Foreword by His Grace The Duke of Marlborough

It is the sense of realism in this book which strikes me. Not only does James Falkner give a detailed and accurate account of the progress of the War of the Spanish Succession but his frequent inclusion of eye-witness reports invests his account with a vividness, drama and humanity which at times verge on the painful. The events of 300 years ago seem to unfold before our eyes:

‘Each discharge of the cannons stretched some of my men on the ground. I suffered agonies by seeing these brave fellows perish without a chance of defending themselves – but it is absolutely necessary that they should not move from their posts.’

Thus, Colonel De La Colonie describes his French infantry on the slopes of the Schellenberg exposed to the Allied artillery; we are sharply aware in real terms of that worst of military dilemmas – the need to accept casualties.

However, while basing his story on eye-witness accounts the author astutely recognises that contemporary interpretations are not necessarily the best interpretations and so he skilfully weaves these accounts into his own substantial, detailed and accurate narrative.

The actual eye-witness accounts are drawn from wide-ranging resources. In describing the events of the Battle of Blenheim alone James Falkner weaves into his story current descriptions and judgements from over twenty contemporary sources, thirteen from the Allied side and eight from the French.

There is an equally wide range in terms of rank, from the highest to the lowest on both sides, from Marshal Tallard to Private John Dean of the Foot Guards.

This book creates a welcome degree of understanding beyond mere historical narrative and I recommend it.