Who Owned Waterloo?

Who owned Waterloo? covers a great deal of ground in a relatively short space and without ever feeling too compressed. Reynolds writes very well: his prose is lively and free of jargon, so that this is a monograph which can be read for pleasure as well as information. He shows great skill in selecting examples to explore in detail, while never losing sight of the wider picture, and his judgment is confident and convincing. This is an important book which explains a great deal about the way that memories of Waterloo contributed to Britain's understanding of her place in the world in the decades following the battle, and, by implication, how other countries in other times shape their own self-image. * Rory Muir, Napoleonica® the journal *
In this compelling account of cultural appropriation, Luke Reynolds examines the many ways - from public commemorations to battlefield tourism and theatrical productions - by which nineteenth-century Britain claimed the memory of Waterloo as its own as it sought to turn Wellington's victory in the battle into a central plank of British identity. * Alan Forrest, Emeritus Professor of History, University of York *
Narrated in a lively, engaging style, with a sure-handed mastery of its sources, Who Owned Waterloo? marks the debut of an historian of exceptional promise. Luke Reynolds documents an astonishing array of Waterloo tributes and mementoes, making us comprehend how deeply the battlefield victory shaped the British psyche and polity for more than a generation. Not just an important work of history, but a vastly entertaining one. * Ron Chernow, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Alexander Hamilton and Washington: A Life *
This fascinating, thoroughly documented colourful cultural history reveals how, through an army of entrepreneurs and impresarios, civilian Britain embraced and reinvented the military victory at Waterloo. From veterans' memoirs, battlefield tourism and relic exhibitions to spectacular re-enactments, the art of celebration, monuments and merchandise, Waterloo mania and the cult of Wellington forged popular legends that bolstered the self-image of imperial Britain. Beyond a name for rebranded pubs, hotels, squares and terraces, the battle of Waterloo still rages on, in myths that underpin a proud nation's collective identity today. * Julius Bryant, Keeper Emeritus of the Victoria and Albert Museum, Former Director of Museums and Collections at English Heritage, and Director of Apsley House *
Engagingly written, convincingly argued, and laden with valuable insights on Waterloo's legacy, Who Owned Waterloo is an emphatic indication that Reynolds is one to watch in the world of Napoleonic history * Dr Zack White, Host of the Napoleonic Wars Podcast *
Reynolds' enthusiasm for his subject is infectious, and his analysis of the variant ways in which Waterloo was commemorated is intelligent. Although no one man or group could truly claim ownership over Waterloo, during Wellington's lifetime cultural ownership of the battle shifted and spread, and by the time of his death, Reynolds shows us, it had become a truly national phenomenon. * Máire Macneill, British Journal for Military History *
In conclusion, Luke Reynolds has written a notable work...that delves into the historical memory of the symbol that was Waterloo. This author has made a far-ranging contribution to studies of the history of public memory, a less-developed field in 19th century history. * Alberto Cañas de Pablos, Historia y Política *
Who Owned Waterloo? is highly recommended to those with an interest in Waterloo, British history, and identity, but also for anyone interested in the fascinating process of how collective cultural memories are constructed. * George Satterfield, Journal of Military History *