"Peninsular War: The Spanish Perspective" Topic

"The Peninsular War has been extensively studied by British historians for decades, even centuries, but the Spanish contribution to the conflict, which was fundamental to the defeat of Napoleon's armies, has been largely relegated to minor role. This book is an attempt to rebalance our understanding of the campaign in Iberia, written by a Spanish historian and translated into English for the first time.

The book does not attempt to minimise the problems the Spanish experienced nor the catastrophic defeats suffered by the Spanish Army, but the reasons for these setbacks are viewed and analysed from the Spanish viewpoint.

With the finest elements of the Spanish Army serving with the French forces in Denmark, Spain was virtually undefended when Napoleon's armies marched into the Iberian Peninsula. New armies had to be raised virtually from scratch to fight the invader in a country where, as the Duke of Wellington remarked, small armies were beaten and large armies starved. The logistical and political difficulties faced by the Spaniards are fully explored and explained…"

link

Armand

Although it is always interesting to see a different point of view, sadly, judging by the reviews so far, it does not look as if this title will offer enough or fulfil any expectations based on what it boasts to contain and be about.

With the finest elements of the Spanish Army serving with the French forces in Denmark, Spain was virtually undefended when Napoleon's armies marched into the Iberian Peninsula.

"with the finest elements of the Spanish Army in Denmark"

- that is to say only 14 battalions of near 200 –
If 'finest elements' are only simple units taken among line regiments and light battalions, I wonder what can be Royal Guards…

"Spain was virtually undefended (!?) when Napoleon's armies marched into the Iberian Peninsula" (!?)

occulting the hard fact that the French Army was already in the Peninsula and French troops welcomed as allied to the Spanish Army for the invasion and occupation of Portugal and second war against this country in 7 years

weird introduction but quite representative of the spanish perspective indeed

Glup!…

Armand

In still might be interesting to hear the viewpoint of an Spanish author, so if the price drops I might just give it a go.

Best of luck my good friend…

Armand

I'm about half way through it at the moment. It's an interesting read but sadly not particularly detailed and each battle is covered in 4 to 10 pages.

Very interesting. Judging by the info available I did not think the actions covered would contain half that many pages for each action. Just need the price to drop and I might be tempted!