Taking up where "The Light Division in the Peninsular War: 1808-1811" by co-authors Tim Saunders and Rob Yuill left off, "The Light Division in the Peninsular War 1811-1814" continues this seminal history of the British military enforced empire in the early decades of the 19th Century. Featuring an informative Introduction, six pages of Notes and a three page Index, "The Light Division in the Peninsular War 1811-1814" is an exemplary and detailed history that is solidly researched, exceptionally well written, and informatively presented in chronological order. While available for personal reading lists in a digital book format, "The Light Division in the Peninsular War: 1811-1814" is an extraordinary and highly recommended for community, college, and university library 19th Century British Military History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.

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Midwest Book Review

Its adventures have been brought alive in The Light Division in the Peninsular War, a really well written examination by Tim Saunders and Rob Yuill of the force's campaigns into which is woven first-hand experiences of its officers and troops.

I so enjoy this style of book as the first-hand accounts add colour and emotion to the historical details.

The images of the major and minor characters bring extra life to those mentioned in its pages; and the maps and graphics allow you to get a handle a city, siege or event visually.

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Napoleonic Guide

Editor's Choice

... a fascinating account of the Light Division at War.

The Armourer, October 2021

I preferred this book over the other book (1808-1811) on the same subject matter. I found this a much easier book to read, it’s a book that you can sit down on a Sunday afternoon and blitz through a few chapters with ease.

Irregular magazine, Issue 16 Volume 2 / Summer 2021 - review by Jason Hubbard

With this second book we have an accurate documentation and a powerful tool for consultation on one of the most famous Corps of Wellington during its performance in the Peninsular War.

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Miniaturas JM

The key strength of this book are of course those eyewitness accounts... The result is a useful account of the Light Division’s role in the second half of the Peninsular War.

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History of War

"...this is an excellent partner to the original volume, very well presented by experienced military men, with a clear tactical eye and it is extremely well illustrated. It comes highly recommended."

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The Napoleon Series

Review by Gareth Glover

... overall, this is an excellent partner to the original volume, very well presented by experienced military men, with a clear tactical eye and it is extremely well illustrated. It comes highly recommended.

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The Waterloo Association

An interesting read which tells us so much about the Peninsular war and tells us so much about what life was like for the soldiers in the Light Division at the time. Even down to the tale of one sentry who held the rifle for his French opposite number one night while he went off to get some brandy for them both! An enjoyable and interesting read I thought.

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Military Model Scene, Robin Buckland

By contrast to old fashioned formation histories, it uses individual testimony from officers and soldiers to provide insight into the human experience in this long arduous campaign. The author's experience as re-enactors is evident in some of the detail, and in their presence in some of the photographs.

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Army Rumour Service (ARRSE)

Tim Saunders and Bob Yuill have done it again and given us a superb book. After the Light Division 1808-1811 [reviewed on this site] we had high expectations of the second part to take us from 1811 to 1814 and we have not been disappointed. Again the text is well focussed and doesn’t drift off into writing about the wider campaign more than is necessary to tell the Division’s story. This volume seemed to have even more insights into the lives of the officers and ordinary infantry soldiers both in and between the battles. Lots of snippets stick in the mind such as hunting with foxhounds, shooting woodcock and marching whole battalions out of the line to re-uniform. The skirmishes and battles are well described and given colour by the personal reports of both officers and men. The story is not all glory but includes the lows and the dark passages of the division. This is the story of the ‘incomparable Light Division’ accurately and engagingly told.
There are a large number of maps and photographs interspersed throughout the text. Many photographs are of the locations today which would be a big help to anyone visiting the battlefields and marching routes.
We highly recommend you read The Light Division1808-1811 first then you will find this book a ‘must read’.

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Clash of Steel

Having looked forward to receiving this volume it does not disappoint. It continues the style of its predecessor that covered the period 1808-1811 and delivers as good a narrative history as you could want. It is supported by all the technical details on weapons, uniforms and unit structure and deployment. The narrative is well supported by detailed maps, a variety of images and best of all plenty of eyewitness accounts that really bring home the brutality of war. The account by Hendall of the scene after the battle of the breach at Badajoz is sobering. Altogether an excellent book that together with its partner gives a complete account of the Light Division in the Peninsular. Highly recommended and well done gentlemen.

Michael McCarthy. Battlefield Guide

Michael McCarthy