Adventures in the Rifle Brigade [Hardcover]

John Kincaid (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1998

Adventures in the Rifle Brigade is probably the most well-known and most popular of the many memoirs written by the men who served under Wellington in the Peninsular and Waterloo campaigns. The author, Captain John Kincaid, served in the 95th Rifles, the most famous of Wellington’s regiments, a regiment which ‘was first in the field and last out’. Kincaid fought in most of the great campaigns in the Peninsula between 1809 and 1814 and at Waterloo, in 1815, where he served as adjutant to the 1st Battalion of the Regiment. The beauty of this memoir is the way in which Kincaid paints a picture, and a very humourous and entertaining too, of life on campaign in Wellington’s army. The book also has its serious nature, of course, for Kincaid witnessed some of the bloodiest episodes of the war, none more than Badajoz, where the 95th, part of the famous Light Division, was hurled at the massive forbidding walls more than forty times in a vain attempt to pass the breaches. Adventures in the Rifle Brigade,the 1835 first edition of which is reproduced in facsimile here, is history at its very best; informative, enlightening and perceptive, hard fact mixed with humour, a vivid portrayal of life on campaign in one of the most famous regiments in the British army, and most importantly, enjoyable and vastly entertaining.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Kincaid was an officer in Wellington's Rifle Brigade.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (July 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1885119550
• ISBN-13: 978-1885119551
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,265,280 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sparkles with verve and wit, March 11, 2000

By 

A. Woodley "Patroness, Janeites, the Austen list" (New Zealand) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Adventures in the Rifle Brigade, in the Peninsula, France and the Netherlands from 1809-1815 (The Spellmount Library of Military History) (Paperback)

This man is irrepresible. Another biography you have to thank the publishers for realising it was worth reprinting.

There has been a lot of interest recently in the Peninsular War - and it seems the laconic and witty officers of the 95th (later the Rifle Bridgade) were amongst the best in retelling their experiences. Perhaps it was that they were a different breed of officer - the 95th starting off as an experimental 'light' regiment, a corps established as skirmishers. They didn't fight in line, column and square and so didn't need to spend the hours on the drilling square. Instead they were encouraged to think for themselves and trained to take advantage of every piece of ground for harrassing the enemy.

And for light and witty reflections on Peninsular life, Kincaid is the master. He has a marvellous line in self-deprecating wit that you just can't help liking. For all its humour it is nor short on detail though and it is easy to take your mind back to life as they must have experienced it - at war in a foreign country 200 years ago.

A must buy!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lively & touching personal account of early 19th c. warfare., April 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: KINCAID: Adventures in the Rifle Brigade (Hardcover)

Kincaid's thoroughly entertaining account of his participation in some of the major campaigns on the Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars makes for lively, sometimes funny reading, though Kincaid never loses touch with the grim realities of warfare. His self-depricating humor, heart-felt patriotism, and sensitive reactions to death and destruction bring him to life, and makes the reader wish he/she had known him. He spends most of the book describing every-day life in Wellington's army, the hardships of traveling with an outnumbered and ill-supported force. His accounts of the battles are vivid and engaging. This work was extremely well-received at the time of its first publication, and is one of the sources for the popular Sharpe's series by Bernard Cornwell. It makes a wonderful companion book to anyone who appreciates Cornwell's ragtag officer.