Finding a fault seems unsporting, but if I had one it would be the fact that the introductory chapter - a timeline essay that explains the background to the campaigns and serves as a linking device to tie them all together - I would have preferred as a short introduction to each chapter to set the tone for the despatch to follow. But that may be personal inclination and small beer overall; it does not diminish the utility of the book. In this 100th Anniversary of the Great War, this book and its companion volume will help you understand the ‘original’ Great War of a century earlier, a conflict which defined the shape of the nineteenth century.

The Napoleon Series - September 2014 - reviewed by Steve Brown

This unique collection of original documents will prove to be an invaluable resource for historians, students and all those interested in what was one of the most important periods in British military and naval history

Skirmish - Living History

The two books [in this series] present a collection of despatches written by British commanders (generals, admirals and captains) following selected battles that involved British land and/or naval forces during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.
The format of the two books is the same, with despatches from the selected battles presented in chronological order. Each simply comprises a heading with the name of the battle or action, followed by the note of the receipt of the original despatch and then the despatch itself reproduced in full.
The presentation of despatches, transcribed from the originals, provides a bonus for students of language. The despatches are replete with variations in spelling and the nuances of English writing of the time, all of which varied between corresponding generals. Grehan and Mace discuss this facet at some length in the introduction to each book, particularly since it is an aspect that has been maintained as the despatches presented are unedited transcripts of the originals.
"This then is our assembly of facts, raw and untainted. Their interpretation is yours alone."
A 'student' of history cannot ask for much more.

www.avonnapoloenicfellowship.blogspot.com.au

An interesting new insight into some of the less well known clashes of arms and naval actions. For the wargaming purist, the despatches also have some very detailed observations on troops, battalions and regiments etc. This will allow many fans of the period to recreate the smaller actions easily, as well as refine the details of the larger battles.

Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy