A History of the Peninsular War: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Non-fiction work about the Peninsular War}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} |
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{{Infobox book |
{{Infobox book |
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| italic title = <!--(see above)--> |
| italic title = <!--(see above)--> |
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| name = A History of the Peninsular War |
| name = A History of the Peninsular War |
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| image = |
| image = File:A History of the Peninsular War vol 1.jpg |
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| image_size = |
| image_size = 125px |
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| border = yes |
| border = yes |
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| alt = |
| alt = Image of the book jacket for this book. The 1995 version. |
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| caption = |
| caption = Volume 1 book jacket 1995 republication |
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| author = Sir [[Charles Oman]] |
| author = Sir [[Charles Oman]] |
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| audio_read_by = |
| audio_read_by = |
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| set_in = |
| set_in = |
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| publisher = Clarendon Press (1st edition) |
| publisher = Clarendon Press (1st edition) |
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| publisher2 = Greenhill Books ( |
| publisher2 = Greenhill Books (republished), Stackpole Books (republished) |
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| pub_date = 1902-1930, 1995- |
| pub_date = 1902-1930, 1995-1997, 2004 (paperback) |
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| english_pub_date = |
| english_pub_date = |
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| published = |
| published = |
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| notes = |
| notes = |
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| exclude_cover = |
| exclude_cover = |
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| website = [https://www.napoleon-series.org/faq/c_PeninsulaBooks.html The |
| website = [https://www.napoleon-series.org/faq/c_PeninsulaBooks.html The Napoleon Series] |
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}} |
}} |
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'''A History of the Peninsular War''' is a non-fiction scholarly historical work, covering the [[Peninsular War]] (1807-1814) in the [[Iberian Peninsula]] during |
'''''A History of the Peninsular War''''' is a seven-volume non-fiction scholarly historical work written by Sir [[Charles Oman]], covering the [[Peninsular War]] (1807-1814) in the [[Iberian Peninsula]] during the [[Napoleonic Wars]]. [[Clarendon Press]] published the first volume in 1902 and volume seven in 1930.<ref name=robinson> |
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{{cite journal |
{{cite journal |
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| last = Robinson |
| last = Robinson |
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| pages = 191–197 (7 pages) |
| pages = 191–197 (7 pages) |
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| date = Autumn 1997 |
| date = Autumn 1997 |
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⚫ | |||
| jstor =44230079 |
| jstor =44230079 |
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| doi = |
| doi = |
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}}</ref><ref name=stevens> |
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{{cite journal |
{{cite journal |
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| last =Stevens |
| last =Stevens |
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| issue = 2 |
| issue = 2 |
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| date =June 1931 |
| date =June 1931 |
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| url =https://www.jstor.org/stable/1871731 |
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| jstor =1871731 |
| jstor =1871731 |
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| pages = 305 (4 pages) |
| pages = 305 (4 pages) |
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| doi =10.1086/235739 |
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⚫ | |||
}}</ref><ref name=napo-org> |
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{{cite web |
{{cite web |
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| url =https://www.napoleon.org/en/magazine/napoleonic-pleasures/a-history-of-the-peninsular-war-by-sir-charles-oman/ |
| url =https://www.napoleon.org/en/magazine/napoleonic-pleasures/a-history-of-the-peninsular-war-by-sir-charles-oman/ |
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| date = 2020 |
| date = 2020 |
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| website =The History Website of the [[Fondation Napoléon]] |
| website =The History Website of the [[Fondation Napoléon]] |
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| publisher = |
| publisher =Napoleon.org |
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| access-date=April 1, 2020}}</ref><ref name=sforhr> |
| access-date=April 1, 2020}}</ref><ref name=sforhr> |
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{{cite journal |
{{cite journal| author-link = |
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| last = Editors |
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| author-link = |
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| title = Announcement and review |
| title = Announcement and review |
