Napoleon's Cursed War

Resumen del libro

In this definitive account of the Peninsular War (1808 14), Napoleon's six-year war against Spain, Ronald Fraser examines what led to the emperor's devastating defeat against the popular opposition the guerrillas and their British and Portuguese allies. As well as relating the histories of the great political and military figures of the war, Fraser brings to life the anonymous masses the artisans, peasants and women who fought, suffered and died and restores their role in this barbaric war to its rightful place while overturning the view that this was a straightforward military campaign. This vivid, meticulously researched book offers a distinct and profound vision of Napoleon's Vietnam and shows the reality of the disasters of war: the suffering, discontents and social upheaval that accompanied the fighting.

Biografía del autor

Ronald Fraser (Hamburgo, 1930 x{0026} x02013; Valencia, 2012) fue uno de los grandes historiadores de nuestro tiempo. Formado en Gran Bretaña, Estados Unidos y Suiza, fue profesor visitante de historia contemporánea de España e historia oral en la Universidad de California, Los Ángeles. Entre sus libros destacan Mijas. República, guerra, franquismo en un pueblo andaluz (1985), Recuérdalo tú y recuérdalo a otros (1979) -convertido en un clásico sobre la guerra civil española- Escondido. El calvario de Manuel Cortés (2006) y La maldita guerra de España Historia social de la Guerra de la Independencia, 1808-1814 (2006).