Malplaquet

Belloc, Hilaire, 1870-1953Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.0

Word count: 115K words
Chapters: 12

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Malplaquet by Hilaire BellocAuthor: Belloc, Hilaire, 1870-1953,Language: English, Class: DA: History: General and Eastern Hemisphere: Great Britain, Ireland, Central Europe, Release Date: May 5, 2010

Editor's review

Belloc's Malplaquet focuses on a key battle of the War of the Spanish Succession. It is short but bears the author's distinctive style of historical argument. Its value lies in discussing the battle within its strategic and political context rather than merely listing the course of combat; readers can feel the author's engagement with military decisions and judgments of the situation. For readers who want to understand the European war landscape of the early eighteenth century, this is a book that gets to the subject quickly. Note that it belongs to older-style historical writing: the narrative carries personal bias and lacks the detailed notes and source criticism of modern academic works. It is best read as one man's commentary on a battle, not as a neutral, comprehensive textbook of military history. Suitable for readers interested in military history who are willing to read with a critical eye.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in the War of the Spanish Succession or eighteenth-century European military history
Readers who want to understand Belloc's style of historical writing
Military history enthusiasts who need a short book that gets quickly to the battle
Advanced readers accustomed to older-style historical argument who can judge its views for themselves

Not a good fit for

Military researchers who need detailed battle data, maps, and source notes
Beginners hoping for a neutral, comprehensive textbook of military history
Readers entirely unfamiliar with early modern European history and lacking basic context

Reading tips

Before reading, learn the basic background of the War of the Spanish Succession to place the battle in context
Mark the author's judgmental statements as you read, distinguishing factual statements from personal commentary
Consult maps of Malplaquet's location and surrounding terrain to strengthen spatial understanding
After finishing, compare with other military histories to test whether the author's views hold up

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book a complete textbook of military history?

No. The material shows it is a historical work about the Battle of Malplaquet, limited in length and colored by the author's personal historical argument. It is better suited as topical reading or supplementary material than as a systematic, comprehensive textbook of military history.

Can I read it without a background in military history?

Yes, but it is advisable first to learn the basic outline of the War of the Spanish Succession and its main participants; otherwise the battle's background may feel remote. With that grounding, the author's discussion of strategic decisions is easier to follow.

Are the author's views objective?

Belloc belongs to the older school of historical writing, and his narrative carries clear personal bias and judgment. Read with a critical eye and treat the book's views as one man's opinion rather than accepting them uncritically.

What kind of reading does the electronic edition suit?

As a public-domain e-book, it is easy to search and carry, and suits reading in segments during commutes or short breaks. Because it covers the course of a battle, it is best read alongside a map or notes, sorting out the timeline and the actions of each side as you go.

Comments

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About the author

Belloc, Hilaire, 1870-1953 Author

Hilaire Belloc (1870–1953) was an English writer whose prolific output spanned poetry, history, and travel writing. The library holds 26 of his works, covering a wide range of subjects: travel essays such as The Path to Rome, which records the sights and reflections of a walking pilgrimage; humorous verse for children, including Cautionary Tales for Children, The Bad Child's Book of Beasts, and A Moral Alphabet, known for their playful language and sharp satire; and historical studies of battles such as Crécy, Poitiers, Malplaquet, and Tourcoing, which emphasize narrative and detail. His style is distinctive, often blending humor, epigram, and personal judgment. Public information is limited, so biographical details are omitted, yet these works already show his ease across genres and the enduring appeal of his writing.