Excellent. I particularly like the way she arranged the chapters around themes, not just chronology and included a lot on the lives of the less well-off, the ordinary people. ( )

This is a extremely interesting survey of the British home front during the Napoleonic wars. Different social classes, geographical situations, and political affiliations are separated into individual chapters, but the result is a vibrant mosaic. The strategy is too follow individuals and families through their own (often private) writings. Some of this persons show up again and again as the war progresses and as different aspects of its effects on society are discussed. ( )

Thoroughly good read on a somewhat neglected aspect of the British experience and perspective during the Napoleonic era. Informative concerning all levels of the British social order in the period. ( )

Skilfully done of course, and full of human touches, but a trifle bitty. She ranges from top to bottom of British society but the effect is ultimately a patchwork, like a short story anthology or a roman a lettres. Her "Lunar men" gave a more coherent interlinked story. ( )

The French Revolution, the life of Napoleon and the Napoleonic Wars must be the most written about era of history. Ushering in the modern era, these are times we can relate to most easily and directly; plus, they are full of action, intrigue, politics, hour and engaging derring-do, which also helps. But, how to address this era with a new twist? Jenny Uglow has produced a book that provides that twist an opens up a whole new perspective on these times. This book focuses not on the politics, the military action or the broad historical narrative, but on the lives of ordinary British people through the Napoleonic Wars at all levels of society. Further, she does this through the words - letters, diaries, journals, pamphlets, books - of these individuals. What we get is a remarkable insight into how these people lived their lives, how they reacted to events, how they heard about these events and how they were affected by Britain's involvement in a conflict lasting 22 years. We hear how people benefited from the War, suffered losses, lost loved ones, changed with the times (as people always eventually do), laughed and loved.

The research here is extensive and the selection of texts is just about perfect. ( )