Charles Esdaile, Peninsula Eyewitnesses. The experience of War in Spain and Portugal 1808-1813 (2008).
Excellent commentary as you would expect from this author, and also a wider selection of Spanish, Portuguese and French alongside the usual British sources.

Ian Fletcher (ed.), Voices from the Peninsula. Eyewitness accounts by soldiers of Wellington's Army 1808-1814 (2001).

Major-General H. T. Siborne (ed.), Waterloo Letters (1993).
I could not omit this, even though most of the studies of the Hundred Days will be added later, including the surge of recent books produced by Gareth Glover and others adding to the readily available primary sources for 1815. Siborne’s book remains a wonderful collection of eye-witness descriptions of Napoleonic combat.

Sir Charles Oman, A History of the Peninsula War. Vols 1-7.
I have the Greenhill edition published in 1990s, which sadly lacks the magnificent colour maps of the original, but is nevertheless a marvellous addition to the shelves. Although dated in some respects, you cannot beat Oman for the thoroughness of his work. I have dipped into Napier and Fortescue over the years, but never managed to secure copies.

Charles Esdaile, The Peninsula War. A New History (2002).
By far the best single volume account of the war, which deals with the political and social context as well as the campaigns.

Jac Weller, Wellington in the Peninsula 1808-1814 (reprinted 1992 with new introduction).
A classic and highly influential study, which remains the best single volume and purely military account of Wellington’s campaigns. He does tend to exaggerate the importance of line against column based on the sheer number of muskets able to fire. In the novels I have tended to follow more the ideas of Griffith, Muir, and others, who argue that the ideal was a single volley followed by a charge rather than a prolonged exchange of musketry.

Jac Weller, Wellington at Waterloo (1992).
The companion volume covering 1815 and with considerable extra discussion of weaponry.

Commandant Henry Lachouque, Jean Tranie, and J-C. Carmigniani, Napoleon's War in Spain (1982).
Brief, but wonderfully illustrated and enthusiastically pro-French survey of the war.

Ian Fletcher, The Waters of Oblivion. The British Invasion of the Rio de la Plata 1806-1807 (2006).
Useful reminder of how badly operations could go, and the generally disappointing record of the British army until the Peninsula.

René Chartrand, Vimeiro 1808. Wellesley's first victory in the Peninsular (2001).
One of Osprey's well illustrated Campaign Series.

C.S. Grant, Wellington's First Campaign in Portugal (2007).
Heavily illustrated account.

Philip Haythornwaite, Corunna 1809. Sir John Moore's Fighting Retreat (2001).
Another excellent volume from the Osprey Campaign Series.

Christopher Hibbert, Corunna (1961).
Highly readable and incorporating a wide range of contemporary accounts.

Cristopher Summerville, March of Death. Sir John Moore's Retreat to Corunna, 1808-1809 (2003).

Peter Edwards, Talavera. Wellington's Early Peninsular Victories 1808-1809 (2005).
As the subtitle suggests, this covers far more than Talavera and also offers excellent accounts of Roliça and Vimeiro. Rather wish I had had this when writing True Soldier Gentlemen. In which case Moss might have ridden up the ravine, just like Lt. Col. Lake did in reality.

Andrew W. Field, Talavera. Wellington's first victory in Spain (2006).
These two books complement each other very well. I have drawn extensively on both for Send me safely back again.

C.S. Grant, Wellington's Return. The Battle of Talavera 1809 (2009). Useful on uniform detail.

Peter Edwards, Albuera. Wellington's Fourth Peninsular Campaign, 1811 (2008).
Excellent book, in the same style as the same author's Talavera.

Rory Muir, Salamanca 1812 (2001).
Superb analysis of a specific battle and good on the nature of combat.

David Buttery, Wellington against Junot. The first invasion of Portugal 1807-1808 (2011)
Very detailed analysis of the early operations, which sadly was not released until after I had written True Soldier Gentlemen.

David Buttery, Wellington against Massena. The third invasion of Portugal (2007).

Many of the copies I have are Greenhill reprints, or the less polished but still useful Leonaur editions.

Robert Blakeney, A Boy in the Peninsular War (1989).
A great story-teller, Blakeney took part in the retreat to Corunna. Many of the incidents in Beat the Drums Slowly involving Hanley and Pringle are drawn from his account. Oman was inclined to suspect Blakeney of considerable embellishment. As a novelist I had no reluctance in following him closely.

