The Iron Duke

'Lord Wellington don't know how to lose a battle.' The view of an anonymous soldier at Waterloo became the judgement of the world on the man who was hailed as the first general of his age. At Waterloo he defeated Napoleon, the master of war, and finally checked the disruptive forces of the French Revolution that had troubled Europe for over twenty years. Wellington taught himself the art of war in India where his hard-fought victories helped lay the foundations of the British raj. His armies liberated Portugal and Spain, shattered the myth of French invincibility and inspired the people of Europe to resist Napoleon. Largely drawn from original sources, Lawrence James's biography follows the life of Wellington the soldier and explains how he waged war and why he won battles. This is also the story of a humane, intelligent and acerbic aristocrat who believed that his kind were predestined to lead. It shows how he stamped his iron will on the men he commanded and how they responded. It reveals Wellington the professional fighting man who created the remarkable intelligence and logistical services that were the keys to his victories. But it was as the national hero who beat Napoleon, gave Europe peace and adhered resolutely to the path of duty that he was honoured by his countrymen who saw him as 'the highest incarnation of English character'.

Lawrence James writes history for the general reader. He is the author of The Savage Wars: British Campaigns in Africa, 1870-1920, The Golden Warrior: The Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia, and, most recently, Raj: The Making and Unmaking of British India. He lives in St Andrews where he is a part-time tutor at the University.

A brilliant biography of one of Britain's greatest soldiers.