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| journal = Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research |
| journal = Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research |
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| pages =120–121 |
| pages =120–121 |
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| date = April 1931 |
| date = April 1931 |
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| url =https://www.jstor.org/stable/44230394 |
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| jstor =44230394 |
| jstor =44230394 |
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}}</ref><ref name=athen>{{cite journal|title=Review of ''A History of the Peninsular War, Vol. II, January–September 1809'' by Charles Oman|journal=The Athenæum|date=1 August 1903|issue= 3953|pages=145–146|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fNdAAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA145}}</ref> |
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⚫ | |||
==About the seven volumes== |
==About the seven volumes== |
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This seven-volume history is described as appealing, scholarly, thorough, and definitive.<ref name=robinson/> The author does acknowledge politics and diplomacy throughout, but the main narrative focus |
This seven-volume history is described as appealing, scholarly, thorough, and definitive.<ref name=robinson/> The author does acknowledge politics and diplomacy throughout, but the main narrative focus is on military events.<ref name=stevens/> Additionally, human beings on the field are the focus rather than military units "with numerical designations."<ref name=stevens/> The books present equal analysis to all the powers involved in the seven-year conflict. Many of the important actors and decision makers in the armies of [[Spain]], [[Portugal]], the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]] and the [[First French Empire]] are included.<ref name=robinson/> Oman's writing style is late Victorian, cleverly humorous, and genial in places, demonstrating a facility for story-telling. Meanwhile, he ensures the pertinent facts of the many covered events are presented.<ref name=robinson/> |
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Regarding scholarship, Oman went "through everything available" and then dug for more, discovering diaries, memoirs, military dispatches, general orders, "parliamentary papers", filed newspapers, pertinent national archives, and so on.<ref name=robinson/><ref name=stevens/> He personally reconnoitered relevant geographical areas enabling him to give first |
Regarding scholarship, Oman went "through everything available" and then dug for more, discovering diaries, memoirs, military dispatches, general orders, "parliamentary papers", filed newspapers, pertinent national archives, and so on.<ref name=robinson/><ref name=stevens/> He personally reconnoitered relevant geographical areas enabling him to give first-hand descriptions of the topography. Also, Oman's "studies of personalities and their thought processes, [has revealed] the depth of his research."<ref name=robinson/> |
||
Oman is widely perceived as unbiased with his coverage. In fact, one of his main objectives for writing this history was to counter Sir [[William Francis Patrick Napier|William Napier]]'s seemingly flawed recounting of events in Napier's own six |
Oman is widely perceived as unbiased with his coverage. In fact, one of his main objectives for writing this history was to counter Sir [[William Francis Patrick Napier|William Napier]]'s seemingly flawed recounting of events in Napier's own six-volume work, ''History of the War in the Peninsula and the South of France from the Year 1807 to the Year 1814'' (published 1828-1840)<ref name=robinson/><ref name=napo-org/> Oman perceived Napier's account as heavily biased, exaggerating Spanish defeats and minimizing Spanish successes, while also diminishing entrenched Spanish resistance which frustrated the [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Duke of Wellington]].<ref name=robinson/> Napier had a high regard for [[Napoleon]] while at the same time being critical of the Spanish.<ref name=stevens/> Oman also stated that another reason for creating his historical account was the very large amount of source material that had become available since the publication of Napier's work.<ref name=stevens/> |
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Producing this seven |
Producing this seven-volume history spanned nearly thirty years <ref name=anderson> |
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{{cite journal |
{{cite journal |
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| last =Anderson |
| last =Anderson |
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| pages = 111 (2 pages) |
| pages = 111 (2 pages) |
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| date = October 1931 |
| date = October 1931 |
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| url = https://www.jstor.org/stable/1842275 |
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| jstor =1842275 |
| jstor =1842275 |
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| doi = |
| doi =10.2307/1842275 |
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}}</ref> and it demonstrated Oman's unflagging "industry, perseverance, and volume of reading."<ref name=sforhr/> He personally reconnoitered the "very scene[s] of action [of] nearly all Wellington's battlefields."<ref name=sforhr/> Appendices, lists of casualties, and clearly illustrated maps complete this endeavor.<ref name=sforhr/><ref name=anderson/> [[Godfrey Davies]], in his book ''Wellington's Army,'' pointed out weaknesses in Oman's work in regard to his estimates of Wellington as a general and Wellington's relations with his officers and men.<ref>Godfrey Davies, ''Wellington's Army'' (Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1954), p. ix.</ref> |
