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by F. W. O. Maycock (Author), Hilaire Belloc (Author)
An Outline of Marlborough's Campaigns & The Battle of Blenheim
'Corporal' John Churchill's finest military triumphs
Even before the commencement of the eighteenth century, the low-lying tract of country enclosed between the French frontier, the Meuse and the North Sea had fully established its unenviable reputation as 'The Cockpit of Europe.' Great Britain, France, Spain and Holland fought out their differences on its fertile well-watered plains, without regard to the misery they inflicted on the unfortunate inhabitants. The 'Low Countries' had long been the training-ground of the British Army and the school in which its officers had learned the art of war. First making its appearance, more or less unofficially, in support of the Dutch in their heroic efforts to free themselves from the Spanish yoke, Great Britain had then aided France in her conflict with Spain and had been finally drawn into the long and deadly struggle waged by William III. to protect the United Provinces from the aggression of Louis XIV. This was the stage upon which the great Duke of Marlborough led his army from victory to victory during the hard-fought campaigns of the War of the Spanish Succession. The names of those battles, - Blenheim, Ramillies, Oudenarde and Malplaquet -contested during this period, became iconic and adorn the flags of famous regiments. They made a national hero of the commander of those soldiers and cemented his reputation as one of the most accomplished generals in his nation's history. Maycock's readable and excellent work, written from an academic military perspective is enhanced by Belloc's brilliant analysis of Blenheim taken from his 'Battles' series.
Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.
