Sir John Fortescue's 'The Sun Surmounted'

The Campaigns of the Duke of Marlborough



Among British Army historians the reputation of Sir John Fortescue stands virtually without equal. His comprehensive fourteen volume history is a work of unparalleled achievement in its field. Fortescue combines thorough source material research with insightful academic observation of the conduct of the campaigns he describes and of the decisions, errors and strategic and tactical options of their principal protagonists. The Leonaur editors have carefully selected passages from Fortescue's magnum opus to create a series of books, each focusing on a specific war or campaign.
Louis XIV-the Sun King-had long fostered grand designs for the conquest and domination of continental Europe. The French invaded Flanders bringing the Dutch and their allies the British to the field of conflict. Among the officers of the British stood John Churchill, destined to be one of the outstanding military commanders of the modern age. This book follows the British at war from the time of William of Orange's accession to the throne and the closing decades of the 17th century into the early 18th century. The War of Spanish Succession included battles which have become iconic honours of the British Army including, of course, Marlborough's outstanding victory at Blenheim. After years of protracted and bitter fighting Louis' ambitions were foiled and the 'lion surmounted the sun.'
For the first time Fortescue's incisive history of Marlborough and his wars is available in a single volume and no library of the period will be complete without his direct analysis and critically observed view of the events and personalities of this epic period in European military history. This Leonaur exclusive volume has never been available before, and Fortescue's original text has here been enhanced by the inclusion of maps and diagrams.

Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket; our hardbacks are cloth bound and feature gold foil lettering on their spines and fabric head and tail bands.