A Narrative of the Political and Military Events of 1815, James M'Queen, Glasgow 1816
An extensive contemporary account of the extraordinary political and military events of 1815, written and published immediately following Napoleon's return from Elba and final defeat. M'Queen traces the Hundred Days from Napoleon's landing in France and march upon Paris through the renewed European conflict, with substantial accounts of the battles of Ligny, Quatre Bras and Waterloo, the retreat and pursuit of the French army, the entry of the Allies into Paris and Napoleon's second abdication. The narrative continues through the restoration of Louis XVIII, Napoleon's surrender and removal to St Helena, and the diplomatic and political settlement which followed the campaign. Published in Glasgow in 1816, the work was intended as a continuation of M'Queen's earlier history of the campaigns of 1812-1814.
A Narrative of the Political and Military Events of 1815; Intended to Complete the Narrative of the Campaigns of 1812, 1813, and 1814, by James M'Queen.
Printed by Edward Khull & Co. for W. Sommerville, A. Fullarton, J. Blackie & Co., Booksellers, Glasgow, 1816. First edition, Sommerville, Fullarton & Blackie issue, with an engraved portrait frontispiece of Napoleon Bonaparte. Another issue of the same first edition appeared with the imprint “Printed for the Author” and sold by John Smith & Son.
A good hardback in contemporary half leather with marbled paper-covered boards. Gilt rules and title to spine, with blind-stamped decorative tooling. Covers with general rubbing, scuffing and bumping, with wear to the board edges and corners. Joints rubbed. Endpapers cracked at the inner hinges; the front board remains attached but is fragile and should be handled with care. The text block itself remains soundly bound.
The engraved portrait frontispiece of Napoleon is present and in very good order. Text is generally very good, overall clean and bright, with some spotting to the endpapers and title-page spread and occasional light usage marks elsewhere. Previous owner's signature to first free blank endpaper. The final Errata leaf is present.
A scarce contemporary account of the Waterloo campaign and the political upheavals surrounding Napoleon's final defeat.
Text in English.
vi + 573pp + (1) Errata, with engraved portrait frontispiece of Napoleon.
Dimensions: approximately 216mm high x 137mm wide x 36mm deep.
Weight: approximately 732g (unpacked).