine, intelligent, patriotic book which deserves to be read ...'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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First Sentence
LOUIS XIV BESTRODE THE END of the seventeenth and the opening of the eighteenth centuries with a mixture of menace and panache. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
LOUIS XIV BESTRODE THE END of the seventeenth and the opening of the eighteenth centuries with a mixture of menace and panache. Read the first page
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Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I bought this book with the intention of heartily disliking both it and the author. However, after a few pages it became clear that Spencer is a surprisingly good writer and historian. He takes a dispassionate view of Marlborough and carefully analyses the motives and actions of a man who was once perceived as a bit of a chancer.
The book is a very good example of narrative history; it is pacey, well written and erudite.
The book is a very good example of narrative history; it is pacey, well written and erudite.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This was a real surprise! The author is not one I would naturally gravitate to, but I picked it up on impulse in Waterstones. Spencer's style vividly brought alive the campaign and significance of Blenheim in shaping the future of Europe. I found it an easy read, a real page turner that placed you at the heart of the events described. I would happily give this 5 stars and am looking forward to reading his biography of Prince Rupert (English Civil War).
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I must confess to being particularly ignorant about this period of British history despite ploughing my way through Macauley's five volume opus (his rambling style of olde English bored me) but with little new on my favourite Napoleonic era I decided to delve a little further back in time. Too my surprise, Charles Spencer's interpretation of the battle of Blenhiem makes for compelling and enjoyable reading, and is a good point to start one's investigation of this era. I found his narrative reminiscent of Cornwell's style; racy, detailed, some what sarcastic in places and easy to follow. Quite addictive really. Reading through the campaign I was struck by how many famous Napoleonic battlefields were disputed earlier in history; it seems "old Europe" was indeed drenched in blood throughout the ages by one French tyrant after another. Spencer's work is highly creditable, well researched, rigourous and aimed squarley at the armchair reader. I look forward to further works in due time.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
brilliant
A brilliant book that I found difficult to put down. Charles Spencer most certainly knows his history, and writes in detail of the actual battle. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mr. D. Collins
Rollercoaster
Really the subtitle of this book 'Battle for Europe' says it all. This is a book that is written to entertain and captivate the general reader, it is not meant to awe the... Read more
Published 7 months ago by M. Baerends
Almost but not quite.
I confess to being a little disappointed with this book. Given Spencer's presumed easy access to original material, I had expected more in-depth analysis of the Great Duke and his... Read more
Published 8 months ago by zephyr
Excellent
After a day out at Blenheim Palace I was browsing through the souvenirs shop and came across this book. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Ice Raider
A page turner
This enjoyable book reads very well and has a pacey narrative. As well as following the course of Marlborough's campaign, you are introduced to the various historical characters,... Read more
Published 22 months ago by A. J. Williams
Popular history but very readable
It is maybe not one for hardcore historians but for me, a general reader with a historical and military eye, this was a really good read and seemed authentic enough. Read more
Published on 7 Sep 2009 by Mr. J. H. Dent
Dull and unoriginal
I'm afraid I disagree with pretty much all the other reviewers. I found this unoriginal in terms of research - no evidence of new insights from Spencer, who I think is rehashing a... Read more
Published on 24 Jan 2009 by Humpty Dumpty
Interesting and Enjoyable.
When I purchased this book I was not sure whether I would like it or not because I had reservations over who the author was and his connections to the Marlboroughs and whether this... Read more
Published on 27 Feb 2008 by HBH
Everyone should read this book
I knew surprising little about the great Duke of Marlborough and the battle of Blenheim. This book helped fill that gap in an interesting readable way. Read more
Published on 1 Feb 2007 by SJ SMART
OK
Written in breathless journalistic style but gets a little tedious before the big fight. Could have done with judicious editing for the first 2/3s of the book. Read more
Published on 29 Sep 2005
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