The Waterloo Companion
The Complete Guide to History's Most Famous Land Battle
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Product: Book
ISBN-10: 0-8117-1854-9
ISBN-13: 9780811718547
Publisher: Stackpole Books
Country:
Year: January 1, 2002
Size: 23.11 x 28.96 x 3.81cm
Number of pages: 448
Weight: 2,155gr
Binding: Hardcover
ISBN-10: 0-8117-1854-9
ISBN-13: 9780811718547
Publisher: Stackpole Books
Country:
Year: January 1, 2002
Size: 23.11 x 28.96 x 3.81cm
Number of pages: 448
Weight: 2,155gr
Binding: Hardcover
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Product Description
There have been many books about Waterloo, but never one to rival this in scale or authority. The text, based upon extensive research, describes both the battle and the campaign that preceded it in detail, drawing upon the firsthand accounts of participants on all sides in order to give the reader a vivid feeling for the experiences of those who fought upon this most celebrated of all battlefields. The many full color maps, all specially commissioned for the book, and the numerous diagrams and photographs, the majority in color, as well as sixteen pages of original paintings, make the book a feast for the eyes and a collector's dream.
There have been many books about Waterloo, but never one to rival this in scale or authority. The text, based upon extensive research, describes both the battle and the campaign that preceded it in detail, drawing upon the firsthand accounts of participants on all sides in order to give the reader a vivid feeling for the experiences of those who fought upon this most celebrated of all battlefields. The many full color maps, all specially commissioned for the book, and the numerous diagrams and photographs, the majority in color, as well as sixteen pages of original paintings, make the book a feast for the eyes and a collector's dream.
reviews
SUPERB Waterloo reference! THE BEST!!! This is a MUST! 
Mr. Adkin's book »The Waterloo Companion« is one of the BEST Waterloo reference sources I have ever seen or possessed (I have two copies) … I have visited the Waterloo Battlefield a total of 5 times. Each time that I look through this book, I find myself immediately back there on the battlefield itself. I simply can't say enough on how thoroughly impressive this MASSIVE book is (but I'll try briefly): It is a VERY, VERY colorful book (432 pages) with many uniform plates, TONS of photos in color of pretty much every part of the battlefield including the buildings, museums, monuments and fields (some of the photos of the fields have permanent colored overlays which show certain troop positions and the locations and movements of them within the photographed area of the battlefield). The orders of battle are superb and will be most helpful to anyone doing research. One of MANY things that I liked about the Orders of Battle was the fantastic detail and how they have been organized. It is so detailed that even the regiments are broken down into Batallions with the NAME OF EACH BATALLION COMMANDER listed and also stating if the man was wounded or killed in battle; this same info is also provided for the commanders at all levels (regimental, brigade, division and corps as well). There is an INCREDIBLE amount of information regarding all of the individual units that were present at the battle describing the EXACT role that they played. MUCH detailed information is also provided regarding all of the commanders (from General of Division and up). Many lesser-known tales from the battle based on eye-witness accounts are listed throughout the book … The NUMEROUS COLORED MAPS are also spectacular and I personally put them to good use … The last 4 times I was at Waterloo(between 2003-2005), I went relic hunting with my Belgian friends (we only hunt property where we have the landowners permission) … I used these EXCELLENT maps within this book as a most successful guide in finding certain locations on the battlefield that I wanted to hunt. There are just far too many wonderful things to be said and my few words have not even come close in giving it the complete praise that it deserves. Let me conclude by saying this … »The Waterloo Companion« is a MUST for anyone with the slightest interest in the Napoleonic Wars. Not meaning to sound melo-dramatic but for those who have an interest in the Battle of Waterloo, I honestly think it would be a tragedy if you did not obtain this book. It is so PACKED full of every possible bit of info that one could imagine regarding this most famous battle. This is one of these rare types of books that once you pick up, it is most difficult to put down. I have recommended this masterpiece to all of my Napoleonic friends and I have never heard the slightest complaint from them; only praise on the book and a friendly appreciation toward me for turning them onto it … Again, for those with the slightest interest in the Battle of Waterloo, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE – Obtain this fantastic book as soon as possible. You WILL NOT be disappointed!
