Wellington

A Personal History

By: Christopher Hibbert

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Paperback | 2 March 1998

At a Glance

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480 Pages

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19.0 x 13.7 x 2.8

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A bestseller in hardback, this is a highly-praised and much-needed biography of the first Duke of Wellington, concentrating on the personal life of the victor of Waterloo, and based on the fruits of modern research. Christopher Hibbert is Britain's leading popular historian.

Wellington (1769-1852) achieved fame as a soldier fighting the Mahratta in India. His later brilliant generalship fighting the French in Spain and his defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo earned him a dukedom and the award of Apsley House (No. 1, London) and a large estate in Hampshire.

His second career saw him make his mark as a politician with commanding presence. Appointed Commander-in-Chief for life, he became Prime Minister in 1827 and presided over the emancipation of Roman Catholics and the formation of the country's first police force.

Privately, he was unhappily married, and had several mistresses (including two of Napoleon's) and many intimate friendships with women. The private side of the public man has never been so richly delineated as in this masterly biography.

Industry Reviews

Hugely popular biographer of Elizabeth I and Lord Nelson, Hibbert here turns his forensic and literary skills to the Iron Duke. Most books in the years since Elizabeth Longford published her two-volume study have focused on the dazzling military life. Hibbert draws out the intimate friendships with women this seemingly aloof and intimidating man was able to make. Never prurient, Hibbert nevertheless gives a full account of a loveless marriage and the women Wellington turned to for intellectual and not-so-intellectual diversion. The book is studded with memorable anecdotes. The Duke was an unreliable shot and on one occasion wounded a dog, struck a gamekeeper's gaiters and shot Lady Shelley's washerwoman through an open window. When the woman protested her Ladyship told her it ought to be the proudest moment of her life. 'You have the distinction of being shot by the great Duke of Wellington.' A brilliant combination of expert historical analysis and unflagging narrative. (Kirkus UK)

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You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction Biographies & True Stories Biographies Historical, Political and Military Biographies History Regional & National History European History British & Irish History Earliest Times to Present Day Modern History from 1700 to 1900 General & World History

Illustrations	p. vii
Author's Note and Acknowledgements	p. xi
1769-1815	p. 1
Eton, Dublin and Angers 1769-87	p. 3
An Officer in the 33rd 1787-93	p. 9
The First Campaign 1794-5	p. 13
A Voyage to India 1796-8	p. 17
The Tiger of Mysore 1799	p. 23
The Governor of Mysore 1799	p. 30
The Sultan's Palace 1800-1	p. 36
Assaye 1802-5	p. 41
Return to London 1805-6	p. 47
Kitty Pakenham 1790-1806	p. 54
Ireland and Denmark 1806-7	p. 58
Portugal 1808	p. 66
Board of Enquiry 1808	p. 77
Across the Douro 1809	p. 82
'A Whole Host of Marshals' 1809 - 10	p. 92
From Bussaco to El Bodon 1810-11	p. 101
Life at Headquarters 1810-12	p. 108
Badajoz, Salamanca and Madrid 1812	p. 117
Retreat to Portugal 1812	p. 126
From Vitoria to the Frontier 1812-13	p. 133
St Jean De Luz 1813	p. 144
In London Again 1814	p. 151
Paris and Vienna 1814-15	p. 160
Brussels 1815	p. 167
Waterloo 1815	p. 174
1815-52	p. 187
The Ambassador 1815	p. 189
Cambrai and Vitry 1815-18	p. 202
Stratfield Saye 1818-20	p. 213
King George IV and Queen Caroline 1820-1	p. 220
Husband and Wife 1821	p. 226
Vienna and Verona 1822-4	p. 241
St Petersburg and the Northern Counties 1825 - 7	p. 251
The Prime Minister 1828-9	p. 264
Battersea Fields and Scotland Yard	p. 273
The Death of the King 1829-30	p. 278
Riots and Repression 1830-2	p. 287
A Bogy to the Mob 1832	p. 296
Oxford University and Apsley House 1832-4	p. 306
Lady Friends 1834	p. 313
The Foreign Secretary 1834-6	p. 319
Portraits and Painters 1830-50	p. 326
Life at Walmer Castle 1830-50	p. 338
The Young Queen 1837-9	p. 348
Grand Old Man 1839-50	p. 357
The Horse Guards and the House of Lords 1842-50	p. 367
Hyde Park Corner 1845-6	p. 373
Disturbers of the Peace 1846-51	p. 378
Growing Old 1850-1	p. 385
Last Days 1851-2	p. 394
The Way to St Paul's 1852	p. 399
References	p. 405
Sources	p. 426
Index	p. 439
Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

Wellington

A Personal History

At a Glance

Paperback

Industry Reviews

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How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

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