This volume of Longford's masterful biography takes the Duke up through Waterloo. This volume of course ends in a flourish; the tremendous and awe-inspiring sweep of Waterloo. Wellington was born May 1, 1764--three and a half months before Napoleon. He was a withdrawn boy at Eton, participated little in playing there, and never said the battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton! He became an ensign in the British Army on Mar 7, 1787, spent time in Ireland, was in Flanders in 1794-5, and sailed for India (as a Colonel) in June 1796. He did not return to England till Sept 10, 1805. He served in parliament in 1806 and 1807, married Apr 10, 1806, went to Portugal in 1808, and was there and in Spain and France till 1814. The biography is very favorable to him. The description of Waterloo is a masterpiece.