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==Chronology== |
==Chronology== |
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This history was published between 1902 and 1930 in seven volumes''':''' <ref name=robinson/> |
This history was published between 1902 and 1930 in seven volumes''':''' <ref name=robinson/><ref name=athen/> |
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* Volume 1 was published in 1902. It covers the years 1807–1809. It is entitled " ''Treaty of Fontainebleau to Corunna.'' " 673 pages. |
*[https://archive.org/details/historyofpeninsu01oman/page/n6/mode/2up Volume 1] was published in 1902. It covers the years 1807–1809. It is entitled " ''Treaty of Fontainebleau to Corunna.'' " 673 pages. Free download at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/53264 |
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* Volume 2 was published in 1903. |
* Volume 2 was published in 1903. Coverage includes January to September 1809 and is entitled " ''Corunna to end of Talavera campaign.'' " 670 pages. Free download at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/54279 |
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* Volume 3 was published in 1908. It covers September 1809 to December 1810 and is entitled " ''Ocana, Cadiz, Bussaco, Torres Vedras.'' " 575 pages. |
* Volume 3 was published in 1908. It covers September 1809 to December 1810 and is entitled " ''Ocana, Cadiz, Bussaco, Torres Vedras.'' " 575 pages. Free download at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/55231 |
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* Volume 4 was published in 1911. It covers December 1810 to December 1811 and is entitled " ''Massséna's retreat, Fuentes de Onoro, Albuera, Tarragon'' " 672 pages. |
* Volume 4 was published in 1911. It covers December 1810 to December 1811 and is entitled " ''Massséna's retreat, Fuentes de Onoro, Albuera, Tarragon'' " 672 pages. Free download at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/56812 |
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* Volume 5 was published in 1914. It covers October 1811 to August 1812, and is entitled "''Valencia, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Madrid.''" 642 pages. |
* Volume 5 was published in 1914. It covers October 1811 to August 1812, and is entitled "''Valencia, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Madrid.''" 642 pages. Free download at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/62291 |
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* Volume 6 was published in 1922. Coverage encompasses the beginning of September 1812 to the beginning of August 1813. It is entitled "''Siege of Burgos, retreat from Burgos, Vittoria, Pyrenees.''" 790 pages. |
* Volume 6 was published in 1922. Coverage encompasses the beginning of September 1812 to the beginning of August 1813. It is entitled "''Siege of Burgos, retreat from Burgos, Vittoria, Pyrenees.''" 790 pages. Free download here https://archive.org/details/historyofpeninsu06oman |
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* Volume 7 was published in 1930. Coverage includes August 1813 to the middle of April 1814. It is entitled "''St Sebastian, invasion of France, Nivelle |
*[https://archive.org/details/historyofpeninsu07oman/page/n6/mode/2up Volume 7] was published in 1930. Coverage includes August 1813 to the middle of April 1814. It is entitled "''St Sebastian, invasion of France, Nivelle...<ref name=stevens/> |
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[[Greenhill Books]] of London and [[Stackpole Books]] of Pennsylvania republished all seven volumes between 1995 and |
[[Greenhill Books]] of London and [[Stackpole Books]] of Pennsylvania republished all seven volumes between 1995 and 1997.<ref name=robinson/> |
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==Wellington's army== |
==Wellington's army== |
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Within the first nine years of researching and writing this history, Oman |
Within the first nine years of researching and writing this history, Oman had also gathered other notes and materials that only tangentially correlated to "A History of the Peninsular War." As he decided not to use this material for the seven-volume history, he used it to write "Wellington's Army 1809-1814" (originally published in 1913.)<ref name=well/> This book includes the "organization, day-by-day life, and psychology" of Wellington's Army during the Peninsular War.<ref name=well>{{cite book |
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| last = Oman |
| last = Oman |
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| first = Charles |
| first = Charles |
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| date =1913 |
| date =1913 |
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| chapter = Preface and Chapter 1 |
| chapter = Preface and Chapter 1 |
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| url = https://archive.org/stream/wellingtonsarmy100omanuoft?ref=ol#page/n7/mode/2up}} Internet Archive. [https:// |
| chapter-url = https://archive.org/stream/wellingtonsarmy100omanuoft?ref=ol#page/n7/mode/2up}} Internet Archive. [https://books.google.com/books?id=JO1cDwAAQBAJ Reproduced in 2018] by Outlook Verlag GmbH.</ref> |
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== References == |