Mr. Adkin's book »The Waterloo Companion« is one of the BEST Waterloo reference sources I have ever seen or possessed (I have two copies) … I have visited the Waterloo Battlefield a total of 5 times. Each time that I look through this book, I find myself immediately back there on the battlefield itself. I simply can't say enough on how thoroughly impressive this MASSIVE book is (but I'll try briefly): It is a VERY, VERY colorful book (432 pages) with many uniform plates, TONS of photos in color of pretty much every part of the battlefield including the buildings, museums, monuments and fields (some of the photos of the fields have permanent colored overlays which show certain troop positions and the locations and movements of them within the photographed area of the battlefield). The orders of battle are superb and will be most helpful to anyone doing research. One of MANY things that I liked about the Orders of Battle was the fantastic detail and how they have been organized. It is so detailed that even the regiments are broken down into Batallions with the NAME OF EACH BATALLION COMMANDER listed and also stating if the man was wounded or killed in battle; this same info is also provided for the commanders at all levels (regimental, brigade, division and corps as well). There is an INCREDIBLE amount of information regarding all of the individual units that were present at the battle describing the EXACT role that they played. MUCH detailed information is also provided regarding all of the commanders (from General of Division and up). Many lesser-known tales from the battle based on eye-witness accounts are listed throughout the book … The NUMEROUS COLORED MAPS are also spectacular and I personally put them to good use … The last 4 times I was at Waterloo(between 2003-2005), I went relic hunting with my Belgian friends (we only hunt property where we have the landowners permission) … I used these EXCELLENT maps within this book as a most successful guide in finding certain locations on the battlefield that I wanted to hunt. There are just far too many wonderful things to be said and my few words have not even come close in giving it the complete praise that it deserves. Let me conclude by saying this … »The Waterloo Companion« is a MUST for anyone with the slightest interest in the Napoleonic Wars. Not meaning to sound melo-dramatic but for those who have an interest in the Battle of Waterloo, I honestly think it would be a tragedy if you did not obtain this book. It is so PACKED full of every possible bit of info that one could imagine regarding this most famous battle. This is one of these rare types of books that once you pick up, it is most difficult to put down. I have recommended this masterpiece to all of my Napoleonic friends and I have never heard the slightest complaint from them; only praise on the book and a friendly appreciation toward me for turning them onto it … Again, for those with the slightest interest in the Battle of Waterloo, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE – Obtain this fantastic book as soon as possible. You WILL NOT be disappointed!
Best of the best
Wow, What a book! If you would choose one book to give you all the background information on this famous battle; This would be the one. Outstanding graphics, maps and photos! Well done!!!
Wow, What a book! If you would choose one book to give you all the background information on this famous battle; This would be the one. Outstanding graphics, maps and photos! Well done!!!
An excellent begining 
This is an excellent book for who begins to study the battle of Waterloo. Complete, clear and very entertaining. A very good purchase.
This is an excellent book for who begins to study the battle of Waterloo. Complete, clear and very entertaining. A very good purchase.
Second look 
While this book is still very interesting to own and is far from being a piece of »garbage«(see above praises), after reading different writings about the battle of Waterloo, different analysis, I am not confident anymore about the exactitude of its content. In spite of all the chrome, there is simply better material out there that goes deeper into the analysis and avoids the pitfalls of secondary data. This mix of good material with data that can be challenged certainly shakes the confidence I had in the book. While it is a good book, its usefulness in my library will be limited. I would recommend to read in parallel »The Battle: A New History of Waterloo« by Barbero (The Battle: A New History of Waterloo) which offers a slightly different perspective and challenges through careful analysis of first hand accounts and data some of the more common knowledge. History is a very elusive field, not easy to address. The Waterloo companion lost a bit its way.
While this book is still very interesting to own and is far from being a piece of »garbage«(see above praises), after reading different writings about the battle of Waterloo, different analysis, I am not confident anymore about the exactitude of its content. In spite of all the chrome, there is simply better material out there that goes deeper into the analysis and avoids the pitfalls of secondary data. This mix of good material with data that can be challenged certainly shakes the confidence I had in the book. While it is a good book, its usefulness in my library will be limited. I would recommend to read in parallel »The Battle: A New History of Waterloo« by Barbero (The Battle: A New History of Waterloo) which offers a slightly different perspective and challenges through careful analysis of first hand accounts and data some of the more common knowledge. History is a very elusive field, not easy to address. The Waterloo companion lost a bit its way.
A must have …
Finally someone took the time to truly invest in making a standardwork for the Battle of Waterloo. My congratulations to its makers, the book is a very good and honoust work based on facts. I could argue about some detail, but if you are going to visit the battle fields of Waterloo, or are simply interested in its history, this is the book to start with. I am deeply impressed, are there any plans to do the same thing for Ligny and Quatre Bras?
Finally someone took the time to truly invest in making a standardwork for the Battle of Waterloo. My congratulations to its makers, the book is a very good and honoust work based on facts. I could argue about some detail, but if you are going to visit the battle fields of Waterloo, or are simply interested in its history, this is the book to start with. I am deeply impressed, are there any plans to do the same thing for Ligny and Quatre Bras?
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last update: 3/21/2010
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