The Longest Afternoon, Brendan Simms
The Longest Afternoon, Brendan Simms
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The Longest Afternoon
The 400 Men Who Decided the Battle of Waterloo

Author: Brendan Simms

Narrator: Michael Page

Unabridged: 3 hr 8 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 02/10/2015

Synopsis

In 1815, the deposed emperor Napoleon returned to France and threatened the already devastated and exhausted continent with yet another war. Near the small Belgian municipality of Waterloo, two large, hastily mobilized armies faced each other to decide the future of Europe—Napoleon's forces on one side, and the Duke of Wellington on the other.



With so much at stake, neither commander could have predicted that the battle would be decided by the Second Light Battalion, King's German Legion, which was given the deceptively simple task of defending the Haye Sainte farmhouse, a crucial crossroads on the way to Brussels. In The Longest Afternoon, Brendan Simms recounts how these four-hundred-odd riflemen beat back wave after wave of French infantry until they were finally forced to withdraw, but only after holding up Napoleon for so long that he lost the overall contest. Their actions alone decided the most influential battle in European history.

About Brendan Simms

Brendan Simms is a professor of the history of international relations and a fellow at Peterhouse College, Cambridge. He is the author of Unfinest Hour, Three Victories and a Defeat, and Europe, which was shortlisted for the Lionel Gelber Prize. Brendan lives in Cambridge, England.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Larry on March 15, 2015

The first day of Waterloo (Quattre Bras) was a tactical surprise for the Allies. Driven back by Napoleon's attack, Allied forces fell back in near disorder. This short book is a microhistory of the second day's key position—one that saved the Allies from losing the larger battle. The key position wa......more

Goodreads review by Myke on March 23, 2015

This is a fascinating and impeccably researched account of the valiant action at La Haye Sainte. The author is incredibly even-handed, and steers clear of the temptation to lionize the men who held on despite such incredible odds. He is likewise careful not to lionize the conflict overall, and shows......more

Goodreads review by Jim on April 18, 2021

A good short piece of military history focusing on the heroic stand of German light infantry in the face of superior forces and their fight to hold up French advances into the center at the Battle of Waterloo. I always enjoy reading about these tyoes of stands. You wonder if you'd have the stuff to......more

Goodreads review by Richard on June 16, 2022

Excellent account of the defence of the farm of La Haye Sainte at the battle of Waterloo by the King's German Legion reinforced by other allied troops during the day. Well-written and engaging. Gave me a different appreciation of some aspects of the battle. Could have done with a couple more maps, i......more

Goodreads review by Andrew on January 17, 2022

Bought for me as a present a while ago and I needed a quick read to hit my target for 2021! A very short account of the fighting at as farmhouse in the middle of the Battle of Waterloo. Nice information on the battle with excellent use of evidence. Interesting thoughts on how Waterloo is remembered......more

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