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This second volume of Bryant’s series on the Napoleonic era was published in 1945 (commonly given as 1944, but he mentions “the events of 1939-1945” in his preface), and he has no qualms about drawing a parallel to Britain’s experience in WWII with its experience of the Napoleonic Wars. Unlike some who would bring up something like this several times over the course of the book, Bryant merely mentions it in his preface, and lets the history he writes stand on its own.

Having left off with the Peace of Amiens in The Years of Endurance, this volume starts with a look at England in 1802, and all the tourism to France that happened in the months of peace. This is an English-centric history, so while it does cover the various wars on the continent for a decade, it is largely concerned with what England was doing. The end of the book is naturally concerned with the Peninsular War, and ends with the fall of Ciudad Rodrigo.

Once again, this is well written, and the translation from print to electronic format in the Endeavour Press edition left it in pretty good shape. It’s a good book to read as part of a more rounded set of lighter books on the period, as it does leave out a lot with its English focus.