In These Times: Living in Britain Through Napoleon’s Wars, 1793-1815
This is a fresh approach to the history of diverse people who lived through the Napoleonic Wars in England from 1798 to 1815, one that draws upon news reports, diary entries, excerpts from letters, contemporary portraits, paintings and engravings of the time, many in color. It is laid out in cleverly titled chapters that let the reader follow a thread of subjects, such as “Bread,” “Land,” and “Private Lives.” There are personal observations from some of the more notable names such as Walter Scott and Lord Byron, but it is the simple, everyday thoughts that are memorialized which are enduring. While Uglow focuses on political and royal personalities, there are many chapters devoted to the heroes – common soldiers and sailors who participated in the wars on land as well as at sea.
I find this historical period compelling since I greatly enjoy the delightful novels of Jane Austen. Uglow’s compilation of firsthand accounts of farmers, daughters, newlyweds, and sailors rounds out the lives of the fictitious characters in Austen’s works. There are descriptions of what people did in the city – the theaters, lectures and organizations doing charitable works – all while the wars raged on far away from everyday life. A wonderful timeline, bibliography, notes, illustrations, and an index are comprehensive – nearly 100 pages. Uglow’s book reflects a well-rounded and extensive body of research, drawing on all parts of society. I would recommend this book to those interested in the history of the Napoleonic Wars.
