Waterloo.

To write a historical novel of high-calibre requires meticulous research and Bernard Cornwell has amassed a wealth of knowledge which he puts to good use in this fascinating look at one of the most famous battles in history, which this year marks the anniversary of its bi-centenary. He explains in his own unique style how the armies clashed and what the aims of each commander were. He also highlights facts which other histories often overlook, such as the body of a French cavalryman who turns out to be a woman, how Allied artillery fired on one another and Prince William of Orange, whose incompetency got many men killed. If one ignores the author’s tendency to repeat himself, this is a very good book on a subject which will see many more titles this year alone.