A History of the Peninsular War, Vol. 4, Dec. 1810-Dec. 1811: Massena's Retreat, Fuentes De Oñoro, Albuera, Tarragona

The fourth volume of Charles Oman's definitive history captures the Peninsular War at its most pivotal: the moment when Napoleon's seemingly invincible armies began their slow, grinding retreat from Portugal. Oman's meticulous account traces Masséna's disastrous withdrawal from Santarém in the winter of 1810, as Wellington's 'sword of famine' strategy forced the French to abandon their dreams of conquering Portugal. The narrative then unfolds through a remarkable sequence of battles: Wellington's decisive victory at Fuentes de Oñoro, where British infantry held against overwhelming odds; the brutal bloodletting at Albuera, where Beresford's forces clashed with Soult's in one of the war's most terrible engagements; and the series of smaller actions that slowly reversed the strategic momentum. Throughout, Oman demonstrates why he remains the preeminent voice on this conflict: his analysis of troop dispositions, supply difficulties, and the chess game between Wellington and his French opponents reveals the human and strategic dimensions of warfare at its most demanding. For readers seeking to understand how the Napoleonic Empire first began to crack, this volume offers granular detail and analytical depth in equal measure.