As of today Volume One "From mobilisation to war" has sold 175 copies.
A great feat for a small & independant print on demand publishing house. In fact recently people start buying both of our published volumes together. And where as the first volume has now reached this milestone after 17 months since its publication, our second volume "Quatre Bras, Perponcher's gamble" is getting closer day by day since we reported on its sales figures 22nd September late in this news column.
With at least 130 individuals serving in the Netherlands field army in 1815 contributing their memoirs, of which several wrote more than one account, letter or report, resulting ultimately in some 200+ period documents we at Sovereign House Books are indeed proud to state that our books involving the 1815 campaign form the new & very essence in historical research on the battles of Quatre Bras and Waterloo, including all other events concerned. To have collected such a wealth of documents and eye-witness accounts can only be compared with the endeavours such as William Siborne's.
The Prince of Orange and his staff at Waterloo, as depicted on the Waterloo Panorama by Louis Dumoulin. (Photo courtesy Mrs. E. Schleper)
Read more ...If you ever have the rare opportunity to climb the new water tower at Fleurus, make sure you do. On top of the 55 metres tall tower you have an excellent view over the battlefield of Ligny. On a good summers day one can even distinguish the Lion Mound on the horizon. When climbing the mound itself, you would be able to see the water tower as well. A unique experience of two panoramic views over two battlefields.
The series of photos here gives you an impression first of the battlefield of Ligny, starting with a view towards the west and the battlefield of Quatre Bras. In the distance the shiny metallic water tower just north of Frasnes can be seen quite clearly, while we continue east and see the trees of the Hôtel de la Paix, all the way towards Point du Jour. (See also our news item of 21 April!) Next is a series of photos of the battlefield of Waterloo, starting with a view north upon the construction of the new visitors centre and next turning against the clock, looking at Hougoumont, La Belle Alliance and ending with La Haye Sainte.
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During my recent holidays I brought two brief visits to the battlefield of Waterloo and even twice climbed the Lion Mound. In anticipation of another trip this coming week to the town of Halle and nearby villages to look at the landscape of the Anglo-Allied position here on 17 & 18 June and make an additional battlefield walk in the village Braine l'Alleud and its neighbouring hamlets, where amongst other the Prince of Orange spent the night, I thought it would be nice to clear some on the truths and myths surrounding the Lion Mound, or Butte de Lion.
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Gradually word spreads across the globe that our books on the Waterloo campaign and the specific contribution of the Netherlands army are very interesting and are a must have for anyone interested in the 1815 campaign, the final war against the emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and France.
Now online bookshops sell our publications as well, such as Caliver Books in the United Kingdom, or Berliner Zinnfiguren / Preussisches Bücherkabinett in Germany and last but not least this week On Military Matters in the USA has announced our books to be part of their portfolio. We also hope to include Ken Trotman Ltd. in the near future as well as the bookshop of the visitors centre at the battlefield of Waterloo! Meanwhile with the shops now mentioned, you will be able to run into our books worldwide and especially on occasions such as wargame shows and venues.
Our series of books on the 1815 campaign and the Battle of Waterloo is one of the most exciting new publications of the past years. Never before in the past decades was there such a revealing history made available, integrating history with so many new and hitherto unknown accounts.
An opportunity you cannot miss.