The Lie at the Heart of Waterloo

Wellington's explanation of how Waterloo was won is shown to be a lie, as the author uses his experience as a serving soldier to explore the battlefield anew and dismantle the accepted history

All descriptions of the end of the Battle of Waterloo are incorrect, confused by the myth which Wellington promulgated, giving himself the credit for ordering the winning blow. At long last the truth has been teased out of the maze of evidence, revealing a tale, which—without the compelling evidence—would be nearly unbelievable. By analyzing eyewitness accounts the author has discovered the action was far more intricate and interesting than either Wellington described or has been concocted subsequently. This revolutionary account of the "Crisis" conjures fresh insights from long-established evidence as well as newly-published material, and demolishes many long-held theories. The author investigates how the myth was established and the maneuvers to which Wellington was forced to resort in order to keep the secret, including a suicide and blackmail. The 52nd Light Infantry can now firmly be credited with routing Napoleon’s left wing while the Prussians routed the right.