Specialist magazines have a longer lead-in time than newspapers, but the first to give attention to Peter Hofschroer's new book has appeared quickly. The magazine is First Empire, a leading magazine for the Napoleonic enthusiast. The new May/June issue refers to 1815: The Waterloo Campaign a number of times.
The editor's own column says:
"Peter's 1815 etc. appears to be causing some controversy. Launched on the back of the idea that Wellington deliberately set up the Prussians for another kicking, it has spawned allegations that Herr Hofschroer is trying to promote a conspiracy theory. I must point out that nowhere in this book is such an allegation made.
There is some circumstantial evidence, i.e. mysteriously disappeared documents and factually incorrect dispatches, that Wellington may have been a little flexible in stating his true dispositions - although there is no way of knowing whether or not the Duke knew that a division would not be where he thought it would be upon the receipt of the relevant dispatch - and that post 1815 may have atttempted to cover up his errors.
1815 does go along way to correct the impression that only the British were involved in the campaign and the accounts of Ligny and Quatre Bras are I believe unparalleled. The level of research is truly impressive and the number and use of quotes from many and various participants - (many previously unpublished, at least in English) - equally so.
It will no doubt swell Lionel Leventhal's heart and wallet to read that I recommend that you get hold of this volume as soon as possible, part 2 dealing with Waterloo and beyond will be out next year and if that is of the same quality as this volume you will have acquired an indispensable reference work on the Waterloo campaign.
We at the office were a tad disappointed that we couldn't have a good knock at this book as Peter has been highly critical (often quite rightly) of other contemporary works and were eagerly waiting for his head to pop up above the parapet! Rather annoyingly he has proved his right to have done so. Hang on I've found something - many of the maps don't have scales - ha! Gotcha!"
There is correspondence also in First Empire about the book, and a long review. To quote from the review:
"I seldom find myself at 3 o'clock in the morning unable to put a book down but this one had my attention for the best part of five hours before I was forced to sleep. .. Peter Hofschroer has made a valiant attempt at redressing the balance of history ... It is not a flag waving nationalistic view, but a well presented and documented work, the likes of which are seldom seen today ... weight is lent to his argument by the phenomenal amount of evidence provided. A superb time and motion study of troop dispositions, orders issued and apparently issued, and who knew what and when, coupled with some of the best maps ever produced in this format certainly do the case justice ...This book has been long overdue and this historian has done his homework with teutonic precision, presenting his case in a very readable style. The detail supplied is second to none.
He certainly has a case and has done well to prove its validity, which should make it a standard reference .... Greenhill Books should count themselves lucky to have landed this author, certainly for £ 25.00 you are getting a lot of book, a lot of reliable detail and a damned good read. Whether you are a Napoleonic historian, a wargamer or student, miss this at your peril, because you're sure to be asked why you have not referred to Hofschroer if you do. If you buy only one book in 1998, Buy this one, with a capital B!"
Practical Wargamer has reviewed the book saying:-
'Love it or hate, agree or disagree, this is one book which will become a best seller and one which makes a considerable contribution to the history of The Hundred Days - you really should not miss this one!'
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