== References == |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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== |
== Further reading == |
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*{{cite web |
*{{cite web |
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| url =https://archive.org/details/historyofpeninsu01oman/page/n6/mode/2up |
| url =https://archive.org/details/historyofpeninsu01oman/page/n6/mode/2up |
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| website =Internet Archive |
| website =Internet Archive |
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| publisher = |
| publisher = |
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| access-date=April |
| access-date=April 28, 2020}}. Public domain document. |
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*{{cite web |
*{{cite web |
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| url =https://archive.org/details/historyofpeninsu07oman/page/n6/mode/2up |
| url =https://archive.org/details/historyofpeninsu07oman/page/n6/mode/2up |
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| website =Internet Archive |
| website =Internet Archive |
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| publisher = |
| publisher = |
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| access-date=April |
| access-date=April 28, 2020}}. Public domain document. |
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*{{Cite web |
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*<ref>https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-35312</ref> |
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| url=https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL28991A/Charles_William_Chadwick_Oman |
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|title = Works of Sir Charles Oman |
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|website= Open Library |
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|publisher =Internet Archive}} Full text download of each of Oman's published works is available. Retrieved April 26, 2020. Public domain documents. |
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*{{cite web |
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| title = Napoleonic Library |
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| website = |
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| publisher = Greehill Books |
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{{Authority control}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:History Of The Peninsular War}} |
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[[Category: |
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[[Category:19th century in Spain]] |
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[[Category:History books about France]] |
[[Category:History books about France]] |
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[[Category:History books about England]] |
[[Category:History books about England]] |
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[[Category:History books about Portugal]] |
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[[Category:Peninsular War]] |
[[Category:Peninsular War]] |
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[[Category:Napoleonic Wars]] |
[[Category:Napoleonic Wars]] |
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[[Category:Book series introduced in 1902]] |
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[[Category:Clarendon Press books]] |
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[[Category:Conflicts in 1810]] |
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[[Category:Conflicts in 1811]] |
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[[Category:Conflicts in 1812]] |
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[[Category:Conflicts in 1813]] |
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[[Category:Conflicts in 1814]] |
Latest revision as of 13:37, 8 July 2023
Volume 1 book jacket 1995 republication | |
Author | Sir Charles Oman |
---|---|
Subject | History, Napoleonic Wars |
Genre | Non-fiction |
Publisher | Clarendon Press (1st edition), Greenhill Books (republished), Stackpole Books (republished) |
Publication date | 1902-1930, 1995-1997, 2004 (paperback) |
Publication place | United Kingdom |
Media type | Print, e book, world wide web |
ISBN | 9781853672149 |
OCLC | 264957178 |
Website | The Napoleon Series |
A History of the Peninsular War is a seven-volume non-fiction scholarly historical work written by Sir Charles Oman, covering the Peninsular War (1807-1814) in the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. Clarendon Press published the first volume in 1902 and volume seven in 1930.[1][2][3][4][5]
About the seven volumes
[edit]This seven-volume history is described as appealing, scholarly, thorough, and definitive.[1] The author does acknowledge politics and diplomacy throughout, but the main narrative focus is on military events.[2] Additionally, human beings on the field are the focus rather than military units "with numerical designations."[2] The books present equal analysis to all the powers involved in the seven-year conflict. Many of the important actors and decision makers in the armies of Spain, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the First French Empire are included.[1] Oman's writing style is late Victorian, cleverly humorous, and genial in places, demonstrating a facility for story-telling. Meanwhile, he ensures the pertinent facts of the many covered events are presented.[1]
