The Long Shadow of Waterloo: Myths Memories and Debates

About this book

The Long Shadow of Waterloo explores how Waterloo was remembered by the various nations involved including the French British Germans the influence it had on these nations (and others including the USA) and how this changed over the 100 years following the battle. The Battle of Waterloo ended a century of war between France and Great Britain and became a key part of their national identity serving their political needs as the battle was refought throughout the 19th century in politics books and art to create the myth of Waterloo. For Great Britain Waterloo became a symbol of British hegemony while the multinational contribution to the battle was downplayed and for France it was remembered as a military disaster. Through looking at the history of the battle over the battles significance in history an insight is gained into how cultural myths and legends about a battle are made. Wellington and Napoleon both tried to shape the memory of the battle to their advantage. Wellington propagated the myth that the British won despite being outnumbered by a huge French army while Napoleon chose to blame his subordinates for the loss in particular Emmanuel de Grouchy. Grouchy spent the next 60 years struggling to defend his honor claiming that Napoleons account of the battle written during his exile at Saint Helena was imaginary and intended to cover Napoleons own mistakes during the campaign. This book covers the battles influence on figures such as Jomini and Clausewitz military theorists who wanted to find the objective truth of Waterloo and use it as a guide for future wars as well as Victor Hugo (and Les Miserables) who challenged the myths of battle to transform it into a win for France from which the Republic would emerge. The way Waterloo was used for entertainment is also explored as battlefield tourists came from all over the world to vicariously experience the legendary battle through visualizations such as the traveling panoramas in England and poetry of Sir Walter Scott. Table of Contents Introduction 1: Making Waterloo 2: Waterloo: Napoleons Myth and Legend 3: Grouchy and Waterloo 4: Jomini and Clausewitz 5: Victor Hugo: Memory and Waterloo 6: Media and Memory of Waterloo Conclusion