The Battle of Waterloo marks an event that changed the fate of Europe irrevocably. Beautifully illustrated, it includes reproductions of contemporary letters and documents, and offers a compelling new treatment of the Hundred Days campaign that finally ended the career of Napoleon. One of history's greatest military commanders, Napoleon escaped from exile on the island of Elba. So began the Hundred Days, a campaign that reached a climax on 18 June 1815, when almost 200,000 Prussian, British and French soldiers clashed at Waterloo. Each stage of the build-up to this decisive battle is carefully described, from the escape to the preparations for war. The organization and equipment of the opposing armies is explained, along with the career and personality of their commanders (Blücher, Wellington and Napoleon himself). A topography of the battlefield complements a description of the fighting, which culminated in the rout of Napoleon's Imperial Guard, an elite unit that had never experienced defeat. Concluding with an examination of the consequences for the politics of Europe, The Battle of Waterloo is a detailed and visually stunning companion to one of history's most decisive battles.