Wellington: A Personal History

To be honest, I never had any admiration for military leaders and therefore was never really interested in reading about them. However, I always felt that should have read a book on the first Duke of Wellington as he had been such an important personality. Well, one day I gave myself a push and bought Hibbert' s "Wellington, a Personal History". Having always liked Hibbert' s style and the way he presents the personalities he writes about I hoped that - that reading about the Duke of Wellington would not prove not too hard a struggle. I was not disappointed. The book is - as usual with Hibbert - extremely well written and I discovered much more about the Duke than I imagined there would be. I finished it in no time, got never bored and could complete my picture of the time. So I was actually very pleased that I gave myself a "little push". Not only this but as well the other books Hibbert has written I can recommend. If you never feel very strongly about reading about a specific person and nevertheless have a feeling you actually should do than you will find this book and many of Hibbert' s books of great value and joy. Just to be on the safe side: I do not want to say that his works are "light weights" or too popular. Far from it, but Hibbert has one important gift: he can present difficult subjects in an interesting and very readable manner. So let me say it in the manner of the Eurovision song contest: Here are the votes of the Belgium jury: Hibbert 12 points (or in the amazon review system - 5 stars)

Portrait Of A Hero! (4/6 people found this helpful)

I have always thought of the Duke of Wellington as the Hero of Waterloo, but little else. In "Wellington, A Personal History" I learned that he was much more.

This book is, as the title indicates, a personal history of the man, rather than a history of his times. The reader learns little of the details of Waterloo, nor does he learn much about the impact of his career on the wider world.

Wellington's story is an interesting one. Born the younger son of lower nobility, his dukedom was earned, rather than inherited. His career was diverse. He fought for the Crown in India before his first encounter with Napoleon's armies in Portugal and Spain during the Peninsular War. The possibility of service in America during the American Revolution was mentioned, but did not occur. The glory which he won at Waterloo was merely a stepping stone to higher service.

After the banishment of Napoleon, Wellington entered the diplomatic service in France. This, coupled with his membership in the House of Lords, led to service as Foreign Minister and Prime Minister, among many other appointments. In office, Wellington was, generally, a supporter of privilege and order. Despite his dominant conservatism, Wellington was flexible enough to adjust to prevailing necessities. Although initially opposed to Catholic Emancipation, he supported Emancipation after concluding that the defeat of Emancipation would have led to more social unrest than the issue was worth. He then not only had to persuade opinion among the Lords and Commons, but also had to overcome the strong opposition of the King in order to get Emancipation passed. This is of particular interest to me, as family legend has it that we are descendants of Daniel O'Connell, whose election to the House of Commons forced the issue. Jews, whose potential for disorder was presumably less than that of Irish Catholics, did not enjoy his support when Emancipation for them was suggested.

During his political career, Wellington endured wide swings in popularity. At times he faced the threats of the mob as a result of his policies. He was forced to turn his home into a fortress and to carry pistols while traveling about London. Even when his popularity was at its nadir, his prestige and personal presence were sufficient to insure his safety.

Wellington's relations with his monarchs make interesting reading. Although he held George IV and William IV in low esteem, his relationship with Victoria was warm and close. He became an intimate and trusted advisor on whom Victoria and other politicians relied as an intermediatory.

Wellington's marriage was unhappy and distant and he became a widower at a fairly young age. These facts caused him to seek and enjoy the companionship of many women through his lifetime. These relationships and their effects on Wellington account for a large portion of this book.

As is common among heroes, Wellington's popularity grew as his vigor and involvement in public affairs diminished. Living to an advanced age, Wellington was revered as Britain's greatest hero.

I often gauge a book by how it makes me think beyond the covers. I compared him to American political generals. His political career was more impressive than Grant's, and of longer duration than Eisenhower's. The closest comparison may be with Washington, both as his country's greatest hero and the man to whom his country repeatedly turned in crises.

My only disappointment in this book, as minor as it is, is that it is so personal that one gets a sense of his times only indirectly. Overall it is a good study of this major historical figure.

An essential read for any history fan (6/7 people found this helpful)

Any amateur history buff will find Wellington: A Personal History a wonderful read. The author has evidently taken the approach of providing an insight into the personal life & character of this great man - very arguably the greatest Briton of all time. And what a fascinating character the "Iron Duke" is. Starting with his tough upbringing in an impoverished minor noble family, this book gives the reader some real sense of the context in which the young Arthur Wellesley developed.

Commissioned into the army as mere "food for powder" (his Mother's own sentiments!), as a young handsome officer Arthur could have easily chosen the temptations of becoming just another "Jack a Dandy" Beau, but instead he grew increasingly aware of his own genius and military ability. Here was a young man who "knew what he was about" and clearly decided to dedicate his energy to the dutiful business of becoming a great military leader. We follow his life's adventures through his army career and then weary of war, his decision to become a great statesman, but essentially this book is about the man himself rather than his achievements; his personal traits & character, his conversation & opinions on all manner of subjects. It's fascinating stuff. If you're interested in Wellington the man, read this book and then visit Stratfield Saye (as I did) - it's the closest you can get to bringing history back to life.

There are some wonderful books on Wellington now available, and this is one of the very best of them.

Well worth reading, very competent synthesis. (7/7 people found this helpful)

When I begin to read a subject one of the first authors that I pick up is the Hibbert book if there is one. It is usually a good summary and a decent reference for other sources. This Wellington book is no different.

The work that Hibbert does is a service to readers , in my opinion, rather than a reflection of any new or deep scholarship on his subjects but it is laudable and useful.

Exhaustive, detailed and absolutely fascinating (7/7 people found this helpful)

This book is quite magnificent. It traces the career of this extraordinary and emblematic figure from his schooldays right the way through to his death. Hibbert's research is most comprehensive and assist one greatly in understanding what drove Wellington in thought and action. The balance of the book is good. Due weight is given to the Peninsula Campaign, Waterloo and the final defeat of Napoleon, but great emphasis is placed on Wellington's domestic life, his unhappy marriage and to India where he made his name. An absorbing insight into the lives of one of the greatest Britons and throughly recommended.

Christopher Hibbert

Reader Reviews:

More than a mere soldier - the 1st Duke of Wellington (38/40 people found this helpful)

Portrait Of A Hero! (4/6 people found this helpful)

An essential read for any history fan (6/7 people found this helpful)

Well worth reading, very competent synthesis. (7/7 people found this helpful)

Exhaustive, detailed and absolutely fascinating (7/7 people found this helpful)

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