Ladies of Waterloo

Three women in days of war


Waterloo Days by Charlotte A. Eaton

A Week at Waterloo by Magdalene de Lancey

Juana's Story by Juana Smith

Waterloo is arguably the most famous battle the world has known. Many books have been written about it and not a few military memoirs have included accounts of it by participants from both sides of the conflict. Commonly, accounts of warfare in the Napoleonic age have been the province of men so this book is decidedly different. Women have been caught up in the maelstrom of war in all ages and the defeat of Napoleon was no exception. Whilst Charlotte Eaton may have been a tourist her 'on the spot' impressions are no less important both as a female perspective and as a resource of information about the momentous events of 1815 regardless of gender. Magdalene De Lancey's book is far more poignant. Very recently married at the time of the battle, her husband William De Lancey was on Wellington's staff. He was tragically serious wounded and it fell to Magdalene to nurse him. Juana Smith, the famous Spanish bride of Harry Smith of the 95th Rifles as usual accompanied her own soldier husband to war and had her own Waterloo adventure which is included here. This is an unusual book of the Napoleonic Wars available from Leonaur in soft cover or hard back with dust jacket for collectors.