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Wellington: The Iron Duke
 
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Wellington: The Iron Duke (Paperback)

by Richard Holmes (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
RRP: £9.99
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Product details

  • Paperback: 416 pages
  • Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd; New edition edition (3 Feb 2003)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0007137508
  • ISBN-13: 978-0007137503
  • Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.8 x 2.6 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 33,009 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #9 in  Books > History > Other Historical Subjects > Historians > Holmes, Richard
    #16 in  Books > Biography > Historical > Britain > Georgian to Victorian: 1701-1900
    #23 in  Books > History > World History > 1751-1900

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review
We associate Wellington so much with the battle of Waterloo that it's easy to forget that, before the battle, he had had a long military career already and that, after it, he had an even longer career as politician, prime minister and pillar of the establishment. Richard Holmes's admirably clear and succinct biography of the Duke has a chapter on his youth as a slightly awkward loner from the Anglo-Irish nobility and a concluding chapter which races swiftly through the 37 years of his post-Waterloo life. However the bulk of the book, unsurprisingly, is given over to a description and analysis of his military exploits.

As viewers of his TV series and readers of his previous books will know, Holmes is a brilliant interpreter of battlefields and what took place on them. He has visited most of the sites of Wellington's battles, not only those in Europe but those in India where the young Arthur Wellesley, as he then was, gained his first experiences as a general. (Wellington himself, in later life, claimed that his finest military achievement was not Waterloo but the winning of the Battle of Assaye during the Maratha Wars in 1803.) He uses his knowledge of the battle sites and his familiarity with all the extensive literature on the Peninsular War and Waterloo to produce a vivid account of Wellington's string of successes as a general. As the quotes in this book from his writings and despatches show, Wellington had a gift for the striking phrase and for concise description of complicated events. It's a gift his biographer shares and Holmes has produced a very readable and enjoyable book. --Nick Rennison --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
An astute historical analysis and a hugely readable informative narrative about Wellington's life from a shy, indolent boy to commander in chief of the allied forces that defeated Napoleon. The Iron Duke is shown to be idealistic in politics, cynical in love, a wit and a man of enormous courage often sickened by war.

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Customer Reviews

7 Reviews
5 star:
 (4)
4 star:
 (3)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars wellington made easy, 12 Jan 2006
By A Customer
This book definately deserves 5 stars in my opinion, but only if we take it for what it is; a good general history of the man and his life.
A comparison in thickness with Elizabeth Longford's two volume classic clearly indicates that Holmes' book can't be exhaustive, but this is in no way a criticism in itself. In fact I would say that it is one of the book's strongest points. Wellington, the Iron Duke is extremely readable, almost addictive in the way only a great novel can be, but without recourse to dumbing down. Holmes manages to recount the Duke's life and deeds both on and off the battle field with enough detail to inform, yet without becoming boring or pedantic. Here we see not only the Iron willed disciplinarian but also the man who cried when he saw the slaughter of Badajoz. He also endevors to give a more balanced assessment of the context in which Wellington lived and fought in battle and in parliament than has often been done (particulary with reference to the peninsula) and allows us to see how Wellington's experiences and background helped to shape his world view.
In short Richard Holmes seems to be that rare animal: an academic who can really write and communicate with readers. Wellington, The Iron Duke may not be adequate for hisorical researchers, but it's certainly an excellent and informative read for the rest of us with an interest in the man and his world.
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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A Great book about a Great Man, 16 Mar 2003
By A Customer
Richard Holmes should be applauded for this fantastic biography of Wellington.

He manages to expertly combine Wellington's military and personal history, with a pace that never slackens and holds the reader's attention throughout. With so many battles to describe Holmes could easily have bored or confused me, but he did not, and actually gave me a new interest in them. Holmes provides a balanced portrait of Wellington, describing both his talents and his faults. Holmes also provides beautifully written portraits of Wellington's peers, such as Richard Wellesley (Wellington's brother),and his wife, Kitty.

Wellington: The Iron Duke is an excellent companion to the television series of the same name, as it can go deeper into the events of Wellington's life than the three hour series.

Unfortunately, like Wellington himself, this book has some faults. With so much to describe, it cannot go into as much detail as I would have hoped for. But as a book to gain the reader's interest in a subject, and as a precursor to wider reading around it, I don't think that I shall ever see its equal.

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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Wellington, 13 Jun 2006
By Spider Monkey (UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)   
This is probably the best book on Wellington you are likely to read. It is clear to read and full of detail. It covers Wellingtons military career, as well as his relationships and public life. The author obviously admires Wellington, but not to the extent where he is totally biased and cannot give an objective view. This is a fascinating read about a great military leader. Recommended.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Good but could have been better
Although I finished this book with more knowledge on Wellington than I had at the start, I felt the book dwelt too much on detailed descriptions of military encounters, rather... Read more
Published 22 months ago by The Big Bear

4.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable biography, but a bit irritating!
Richard Holmes is an eminent historian and a splendid TV presenter but, though I found his study of the great Duke of Wellington an enjoyable biography that I couldn't put down... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Geoffrey Woollard

5.0 out of 5 stars Non qualified historian
A brilliant book. Made me look forward to getting on the commuter trains from London Bridge and Paddington so I could read the next few chapters. Read more
Published on 7 Aug 2004 by mikehardy10

5.0 out of 5 stars Wellington
First and foremost, i think this is a really good book. It ties in with the material covered in the three television programs and expands on the details which have been presented... Read more
Published on 17 Jul 2002

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