Barney White-Spunner – författare

'My only complaint is that it was so fascinating I wish it had been longer. What a story!' Philip ManselBERLIN is Europe’s most fascinating and exciting city. The great movements that have shaken Europe, from the Reformation to Marxism, have their origins in Berlin’s streets.With its unique dialect, exceptional museums, experimental cultural scene, its liberated social life and its honest approach to its history, it is as challenging a city as it is absorbing. Too often Berlin is seen through the prism of Nazism and its role on the front line in the Cold War. Important, frightening and interesting as those periods are, its history starts much earlier.Telling the story of its people and its rulers, from its medieval origins to the present day, this is a fascinating and informative history of an extraordinary city.

Publishing to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, for the first time a modern British history tells the story of the against-the-odds triumph through the accounts of the regimental officers and soldiers whose bravery and resolution achieved victory. The author has used many unpublished sources, letters and diaries of ordinary British soldiers, in the vein of Stephen Ambrose''s highly successful Band of Brothers.. With a concise, fast-moving account covering, ex-Commander of the British Army Barney White-Spunner tells the story through the experiences of those who fought there and their families, offering his unique perspective on the events. The story focuses on mens'' personal feelings and their relationships, with each other, their families, their leaders and their enemies. It tells the stories of their lives, what they had left behind and why and what they went back to. It vividly captures their daily routine, their life in camp and how they fought at first hand, their fear, excitement and exhaustion. The Battle of Waterloo was one of the most significant ever fought by a British army, but it was also one of the most bloody with about 50,000 men losing their lives over three days. What was it like for those who fought and for their families waiting at home? This is their story.

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER‘Stands out for its judicious and unsparing look at events from a British perspective’ Dominic Sandbrook, Sunday TimesBetween January and August 1947 the conflicting political, religious and social tensions in India culminated in independence from Britain and the creation of Pakistan; in Partition, Barney White-Spunner shines a light on those turbulent months. This period saw the end of ninety years of the British Raj, and the effective power of the Maharajahs, as the Congress Party established itself, commanding a democratic government in Delhi. It also witnessed the rushed creation of Pakistan as a country in two halves whose capitals were 2000 kilometres apart. From September to December 1947 the euphoria surrounding independence dissipated into shame and incrimination; nearly one million people died and countless more lost their homes and their livelihoods as partition was realised. The events of those months would dictate the history of South Asia for the next seventy years, leading to three wars, countless acts of terrorism, polarisation around the Cold War powers and to two nations with millions living in poverty spending disproportionate amounts on their military. The legacy of decisions taken that year still continues. Those at the centre became some of the most enduring characters of the twentieth century. Gandhi and Nehru enjoyed almost saint-like status in India, and still do, while Jinnah is lionised in Pakistan. The British cast, from Churchill to Attlee and Mountbatten, find their contribution praised and damned in equal measure. Yet it is not only the national players whose stories fascinate. Many ordinary people who witnessed the events of that year are still alive and have a clear recollection of the excitement and the horror.Illustrating the story of 1947 with their experiences, Partition brings this terrible era for the Indian subcontinent vividly to life.

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER‘Stands out for its judicious and unsparing look at events from a British perspective’ Dominic Sandbrook, Sunday TimesBetween January and August 1947 the conflicting political, religious and social tensions in India culminated in independence from Britain and the creation of Pakistan; in Partition, Barney White-Spunner shines a light on those turbulent months.This period saw the end of ninety years of the British Raj, and the effective power of the Maharajahs, as the Congress Party established itself, commanding a democratic government in Delhi. It also witnessed the rushed creation of Pakistan as a country in two halves whose capitals were 2000 kilometres apart.From September to December 1947 the euphoria surrounding independence dissipated into shame and incrimination; nearly one million people died and countless more lost their homes and their livelihoods as partition was realised. The events of those months would dictate the history of South Asia for the next seventy years, leading to three wars, countless acts of terrorism, polarisation around the Cold War powers and to two nations with millions living in poverty spending disproportionate amounts on their military. The legacy of decisions taken that year still continues.Those at the centre became some of the most enduring characters of the twentieth century. Gandhi and Nehru enjoyed almost saint-like status in India, and still do, while Jinnah is lionised in Pakistan. The British cast, from Churchill to Attlee and Mountbatten, find their contribution praised and damned in equal measure. Yet it is not only the national players whose stories fascinate. Many ordinary people who witnessed the events of that year are still alive and have a clear recollection of the excitement and the horror.Illustrating the story of 1947 with their experiences, Partition brings this terrible era for the Indian subcontinent vividly to life.

'My only complaint is that it was so fascinating I wish it had been longer. What a story!' Philip Mansel BERLIN is Europe’s most fascinating and exciting city. The great movements that have shaken Europe, from the Reformation to Marxism, have their origins in Berlin’s streets. With its unique dialect, exceptional museums, experimental cultural scene, its liberated social life and its honest approach to its history, it is as challenging a city as it is absorbing. Too often Berlin is seen through the prism of Nazism and its role on the front line in the Cold War. Important, frightening and interesting as those periods are, its history starts much earlier. Telling the story of its people and its rulers, from its medieval origins to the present day, this is a fascinating and informative history of an extraordinary city.  

My only complaint is that it was so fascinating I wish it had been longer. What a story! Philip Mansel BERLIN is Europe''s most fascinating and exciting city. The great movements that have shaken Europe, from the Reformation to Marxism, have their origins in Berlin''s streets. With its unique dialect, exceptional museums, experimental cultural scene, its liberated social life and its honest approach to its history, it is as challenging a city as it is absorbing. Too often Berlin is seen through the prism of Nazism and its role on the front line in the Cold War. Important, frightening and interesting as those periods are, its history starts much earlier. Telling the story of its people and its rulers, from its medieval origins to the present day, this is a fascinating and informative history of an extraordinary city.

"e;An engrossing study. Times Literary Supplement, Books of the Year 2025A critical study of five historical armies that offers solutions for how contemporary forces need to change to deal with modern threats. The most important task of any government is the defence of its state and its citizens. Traditionally governments have used armed forces to do this. Comparative peace in Europe since 1989 led most European governments to lose their focus on defence. However, recent events have proved that war is now as nasty, violent, destructive and prevalent as it has ever been, and governments have had to fundamentally re-think their position. History gives us several examples of states who have reconstructed their armies successfully, both on the field of battle and also in how they relate to the state which it is their duty to protect. This book is about five armies who have adapted successfully: the 4th-century Roman army of Constantine the Great; the 15th-century Ottoman army of Sultan Mehmet II; Cromwell's New Model Army of the English Civil War; the Prussian Army of the Napoleonic Wars; and the US Army of the Second World War. Former senior military officer and renowned military historian Barney White-Spunner draws lessons from their experience to establish long-standing principles that are as relevant today as they were in the 4th century. It is a book about armies, their loyalties, their organisation and their souls.

"e;An engrossing study. Times Literary Supplement, Books of the Year 2025A critical study of five historical armies that offers solutions for how contemporary forces need to change to deal with modern threats. The most important task of any government is the defence of its state and its citizens. Traditionally governments have used armed forces to do this. Comparative peace in Europe since 1989 led most European governments to lose their focus on defence. However, recent events have proved that war is now as nasty, violent, destructive and prevalent as it has ever been, and governments have had to fundamentally re-think their position. History gives us several examples of states who have reconstructed their armies successfully, both on the field of battle and also in how they relate to the state which it is their duty to protect. This book is about five armies who have adapted successfully: the 4th-century Roman army of Constantine the Great; the 15th-century Ottoman army of Sultan Mehmet II; Cromwell's New Model Army of the English Civil War; the Prussian Army of the Napoleonic Wars; and the US Army of the Second World War. Former senior military officer and renowned military historian Barney White-Spunner draws lessons from their experience to establish long-standing principles that are as relevant today as they were in the 4th century. It is a book about armies, their loyalties, their organisation and their souls.

"An engrossing study.” Times Literary Supplement, Books of the Year 2025A critical study of five historical armies that offers solutions for how contemporary forces need to change to deal with modern threats.The most important task of any government is the defence of its state and its citizens. Traditionally governments have used armed forces to do this. Comparative peace in Europe since 1989 led most European governments to lose their focus on defence. However, recent events have proved that war is now as nasty, violent, destructive and prevalent as it has ever been, and governments have had to fundamentally re-think their position.History gives us several examples of states who have reconstructed their armies successfully, both on the field of battle and also in how they relate to the state which it is their duty to protect. This book is about five armies who have adapted successfully: the 4th-century Roman army of Constantine the Great; the 15th-century Ottoman army of Sultan Mehmet II; Cromwell’s New Model Army of the English Civil War; the Prussian Army of the Napoleonic Wars; and the US Army of the Second World War.Former senior military officer and renowned military historian Barney White-Spunner draws lessons from their experience to establish long-standing principles that are as relevant today as they were in the 4th century. It is a book about armies, their loyalties, their organisation and their souls.

"An engrossing study.” Times Literary Supplement, Books of the Year 2025A critical study of five historical armies that offers solutions for how contemporary forces need to change to deal with modern threats.The most important task of any government is the defence of its state and its citizens. Traditionally governments have used armed forces to do this. Comparative peace in Europe since 1989 led most European governments to lose their focus on defence. However, recent events have proved that war is now as nasty, violent, destructive and prevalent as it has ever been, and governments have had to fundamentally re-think their position.History gives us several examples of states who have reconstructed their armies successfully, both on the field of battle and also in how they relate to the state which it is their duty to protect. This book is about five armies who have adapted successfully: the 4th-century Roman army of Constantine the Great; the 15th-century Ottoman army of Sultan Mehmet II; Cromwell’s New Model Army of the English Civil War; the Prussian Army of the Napoleonic Wars; and the US Army of the Second World War.Former senior military officer and renowned military historian Barney White-Spunner draws lessons from their experience to establish long-standing principles that are as relevant today as they were in the 4th century. It is a book about armies, their loyalties, their organisation and their souls.