Ian Fletcher (ed.), In the service of the King. The letters of William Thornton Keep at home, Walcheren, and in the Peninsula, 1808-1814 (1997).
Rare accounts of routine and training in England as well as the campaigns. Well worth reading and provided inspiration for several scenes in True Soldier Gentlemen.

George Wood, The subaltern officer of the Prince of Wales's Volunteers (2009).
Especially useful for early war and the Corunna and Talavera campaigns.

Alexander Gordon, Hussar in Winter. A British cavalry officer during the retreat to Corunna in the peninsular Campaign of the Napoleonic Wars (2006).
Extremely vivid account of Sahagun and covering the retreat, which proved very useful for Beat the Drums Slowly.

John Patterson, Adventures with the Dirty Half Hundred. The Peninsular War Reminiscences of an officer of H.M. 50th Regiment of Foot (2009).
Particularly useful for the Corunna campaign.

Gareth Glover (ed.), The Corunna Journal of Captain C. A. Pierrepoint AQMG (2005).
Very detailed account of a staff officer with Paget's Reserve Division which I found immensely useful for Beat the Drums Slowly, hence Pierrepoint's occasional appearance in the book. One of several very useful volumes produced by Ken Trotman Publishing -www.kentrotman.com

August Ludolf Friedrich Schaumann, On the road with Wellington. The diary of a War Commissary (1999).
Lively account with lots of detail not simply about the army's supply system, but also the conditions and opportunities of campaigning life. The author boasts of numerous romantic adventures, but leaves the strong impression of a man in a pub boasting that he has 'had' every woman there. Like a lot of the most entertaining memoirs, the truth has no doubt been embellished. This is more of a concern for the historian than the novelist.

Sir Richard Henegan, Seven Years campaigning in the Peninsula and the Netherlands 1808- 1815 (2005).
Excellent account by a commissary, and especially useful for the Corunna campaign.

William Grattan, Adventures with the Connaught Rangers, 1809-1814 (1989).
Another splendid raconteur.

W. F. K. Thompson, An Ensign in the Peninsular War. The letters of John Aitchison (1981).
Aitchison served in the 3^rd Foot Guards and left a good account of Talavera.

Moyle Sherer, Recollections of the Peninsula (1996).
One of the most elegantly written accounts, dealing with the author’s service in the 34^th from 1810-1813.

Lieut-Col. William Tomkinson, The Diary of a Cavalry Officer in the Penisular and Waterloo Campaigns (1999).
By far the most detailed and useful of the accounts written by cavalry officers.

Major George Simmons, A British Rifleman. Journals and correspondence during the Peninsular War and the Campaign of Waterloo (1986).
One of the classic accounts by a man from the 95^th, his letters home are especially interesting.

S. Monick (ed.), The Iberian and Waterloo Campaigns. The letters of Lt. James Hope (92^nd (Highland) Regiment) 1811-1815 (2000).

John Frederick Herring, Journal of an officer in the King's German Legion (2009).
Useful on early campaigns including Talavera.

Peter Hawker & William Graham, Officers and Gentlemen (2009).
Useful Leonaur volume including Hawker's account of 1809.

Joseph Anderson, Fighting Napoleon's Empire. The campaigns of a British Infantryman in Italy, Egypt, the Peninsular and the West Indies during the Napoleonic Wars (2007).

George Robert Gleig, The Subaltern. Experiences of an officer of the 85^th Light Infantry during the Peninsular War (2009).
Good account of the later campaigns.

John Cowell Stepney, The Peninsular War with the Coldstream Guards. Reminiscences of an officer in Portugal and Spain (2009).

Michael Glover (ed.), A Gentleman Volunteer. The letters of George Hennell from the Peninsular War, 1812-13 (1979).
I remember finding this in Cardiff Library sometime in the eighties and for the first time learning about the peculiar status of gentleman volunteers. Hennell arrived outside Badajoz with a letter of recommendation to Sir Thomas Picton. He was enlisted in the 88^th as a volunteer, survived the assault a few days later, and was immediately commissioned into the 43^rd. Years later the memory of this book prompted the creation of Williams.

John Kincaid, The complete Kincaid of the Rifles (2009).
Combined edition of the same author's classic Adventures with the Rifle Brigade and Random Shots of a Rifleman.

John Dobbs and Robert Knowles, Gentlemen in Red. Two accounts of British infantry officers during the Peninsular War (2008).
Combined edition of memoirs by officers from the 52^nd and 7^th Fusiliers respectively. Dobbs' memoirs are also available separately as Recollections of an old 52nd man (2000).