Regarding scholarship, Oman went "through everything available" and then dug for more, discovering diaries, memoirs, military dispatches, general orders, "parliamentary papers", filed newspapers, pertinent national archives, and so on.[1][2] He personally reconnoitered relevant geographical areas enabling him to give first-hand descriptions of the topography. Also, Oman's "studies of personalities and their thought processes, [has revealed] the depth of his research."[1]
Oman is widely perceived as unbiased with his coverage. In fact, one of his main objectives for writing this history was to counter Sir William Napier's seemingly flawed recounting of events in Napier's own six-volume work, History of the War in the Peninsula and the South of France from the Year 1807 to the Year 1814 (published 1828-1840)[1][3] Oman perceived Napier's account as heavily biased, exaggerating Spanish defeats and minimizing Spanish successes, while also diminishing entrenched Spanish resistance which frustrated the Duke of Wellington.[1] Napier had a high regard for Napoleon while at the same time being critical of the Spanish.[2] Oman also stated that another reason for creating his historical account was the very large amount of source material that had become available since the publication of Napier's work.[2]
Producing this seven-volume history spanned nearly thirty years [6] and it demonstrated Oman's unflagging "industry, perseverance, and volume of reading."[4] He personally reconnoitered the "very scene[s] of action [of] nearly all Wellington's battlefields."[4] Appendices, lists of casualties, and clearly illustrated maps complete this endeavor.[4][6] Godfrey Davies, in his book Wellington's Army, pointed out weaknesses in Oman's work in regard to his estimates of Wellington as a general and Wellington's relations with his officers and men.[7]
Chronology
[edit]This history was published between 1902 and 1930 in seven volumes: [1][5]
- Volume 1 was published in 1902. It covers the years 1807–1809. It is entitled " Treaty of Fontainebleau to Corunna. " 673 pages. Free download at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/53264
- Volume 2 was published in 1903. Coverage includes January to September 1809 and is entitled " Corunna to end of Talavera campaign. " 670 pages. Free download at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/54279
- Volume 3 was published in 1908. It covers September 1809 to December 1810 and is entitled " Ocana, Cadiz, Bussaco, Torres Vedras. " 575 pages. Free download at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/55231
- Volume 4 was published in 1911. It covers December 1810 to December 1811 and is entitled " Massséna's retreat, Fuentes de Onoro, Albuera, Tarragon " 672 pages. Free download at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/56812
- Volume 5 was published in 1914. It covers October 1811 to August 1812, and is entitled "Valencia, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Madrid." 642 pages. Free download at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/62291
- Volume 6 was published in 1922. Coverage encompasses the beginning of September 1812 to the beginning of August 1813. It is entitled "Siege of Burgos, retreat from Burgos, Vittoria, Pyrenees." 790 pages. Free download here https://archive.org/details/historyofpeninsu06oman
- Volume 7 was published in 1930. Coverage includes August 1813 to the middle of April 1814. It is entitled "St Sebastian, invasion of France, Nivelle...[2]
Greenhill Books of London and Stackpole Books of Pennsylvania republished all seven volumes between 1995 and 1997.[1]
Wellington's army
[edit]Within the first nine years of researching and writing this history, Oman had also gathered other notes and materials that only tangentially correlated to "A History of the Peninsular War." As he decided not to use this material for the seven-volume history, he used it to write "Wellington's Army 1809-1814" (originally published in 1913.)[8] This book includes the "organization, day-by-day life, and psychology" of Wellington's Army during the Peninsular War.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Robinson, R.E.R. (Autumn 1997). "Review Article". Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research. 75 (303): 191–197 (7 pages). JSTOR 44230079.
- ^ a b c d e f g Stevens, Wayne (June 1931). "Review". The Journal of Modern History. 3 (2): 305 (4 pages). doi:10.1086/235739. JSTOR 1871731.
- ^ a b Hicks, Peter (2020). "A History of the Peninsular War by Sir Charles Oman". The History Website of the Fondation Napoléon. Napoleon.org. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Announcement and review". Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research. 10 (39a): 120–121. April 1931. JSTOR 44230394.
- ^ a b "Review of A History of the Peninsular War, Vol. II, January–September 1809 by Charles Oman". The Athenæum (3953): 145–146. 1 August 1903.
- ^ a b Anderson, Troyer S. (October 1931). "Review article". The American Historical Review. 37 (1): 111 (2 pages). doi:10.2307/1842275. JSTOR 1842275.
- ^ Godfrey Davies, Wellington's Army (Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1954), p. ix.
- ^ a b Oman, Charles (1913). "Preface and Chapter 1". Wellington's Army 1809—1814 (1st ed.). Edward Arnold. Internet Archive. Reproduced in 2018 by Outlook Verlag GmbH.
Further reading
[edit]- "Volume 1 - A History of the Peninsular War". Internet Archive. 1902. Retrieved 28 April 2020.. Public domain document.
- "Volume 7 - A History of the Peninsular War". Internet Archive. 1930. Retrieved 28 April 2020.. Public domain document.
- "Works of Sir Charles Oman". Open Library. Internet Archive. Full text download of each of Oman's published works is available. Retrieved April 26, 2020. Public domain documents.
- "Napoleonic Library". Greehill Books. April 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2020.