NAPOLEON AT THE CHANNEL

This is a social history rather than a factual history of England facing invasion over a century ago, during her 21-year long struggle against Napoleon. Through a sharp of records, diaries, memoirs, contemporary newspapers, this is a mirror of the temper and activities of the people, gossip, scandal, theatres, modes, courts and spas, notables and notorieties, all given with lively detail and wit. The analogy with today is remote; the war then was incidental, the people lethargic, business and pleasure as usual. Significant events in a long drawn out war, from England's first Dunkirk to Waterloo, enlivened by much of the irreverence, the malice and the snobbery of society at that time. Interesting and entertaining reading, as period portraiture. Of interest by way of contrast with today's total war in England.