Eileen Hathaway (ed.), A True Soldier Gentleman. The Memoirs of Lt. John Cooke 1791- 1813 (2000).
Very good account by an officer in the 43^rd who served at Walcheren and then in the Peninsula.

Sir Harry Smith, The Autobiography of Sir Harry Smith 1787-1819 (1999).
With Kincaid another of the classic Riflemen's accounts of the war. Wonderful both for atmosphere and detail.

Nicholas Bentley (ed.), Selections from the reminiscences of Captain Gronow (1977).
Racy anecdotes of Regency life as well as service in the Waterloo campaign.

Jonathan Leach, Captain of the 95^th (Rifles). An officer of Wellington's sharpshooters during the Peninsular, South of France and Waterloo Campaigns of the Napoleonic Wars (2005).
Another of the famous accounts from the 95^th.

George Bell, Ensign Bell in the Peninsular War. The experiences of a young British soldier of the 34th Regiment 'the Cumberland Gentlemen' in the Napoleonic Wars (2006).
Good memoir of service from late in 1811 until the end of the war.

Major-General Sir Benjamin D'Urban, The Peninsular Journal, 1808-1817 (1988).

James Stanhope (ed. Gareth Glover), Eyewitness to the Peninsular War and the Battle of Waterloo. The letters of Lt. Col. the Hon. James Stanhope 1803-1825 (2010).

Charles Crowe (ed. Gareth Glover), An Eloquent Soldier. The Peninsular War Journals of Lieutenant Charles Crowe of the Inniskillings 1812-1814 (2011).
A recently discovered classic, this is a lively and insightful read to rank alongside the likes of Harry Smith, Kincaid, Grattan and Shere.

Sir Thomas Brotherton (ed. Bryan Perrett), A Hawk at War. The Peninsular Reminiscences of General Sir Thomas Brotherton, CB (1986).
A short, but very lively set of anecdotes.

Edward Charles Cocks (ed. Julia Page), Intelligence Officer in the Peninsula. Letters and Diaries of Major the Hon. Edward Charles Cocks 1786-1812 (1986).
Wonderful collection giving an insight into the life of one of Wellington's more trusted exploring officers.

Christopher Hibbert (ed.), A soldier of the Seventy-First. The journal of a soldier in the Peninsular War (1970).
One of the best accounts from the ranks, and includes Vimeiro and some especially harrowing passages about the retreat to Corunna. I have drawn upon him for both True Soldier Gentlemen and Beat the Drums Slowly.

Christopher Hibbert, The Recollections of Rifleman Harris (1970).
Famous account by a man of the 95^th, and especially useful for Roliça, Vimeiro, and the retreat to Lugo.

George Nugent Banks (ed.), The autobiography of Sergeant William Lawrence, a hero of the Peninsular and Waterloo campaigns (1987).
Something of a rogue, Lawrence talks happily of looting and other activities. He also provides a ranker’s perspective on a number of battles, including Vimeiro and Talavera.

Daniel Nicol, Sergeant Nicol. The experiences of a Gordon Highlander during the Napoleonic Wars in Egypt, the Peninsula and France (2007).
Especially interesting as Nicol served in one of the Battalions of Detachments at Talavera.

Robert Eadie, On campaign with the 79^th Highlanders through Portugal and Spain.
Interesting volume by the Napoleonic Archive. Their site is well worth a visit - www.napoleonic-archive.com. Has some interesting material about the Corunna campaign.

William Green and Harry Smith, Bugler and Officer of the Rifles. With the 95^th (Rifles) during the Peninsular and Waterloo Campaigns of the Napoleonic Wars (2005).
Billy Green's account of service in the ranks, bound here with Sir Harry Smith's memoirs. Green is especially good for his account of Corunna.

John. S. Cooper, Fusilier Cooper. Experiences in the 7^th (Royal) Fusiliers during the Peninsular Campaign of the Napoleonic Wars and the American Campaign to New Orleans (2007).
Especially useful for Talavera.

Eileen Hathaway (ed.), Costello. The true story of a Peninsular War Rifleman (1997).
Deservedly famous, Costello offers a marvellous portrait of life in the ranks of the 95^th. In this edition in the text is well supported by the editor’s notes.

John Selby (ed.), The recollections of Sergeant Morris (1967).
Another vivid memoir, this time of Flanders and Waterlloo.

B. H. Liddell Hart (ed.), The Letters of Private Wheeler 1809-1828 (1951).
Fascinating view from the rank by a soldier of the 51^st Foot who served in the Peninsula from 1811.

