REILLY : The British at the gates (fülszöveg)
THE BRITISH AT THE GATES is a fascinating blend of diplomatic, political, social and, above all, military history. It is the first account of the Battle of New Orleans to be written by an Englishman but, what is more important, it marks the first time the battle has been set within the complete context of the War of 1812. By reexamining and reevaluating previously held historical interpretations, it explodes the myths that have grown to surround the event that distinguished America's coming of age.
Since the battle was fought after the Treaty of Ghent had been signed, it is today remembered as having been superfluous. Perhaps the most valuable contribution of this book is to point out how, by terms of the treaty, the course of United States history would have been changed if Britain had captured the city. Instead of being unnecessary, the battle not only saved the Louisiana Purchase for America but provided a critical turning point in Anglo-American relations.
The heart of the book, however, is its brilliant depiction of the strategies and tactics adopted by both sides before, during and after the battle. The common view has been that Britain employed sadly overrated troops and that the ultimate blame for their failure must be attributed to errors in judgment committed by Major General John Keane and Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane. As the book shows, the common view is not the right one. The troops were the pride of the Duke of Wellington's army, seasoned veterans of the Peninsular Wars who earned their spurs in defeating Napoleon. And either the fault for the loss must be laid to the hesitancy and carelessness of Major General Sir Edward Pakenham, Wellington's brother-in-law, or the praise for the victory must belong to the incredible leadership and resoluteness of Andrew Jackson.
Here are the glitter and decadence of New Orleans on the eve of the battle; the heroics and crafty dealings of those infamous pirates the Laffite brothers; the incongruous peace mission that included Henry Clay, John Quincy Adams and Albert Gallatin, whose views and temperaments clashed while they cooled their heels in the courts of Europe; and the military triumphs and fiascos that preceded the confrontation at New Orleans. By the richness of his background, by the meticulous tracing of America's inevitable involvement in the Napoleonic Wars and by the lucid details of the climactic battle, Robin Reilly has produced a volume of history that is as rich as it is exciting, as cogent as it is original.
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| KATALÓGUS | TARTALOM |
