Wellington: The Iron Duke

RichardHolmes,highlyacclaimedmilitaryhistorianandbroadcaster,tellstheexhilaratingstoryofBritain’sgreatest-eversoldier,themanwhoposedthemostseriousthreattoNapoleon.TheDukeofWellington’sremarkablelifeandextraordinarycampaignsarerecreatedwithHolmes’superbskillinthiscompellingbook.RichardHolmeschartsWellington’sstellarmilitarycareerfromIndiatoEurope,andintheprocess,rediscoversthereasonsQueenVictoriacalledhimthegreatestmanthenineteenthcenturyhadproduced.Combininghisastutehistoricalanalysiswithasemi-biographicalexaminationofWellington,Holmesartfullyillustratestherapidevolutioninmilitaryandpoliticalthinkingofthetime.Wellingtonisabrilliantfigure,idealisticinpolitics,cynicalinlove,awit,abeau,amanofenormouscourageoftensickenedbywar.AsRichardHolmeschartshisprogressfromashy,indolentboytocommander-in-chiefofthealliedforces,healsoexposestheIronDukeasaphilanderer,andamanwhosometimesdespisedthementhatheled,andwasnotalwaysincontrolofhissoldiers.ParticularlyinfamousisthebestialrampageofhismenafterthecaptureofCuidadRodgrigoandBadajoz.THEIRONDUKEisabeautifullyproducedbook,completewithstunningillustrationsandcolourplates.RichardHolmes’TVseriestoaccompanyTHEIRONDUKEwillbelavishlyconstructedinfourparts,andfilmedonlocationinBritain,India,Spain,Portugal,FranceandBelgium.