Just in time for the battle's bicentennial, comes this fresh account of the final battle that determined the fate of nineteenth-century Europe. On June 18, 1815, the armies of France, Britain, and Prussia descended upon a quiet valley south of Brussels. In the previous three days, the French army had beaten the Prussians at Ligny and fought the British to a standstill at Quatre-Bras. The Allies were in retreat. The little village north of where they turned to fight the French army was called Waterloo. The blood-soaked battle to which the town gave its name would become a landmark in European history. Here, Cornwell chronicles every moment : from Napoleon's daring escape from Elba to the smoke and gore of the three battlefields and their aftermath. Through quotes from the letters and diaries of Emperor Napoleon, the Duke of Wellington, and the ordinary officers and soldiers, Cornwell brings to life how it actually felt to fight those famous battles - as well as the moments of amazing bravery on both sides that left the outcome hanging in the balance until the bitter in. -- From the publisher's account.

Originally published : London : William Collins, 2014. Includes maps of: Europe, Early 1815 - Napoleon's Route from Elba,26 FEB-20 MAR; Road to Brussels, 14 JUN 1815; Advance of Napoleon, 15 JUN 1815; Quatre-Bras and Ligny, 16 JUN 1815; Waterloo, Morning Dispositions, 18 JUN 1815; Hougomont, 1430-1930; Wellington's Eastern Line, Mid-morning Dispositions; Charge of the Household and Union Cavalry, 1400-1430; Blucher's Advance on Waterloo, 18 JUN 1815; Height of the French Cavalry Atttacks, 1700; La Haie Sainte, 1330-1830; Advance of the Imperial Guard, 1930.

Glorious news! Nap's landed again in France, hurrah! -- Napoleon has humbugged me, by God! -- the fate of France is in your hands! -- Avancez, mes enfants, courage, encore une fois, Français! -- Ah! Now I've got them, those English! -- A cannon ball came from the Lord knows where and took the head off our right-hand man -- The Big Boots don't like rough stuff! -- Those terrible grey horses, how they fight! --We had our revenge! Such slaughtering! -- The most beautiful troops in the world -- Defend yourselves! Defend yourselves! They are coming in everywhere! -- Next to a battle lose, the greatest misery is a battle gained -- Aftermath : a thousand shall fall beside thee, and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee.