[Latimer] is particularly good at establishing the complicated connections between the negotiations that ended the war in America and the wider European peace settlement.--Stephen Conway "Times Literary Supplement" (3/7/2008 12:00:00 AM) An exhaustive reassessment of a war neither side really won.-- "Kirkus Reviews" (7/15/2007 12:00:00 AM) In this welcome British perspective to the canon of research on the War of 1812, Latimer convincingly debunks the popular myth that this was a second war of independence and a total victory for the United States...The financial deficiencies, administrative mishaps, and military mistakes on both sides are examined in thorough detail, making for a balanced and enlightening account.--Douglas King "Library Journal" (9/1/2007 12:00:00 AM) Latimer promises and delivers a comprehensive investigation of the War of 1812 from a British perspective. What Latimer has provided is a densely detailed and balanced study. He examines the issues from the perspectives of all participants: Americans, Britons, Canadians, and Indians. His approach is broad, weaving political, diplomatic, financial, social, military, and naval activities into a coherent whole. His work is buttressed by the skillful use of the best scholarship and is further supported by extensive personal accounts of the participants which contribute to an already engaging style.--Richard V. Barbuto "Journal of Military History" (4/1/2008 12:00:00 AM) Of all the books I've consumed on the War of 1812, Jon Latimer's 1812: War with America has got to be the best...It is the most comprehensive narrative of the war you're likely to find.--Hans Werner "Toronto Star" (11/11/2007 12:00:00 AM) The history of the war has been written mainly by Americans. Jon Latimer has now provided a full account, mainly from the British standpoint and often using British sources hitherto disregarded by American historians. It is a very credible effort and a substantial volume...The fact is the war of 1812, which Latimer describes so well, taught both Britain and America that war between them was futile and shameful.--Paul Johnson "Literary Review" (10/1/2007 12:00:00 AM) This insightful and comprehensive study of the War of 1812 is particularly valuable because it presents that conflict from the perspective of America's enemy. Latimer's British point of view--in which he sees the war as a subset of the war with Napoleon, rather than the separate conflict we often view it as--may not be wholly appreciated by U.S. readers. But this impressively researched and well-written account is a fascinating revelation that serves as an excellent mirror in which to study ourselves.--Thomas J. Cutler "Proceedings" (5/1/2008 12:00:00 AM) This is a history of the War of 1812 written from the British perspective, using the personal letters, diaries, and memoirs of the generals, admirals, politicians, plus the ordinary soldiers, seamen, and civilians caught up in the conflict. It is a comprehensive and fast-paced narrative that brings the conflict vividly to life, from its causes than emanated from the Napoleonic War in Europe, to the conclusion of peace in 1814...1812: War with America is a comprehensible and very readable account of the conflict. By examining the story from the British perspective, the author places the war within its global context as perceived by Great Britain at the time. As such, it is a very valuable addition to any library on this subject.--Paul Chamberlain "First Empire" Many books have been written about the War of 1812 in the last few years, but none quite like Jon Latimer's 1812: War with America . The author of histories of British arms in the Burma and North African campaigns in World War II, Latimer has written the first book on the the War of 1812 from the British perspective since nearly two centuries ago. The result is a thorough and elegantly written account that squarely places the conflict in the context of the Napoleonic Wars... 1812: War with America covers all aspects of the conflict, including diplomacy, finances, atrocities perpetrated by and against the Indians, the naval campaigns at sea and on the Great Lakes, and the land campaigns in the Old Northwest, the South, and Canada... With wit and pathos, [Latimer] has drawn wonderful capsule sketches of the participants, and his staggering research as led to illuminating first-hand accounts of marches and battles from leading generals to lowly sergeants... 1812: War with America is a detailed study of a still-obscure war from the British perspective, insightful, written with panache, and backed by massive research.--Frederick C. Leiner, United States Naval Institute
Many books have been written about the War of 1812 in the last few years, but none quite like Jon Latimer's 1812: War with America . The author of histories of British arms in the Burma and North African campaigns in World War II, Latimer has written the first book on the the War of 1812 from the British perspective since nearly two centuries ago. The result is a thorough and elegantly written account that squarely places the conflict in the context of the Napoleonic Wars... 1812: War with America covers all aspects of the conflict, including diplomacy, finances, atrocities perpetrated by and against the Indians, the naval campaigns at sea and on the Great Lakes, and the land campaigns in the Old Northwest, the South, and Canada... With wit and pathos, [Latimer] has drawn wonderful capsule sketches of the participants, and his staggering research as led to illuminating first-hand accounts of marches and battles from leading generals to lowly sergeants... 1812: War with America is a detailed study of a still-obscure war from the British perspective, insightful, written with panache, and backed by massive research.
The history of the war has been written mainly by Americans. Jon Latimer has now provided a full account, mainly from the British standpoint and often using British sources hitherto disregarded by American historians. It is a very credible effort and a substantial volume...The fact is the war of 1812, which Latimer describes so well, taught both Britain and America that war between them was futile and shameful.
Literary Review - Paul Johnson
This is a history of the War of 1812 written from the British perspective, using the personal letters, diaries, and memoirs of the generals, admirals, politicians, plus the ordinary soldiers, seamen, and civilians caught up in the conflict. It is a comprehensive and fast-paced narrative that brings the conflict vividly to life, from its causes than emanated from the Napoleonic War in Europe, to the conclusion of peace in 1814...1812: War with America is a comprehensible and very readable account of the conflict. By examining the story from the British perspective, the author places the war within its global context as perceived by Great Britain at the time. As such, it is a very valuable addition to any library on this subject.
First Empire - Paul Chamberlain
Of all the books I've consumed on the War of 1812, Jon Latimer's 1812: War with America has got to be the best...It is the most comprehensive narrative of the war you're likely to find.