George Farmer & G. R. Gleig, The Adventures of a Light Dragoon in the Napoleonic Wars (2006).
Especially interesting for his account of years spent as a prisoner.

Thomas Garrety, Soldiering with the Division. The military experiences of an infantryman of the 43^rd Regiment during the Napoleonic Wars (2007).
Also published as Memoirs of a Sergeant 2005). Useful for the occasional personal anecdote.

Johann Christian Maempel, Adventures of a Young rifleman. The experiences of a Saxon in the French and British Armies during the Napoleonic Wars (2008).
Captured by the British, the author volunteered to join the King's German Legion and so managed to fight on both sides.

Gareth Glover (ed.), The Diary of a veteran. The diary of Sergeant Peter Facey, 28^th (North Gloucester) Regiment of Foot 1803-1813 (2007).
Another very useful volume published by Ken Trotman Publishing.

Stanley Monick (ed.), Douglas's Tale of the Peninsula and Waterloo 1808-1815 (1997).
Account of an NCO in the 1^st Foot.

Joseph Donaldson, Recollections of the eventful life of a soldier (2000).
A good story teller, Donaldson of the 94^th Foot provides one of the best of the memoirs written by a soldier. For instance he provides one of the best descriptions of soldiers' wives drawing lots to find out who will accompany the regiment on campaign.

James Anton, Retrospect of a military life (1991).
Interesting account of the later stages of the war by a man in the Black Watch.

William Surtees, Surtees of the 95^th (Rifles). A soldier of the 95^th (Rifles in the Peninsular Campaign of the Napoleonic Wars (2006).
Very good account of service in the ranks, by an author who was later commissioned as quartermaster.

Maurice de Tascher (edited and translated Rosemary Brindle), Campaigning for Napoleon. The diary of a Napoleonic cavalry officer 1806-1813 (2006).
Especially interesting for the 1808 campaign in Spain.

Albert Jean Michel de Roca, In the Peninsula with a French Hussar (1990).
The account of a Swiss officer serving with the French light cavalry.

De Gonville, Recollections of Colonel de Gonville. 2 Vols. (1988).
Includes experiences of his time as a staff officer in Spain 1808-1809 as well as subsequent service with the 13^th Cuirassiers in South Eastern Spain. He is the source for the scene where Napoleon confronts the monks in Beat the Drums Slowly and is the other cuirassier officer waiting with Dalmas.

Baron de Marbot, The Memoirs of Baron de Marbot. 2 vols. (1990).
A reminiscence which captures the spirit of the French light cavalry and includes much detail of service in a Spain as well as elsewhere.

T. B. Jones (ed.), Napoleon’s Army. The military memoirs of Charles Parquin (1969).
Another terrific set of stories from a light cavalryman who served in the Peninsula.

Heinrich von Brandt, In the Legions of Napoleon. The memoirs of a Polish officer in Spain and Russia 1808-1813 (1999).

Dezydery Chaplowski, Memoirs of a Polish Lancer (1992).
Includes an account of service under Napoleon in Spain in 1808.

Elzéar Blaze (translation by John R. Elting), Military Life under Napoleon (1995).
Lively anecdotes of service in the French army.

Captain Jean-Roche Coignet, The note books of Captain Coignet, soldier of the Empire 1799- 1816 (1989).

Jean-Baptiste Barres, Chasseur Barres. The experiences of a French infantryman of the Imperial Guard at Austerlitz, Jena, Eylau, Friedland, in the Peninsular, Lutzen, Bautzen, Zinnwald and Hanau during the Napoleonic Wars (2006).
Title says it all!

John H. Gill (ed.), A Soldier for Napoleon. The campaigns of Lieutenant Franz Joseph Hausmann 7^th Bavarian Infantry (1998).
Did not serve in the Peninsula, but useful perspective on the sheer scale of the later Napoleonic campaigns.

Antony Brett-James, Life in Wellington's Army (1992).
Marvellous discussion of every aspect of daily life.

Robert Burnham & Rory McGuigan, The British Army against Napoleon. Facts, lists, and trivia 1805-1815 (2010).

Brigadier F. C. G. Page, Following the Drum. Women in Wellington's Wars (1986).

Noel St John Williams, Judy O'Grady and the Colonel's Lady. The Army wife and Camp Follower since 1660 (1988).

Stuart Semmel, Napoleon and the British (2004).

