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9780233050836

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Tied into the British TV Channel 5 documentary series of the same name, this book casts new light on seven of the most famous battlefields in history. A team of experts explain some of the perplexing events that have puzzled everyone interested in military affairs over the last thousand years.

Revisionism of long-cherished beliefs seems to be obligatory these days, but here at least we have plenty of evidence to back up the demolition job. TV documentary producer David Wason re-examines seven famous battles, ranging from Hastings to Gallipoli, and explains why our notions about them are flawed. To back up his arguments he uses the latest technology and experts from psychologists to archaeologists, metal detectorists to military masterminds. Written to accompany a Channel 5 documentary series, the book shows first how the myths arose and then goes on to illustrate in words and pictures just what the reality must have been. As a result we are forced to revise what we thought we knew about the Battle of Hastings, about Agincourt, the Spanish Armada, Waterloo, the Charge of the Light Brigade, Little Bighorn and Gallipoli. The new versions of events are in some ways often more mundane than the old, but a lot of anomalies are cleared up. Wason shows in lucid style why the 'official' tales do not stand up to scrutiny, and in some cases reveals that the true heroes were people the history books hardly mention. For instance, we learn that the Light Brigade story of the Crimean War has been grossly exaggerated, that fewer than a quarter of the famous 600 really died, and that too little credit has been given to Turkish soldiers who played the most significant part in that day's action. And was Wellington really the towering figure at Waterloo that we have been led to believe? Maybe not. Wason's style is informative and his research sources seem impeccable. This is an excellent rethink of some of the turning points in history. (Kirkus UK)

Author Information

David Wason was a producer for Granada factual programmes until his retirement in 2002.

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