Experiences of War in Europe and the Americas, 1792-1815: The War of the West

Description

This work seeks to offer a new way of viewing the French Wars of 1792-1815. Most studies of this period offer international, political, and military analyses using the French Revolution and Napoleon as the prime mover. But this book focuses on military and civilian responses to French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars, throughout the rest of Europe and the Americas. It shows how the unprecedented mobilization of this era forged a generation of soldiers and civilians sharing a common experience of suffering, bequeathing the West with a new veteran sensibility. Using a range of sources, especially memoirs, this book reveals the adventure and suffering confronting ordinary soldiers campaigning in Europe and the Americas, and the burdens imposed on civilians enduring rising and falling empires across the West. It also reveals how the wars liberated slaves, serfs, and common people through revolutions and insurgencies. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Contents Preface and Acknowledgements Timeline of major events 1. Introduction 2. Context of the French Revolution and the Art of War 3. Living with Campaigning 4. Living with Armies 5. Living with Empires 6. Living with Insurrection 7. Conclusion Sources and bibliography Index