Toronto Star - Hans Werner
Latimer promises and delivers a comprehensive investigation of the War of 1812 from a British perspective. What Latimer has provided is a densely detailed and balanced study. He examines the issues from the perspectives of all participants: Americans, Britons, Canadians, and Indians. His approach is broad, weaving political, diplomatic, financial, social, military, and naval activities into a coherent whole. His work is buttressed by the skillful use of the best scholarship and is further supported by extensive personal accounts of the participants which contribute to an already engaging style.
Journal of Military History - Richard V. Barbuto
This insightful and comprehensive study of the War of 1812 is particularly valuable because it presents that conflict from the perspective of America’s enemy. Latimer’s British point of view—in which he sees the war as a subset of the war with Napoleon, rather than the separate conflict we often view it as—may not be wholly appreciated by U.S. readers. But this impressively researched and well-written account is a fascinating revelation that serves as an excellent mirror in which to study ourselves.
Proceedings - Thomas J. Cutler
[Latimer] is particularly good at establishing the complicated connections between the negotiations that ended the war in America and the wider European peace settlement.
Times Literary Supplement - Stephen Conway
any books have been written about the War of 1812 in the last few years, but none quite like Jon Latimer’s 1812: War with America . The author of histories of British arms in the Burma and North African campaigns in World War II, Latimer has written the first book on the the War of 1812 from the British perspective since nearly two centuries ago. The result is a thorough and elegantly written account that squarely places the conflict in the context of the Napoleonic Wars...1812: War with America covers all aspects of the conflict, including diplomacy, finances, atrocities perpetrated by and against the Indians, the naval campaigns at sea and on the Great Lakes, and the land campaigns in the Old Northwest, the South, and Canada...With wit and pathos, [Latimer] has drawn wonderful capsule sketches of the participants, and his staggering research as led to illuminating first-hand accounts of marches and battles from leading generals to lowly sergeants...1812: War with America is a detailed study of a still-obscure was from the British perspective, insightful, written with panache, and backed by massive research. Frederick C. Leiner
United States Naval Institute
This is a history of the War of 1812 written from the British perspective, using the personal letters, diaries, and memoirs of the generals, admirals, politicians, plus the ordinary soldiers, seamen, and civilians caught up in the conflict. It is a comprehensive and fast-paced narrative that brings the conflict vividly to life, from its causes than emanated from the Napoleonic War in Europe, to the conclusion of peace in 1814...1812: War with America is a comprehensible and very readable account of the conflict. By examining the story from the British perspective, the author places the war within its global context as perceived by Great Britain at the time. As such, it is a very valuable addition to any library on this subject. Paul Chamberlain
This insightful and comprehensive study of the War of 1812 is particularly valuable because it presents that conflict from the perspective of America’s enemy. Latimer’s British point of view—in which he sees the war as a subset of the war wit Napoleon, rather tha as the separate conflict we often view it as—may not be wholly appreciated by U.S. readers. But this impressively researched and well-written account is a fascinating revelation that serves as an excellent mirror in which to study ourselves.
Thomas J. Cutler
Latimer promises and delivers a comprehensive investigation of the War of 1812 from a British perspective. What Latimer has provided is a densely detailed and balanced study. He examines the issues from the perspectives of all participants: Americans, Britons, Canadians, and Indians. His approach is broad, weaving political, diplomatic, financial, social, military, and naval activities into a coherent whole. His work is buttressed by the skillful use of the best scholarship and is further supported by extensive personal accounts of the participants which contribute to an already engaging style.
Richard V. Barbuto
Journal of Military History
[Latimer] is particularly good at establishing the complicated connections between the negotiations that ended the war in America and the wider European peace settlement. Stephen Conway
Times Literary Supplement
Of all the books I've consumed on the War of 1812, Jon Latimer's 1812: War with America has got to be the best...It is the most comprehensive narrative of the war you're likely to find. Hans Werner
The history of the war has been written mainly by Americans. Jon Latimer has now provided a full account, mainly from the British standpoint and often using British sources hitherto disregarded by American historians. It is a very credible effort and a substantial volume...The fact is the war of 1812, which Latimer describes so well, taught both Britain and America that war between them was futile and shameful. Paul Johnson
British military historian Latimer (Burma: The Forgotten War, 2004, etc.) provides a blow-by-blow study of this still vaguely understood conflict. Known primarily for inspiring Francis Scott Key to write "The Star Spangled Banner," the War of 1812 was a hugely convoluted affair. The hostility between England and the United States, both still smarting from the War for Independence, was exacerbated by the British perception that the Jefferson and Madison administrations were pro-French, by American land lust and by such maritime grievances as the Royal Navy's impressment of U.S. sailors. Latimer takes the English point of view that America's goal was to overrun Canada. Markets were depressed from 1808 to 1812, and trade was of first importance to the fledgling U.S. government. Jefferson believed the conquest of Canada "a mere matter of marching," first to Montreal and from there to take control of the Great Lakes. With England preoccupied by Bonaparte's conquests in Europe, Canada was left to raise its own means of defense under Colonel Isaac Brock and governor-in-chief George Prevost. The British enlisted the help of Indian leaders such as Tenskwatawa and his brother Tecumseh, while Brock successfully resisted the American invasion at the Battle of Queenston Heights. American privateers took to sea and wreaked havoc on Royal Navy vessels, as Latimer demonstrates in one dizzying chapter. He explores in painstaking detail the campaigns on the lakes and the frontier, the raids and blockades; he looks carefully at the defining battles of Plattsburgh and New Orleans, as well as the burning and ransacking of Washington by the British in 1814. In the end, no one was quite sure what it was allabout, but the net result was to strengthen Canadian nationalism. An exhaustive reassessment of a war neither side really won.