I bought this non-fiction account of Quatre Bras before Christmas and last week finally got around to reading it. Covering the battle from the Allied point of view, it builds the tension slowly until contact with the French Corps under Ney.
Traditionally wargames begin with troops on the table (or just off table awaiting an activation roll); the author has vividly described the complexity of moving large bodies of men & materiel in real life. Having never served in the Armed forces I have gained a renewed appreciation of the logistical sophistication that is part of their role - even more so in 1815 with horse & man power the only options!
There was some mild criticism on the forums that the French side is not represented in the book but this gives the story an almost thriller-like feel. Just as the shark in Jaws does not appear until the end of the movie, we know what's out there but don't know when the 'big reveal' takes place.
It is quite an achievement to make a battle fought in 1815 seem so immediate to the reader and I would highly recommend this book to anyone with a passing interest in the 100 days.
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