Redcoat

Redcoat is the brilliant story of the common British soldier from 1700 to 1900, based on the letters and diaries of the men who served and the women who followed them.

Delving into the history of the period – charting events including Wolfe's victory and death at Quebec, Wellington's Peninsular War, Waterloo, the retreat from Kabul and the Sikh wars – celebrated military historian Richard Holmes provides a comprehensive portrait of a fallible but extraordinarily successful fighting force.

Reviews

'Redcoat is a wonderful book, full of anecdote and good sense. Anyone who has enjoyed a Sharpe story will love it, anyone who likes history will want to own it and anyone who cherishes good writing will read it with pleasure.' Bernard Cornwell, Daily Mail

'Military history at its enthralling best.' Mail on Sunday, Books of the Year

‘It would be hard to exaggerate the excellence of this book. It is vivid, comprehensive, well written, pacy, colourful, and above all, highly informative.’ Simon Heffer, Literary Review

'A moving history of footsloggers in the age of muskets and floggings.' Boyd Tonkin, Independent, Books of the Year

‘This is an army from another world, and Redcoat is a splendidly entertaining and informative description of its strengths and foibles.’ Hew Strachan, Daily Telegraph

‘Professor Holmes brings great gifts to his task: fine scholarship, the smooth blending of narrative and analysis, and also sufficient humour and irony … the result is an enthralling book.’ Denis Judd, Independent

About the author

Richard Holmes was one of Britain’s most successful historians and television presenters. Author of the best-selling Tommy, Redcoat and Wellington: The Iron Duke, he has also written and presented television series for the BBC. As well as serving in the TA, he taught military history at Sandhurst and, latterly, as Professor of Military and Security Studies at Cranfield University and the Royal Military College of Science. Richard Holmes died suddenly on 30 April 2011 from pneumonia, aged 65.