If ever a one thousand page book could be considered an easy read, this was it. The War of Wars covers the thirty year conflict between Revolutionary Napoleonic France and the rest of Europe from 1790. Unlike the last book that I read which came across as an interesting documentary, this one was more of fast paced movie that you want to watch again again. This book covers the bloody days of the guillotine, the rise and fall of Napoleon, Nelson, Blucher, Wellington, Ney and the Cochrane.
In 1789 the world was controlled by Europe, primarily Spain and England with its colonial empires and within Europe by Austria, Russia, a fading Ottaman Empire and a rising and bloody Revolutionary France. The book is full of naval and land battles described in vivid colour
This book was a fantastic read, but it was much more fun to read than it is to write about, nah, only kidding. Bu the problem is that a simple review won’t give justice to this book. Robert Harvey has written something special here, in encompassing thirty years he gives up a book that could easily be a series of entertaining short war stories. He blows away popular beliefs such as the Battle of Waterloo being a massive one day battle, it was in fact a three day fight that to place a mile or so away from Waterloo. While throwing light on the Corsican s ill fated invasion of Egypt and plans to invade India, Ireland and Egypt.
The rise and fall or the French Monarchy, Revolutionaries and Napoleons all take place as a weak English military reels from the loss of American by those ungrateful colonials. Meanwhile in a little back water of Europe a small military power begins to grow some claws, Prussia is on the rise.
I tell you what read the book right now and then thank me later.
8 out of 10