Major Richard Llewellyn, who fought at Quatre Bras, wrote
in 1837 that, 'Had it not been so closely followed by
the... victory of Waterloo, perhaps the gallant exploits
and unexampled bravery that marked that day would... have
excited even more admiration than was actually associated
with it.' This book stands out from the wealth of
Napoleonic literature in that it is the first English-
language account to focus solely on the battle of Quatre
Bras. It is based upon extensive research and in many
cases unpublished personal accounts from all
participating countries, as well as a detailed
topographic, aerial survey of the battlefield. These
combine to provide a highly personal, balanced and
authoritative work. The author unravels the controversies
of a battle where commanders made errors of omission and
commission and where cowardice rubbed shoulders with
heroism. This is the story of a battle that turned a
campaign; of triumph and disaster. It is a story of two
great generals, but more importantly, of the intense
human experience of those that they led. It is a book
that will appeal to both the scholar and the generalist.