Sir Charles Oman's monumental history of the Peninsular War reaches a crucial turning point in this fifth volume. After years of holding the line, the British and Portuguese army, led by the Duke of Wellington, shifts gears. The story here is one of calculated risk and shocking violence.

The Story

This book picks up in October 1811. Wellington knows he can't win by just defending Portugal. He needs to strike into Spain, but two massive French-held fortresses, Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz, block his path. The first half of the book is dominated by the sieges of these cities. Oman doesn't shy away from the details—the failed assaults, the engineering struggles, and the final, horrific stormings where thousands of men fell in a single night. The capture of Badajoz, in particular, is presented as a necessary but deeply tragic victory, followed by a notorious sack of the city by the victorious but enraged British troops.

Meanwhile, the French war effort is unraveling. A huge French army under Marshal Suchet succeeds in capturing Valencia, but it's a hollow victory. Napoleon's insistence on holding every inch of ground leaves his armies isolated and vulnerable. As Wellington advances after taking Badajoz, the French are forced into a long, punishing retreat, losing men and morale with every mile. The stage is set for the bigger battles to come, but this volume is about the hard, dirty work that made those future triumphs possible.

Why You Should Read It

Oman's great strength is making you feel the campaign. You understand Wellington's strategic dilemma: to move forward, he had to sacrifice men in a way that haunted him. The book brilliantly contrasts the focused, disciplined British operations with the sprawling, reactive chaos of the French commands. It also gives a voice to the common soldier—their exhaustion, their courage, and their brutality. This isn't a clean, heroic tale; it's a messy, human one. The relief of finally breaching the walls of Badajoz is immediately tempered by the disgrace of what followed. Oman makes you sit with that complexity.

Final Verdict

This is not a casual introduction. It's for the reader who's already hooked on the Napoleonic era and wants to go deeper. Perfect for history buffs who love operational details and understanding the 'how' behind famous victories. You'll need a basic map of Spain and Portugal handy, and a tolerance for old-fashioned (but wonderfully clear) prose. If you've ever read a summary about Wellington's genius and wanted to know the gritty, costly reality behind it, this volume delivers. It's a masterclass in military history writing that hasn't lost its power.