Wellington’s Voice. The Candid Letters of Lieutenant Colonel John Fremantle, Coldstream Guards, 1808–1837

John Fremantle was on Wellington's personal staff through the later years of the Peninsular War and Waterloo campaigns.

He had a uniquely privileged view of the general and tells of his exploits – good and bad. The letters were written to his uncle, who was effectively his guardian, an army man and no shrinking violet.

Fremantle deals with military matters in detail and gives a great insight into Wellington's honest views of matters – not the sanitized diplomatic versions Wellington allowed to be published in later life. He also talks a great deal about the personalities in ‘Wellington's family' and the 'Great Man', giving very honest, forthright views of their strengths and failings and brings many little-known incidents to light.

An exposé of what life was like working with Wellington and an honest portrait of the man warts and all – this is a truly remarkable find and will certainly cause debate in the Napoleonic community.

Gareth Glover is a former Royal Navy officer and military historian who has made a special study of the Napoleonic Wars for the last 30 years.