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British Legends: The Life and Legacy of Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington
- Narrated by: Colin Fluxman
- Length: 1 hr and 11 mins
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British Legends: The Life and Legacy of Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington
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Summary
"Believe me, nothing except a battle lost can be half so melancholy as a battle won." (Duke of Wellington, at Waterloo)
In September 1852 a steam train carried the body of Arthur Wellesley, first duke of Wellington, from Kent to London, where he was to be interred at St. Paul's Cathedral. A million would flock to pay their final respects at his huge funeral, and young Queen Victoria wept openly.
By the time of his death, Wellington had been prime minister twice, a shrewd personal advisor to four British monarchs, and one of the nation's most prominent politicians for three decades. Despite his nearly four decades of peacetime service in and out of politics, Wellington has remained one of the titans of the 19th century because of one June day in 1815. Then, as now, the duke of Wellington is best remembered for defeating Napoleon in the famous battle of Waterloo.
The fact Wellington is remembered for Waterloo belies his extraordinary military career, which saw him come up through fighting in the Netherlands and India before opposing Napoleon's forces on the Iberian Peninsula. By the time Wellington took command of allied forces during the 100 Days Campaign and decisively finished the Napoleonic Era at Waterloo, he had participated in about 60 battles and was one of Britain's greatest war heroes.
Historical memory of Wellington often stops there, but he spent half his lifetime in politics after Waterloo, serving as a prime minister in the 1820s and an influential Tory in the House of Lords in the 1830s and 1840s, serving all the while as commander in chief of Britain's military. Though he had earned the nickname Iron Duke at the height of his political unpopularity, the originally derisive nickname came to represent his stern will and personality.
Includes a bibliography for further reading.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- David
- 23-08-18
A very interesting book
this book is like someone reading a very detailed time line. I wish more history books had the same sense of continuity as this was very easy to follow along with and remember the facts. great book, fabulously read.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Jeff Bezos
- 31-07-20
Not worth spending one credit
This book is 60 mins of semi accurate spiteful sniping and inaccurate data. Example, Wellingtons incredible achievements in India written off and put down to patronage. Example 2, illness in India, put down to Delhi Belly. Dysentery! Which he never had! Wellington collapsed and was unconscious for 4 days, later thought to be fatigue but diagnosed and the treatment was bathing in mild acid. He had leaking hives, rendering him incapacitated, brought on by exhaustion. His doc said he MUST return to a cooler climate or be dead within 6 months. Wellington won promotion beyond colonel on merit in battle alone, his brother the Governor, promoted others ahead of him and handed prime commands to other to avoid this concept. However he fought 61 great battles. His organisation and admin skills kept his troops equipped and ready to fight, his genius in India was hiring bullocks and breeding bullocks to move big guns even in the rainy season when the roads otherwise were impassable to horses. If you want to read both about Wellington and Napoleon then here on audible, better spend one credit on The Generals.. 14 hours of in depth accurate dialog told in story form and very educational. Gripping. This book however is utter rubbish.
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3 people found this helpful