Rory Muir, Britain and the defeat of Napoleon 1807-1815 (1996).
Good account of the political context of the commitment to the fighting in Portugal and Spain.

Charles J. Esdaile, Fighting Napoleon. Guerillas, Bandits and Adventurers in Spain 1808-1814 (2004).

Elizabeth Longford, Wellington. The years of the sword (1969).
Still probably the best biography of Wellington, although it would be nice to have a new one.

Michael Glover, A Very Slippery Fellow: the life of Sir Robert Wilson 1777-1849 (1977).
Best biography of a controversial man. I have drawn heavily on this for Send me safely back again.

Michael Ross, The Reluctant King. Joseph Bonaparte King of the Two Sicilies and Spain (1976).
Lively account of Napoleon's brother. Have taken a few bits and pieces from this, but am hoping to give him a bigger part in a future novel.

Carola Oman, Sir John Moore (1953).
Still the best of the modern biographies of Moore, and used extensively for Beat the Drums Slowly.

Roger Day, The Life of Sir John Moore. 'Not a drum was heard'. (2001).

Mark Urban, The man who broke Napoleon's codes. The story of George Scovell (2001).

Donald E. Graves, Fix Bayonets! A Royal Welch Fusilier at War 1796-1815 (2006).
Interesting account of the career of Thomas Pearson by an author who knows the period extremely well and is always worth reading.

David Chandler (ed.), Napoleon's Marshals (2000).

Rory Muir, Robert Burnham, Howie Muir, & Ron McGuigan, Inside Wellington's Army (2006).
A thought provoking collection of papers. Howie Muir's 'Order of Battle: Customary Battle-Array in Wellington's Peninsula Army', pp. 84-171 is especially stimulating with its discussion of the importance of seniority and precedence. You will find this particularly reflected in True Soldier Gentlemen.

Sir Charles Oman, Wellington's Army 1809-1814 (1913, reprinted 2006).
Although dated still well worth a look.

Paddy Griffith (ed.), A History of the Peninsula War. Volume 9 (1999).
Interesting collection of modern articles inspired by Oman's history.

Martin Windrow, Military Dress of the Peninsula War 1808-1814 (1997).

C. E. Franklin, British Napoleonic Uniforms (2008).

C. E. Franklin, British Napoleonic Field Artillery (2008)

Chris McNab, Armies of the Napoleonic Wars. An illustrated history (2009).
This is a collection drawn from the many Osprey publications dealing with the Napoleonic era. I have a good few of these on my shelves - too many to list individually.

Philip J. Haythornwaite, The Armies of Wellington (1998).

Colonel H. C. B. Rogers, Napoleon's Army (1982).
A little dated, but still well worth having on the shelves.

John R. Elting, Swords around a throne. Napoleon’s Grande Armée (1988).
Thorough, insightful and enthusiastic description of the French army. This remains by far the best book on the subject.

George Nafziger, Imperial Bayonets. Tactics of the Napoleonic Battery, Battalion and Brigade as found in contemporary regulations (1996).

Rory Muir, Tactics and the experience of battle in the age of Napoleon (1998).
First rate study of what actually happened on the battlefield.

Brent Nosworthy, Battle Tactics of Napoleon and his enemies (1997).

Richard Holmes, Redcoat. The British Soldier in the age of horse and musket (2001).
Broad ranging, but as good as you would expect from this author.

David Johnson, The French cavalry 1792-1815 (1989).

Michael Glover, Wellington's Army in the Peninsula 1808-1814 (1977).

Philip J. Haythornwaite, Napoleon's Military Machine (1988), & Wellington's Military Machine (1989).
Well illustrated surveys.

David Gates, The British Light Infantry Army, c. 1790-1815 (1987).

Ian Fletcher, Napoleonic Wars: Wellington's Army (1996), and René Chartrand, Napoleonic Wars: Napoleon's Army (1996) in Brassey's History of Uniforms Series.

Ian Fletcher, Galloping at everything. The British cavalry in the Peninsular War and Waterloo 1808-1815: A reappraisal (1999, 2008)

Robert Burnham, Charging against Wellington. The French cavalry in the Peninsular War 1807-1814 (2011).

David Johnson, Napoleon's Cavalry and its leaders (1978).

Carole Divall, Redcoats against Napoleon. The 30^th Regiment during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars (2009).
Excellent regimental history, looking in particular at the second battalion's service in the Peninsula, Flanders in 1814, and Waterloo.

Carole Divall, Inside the Regiment. The officers and men of the 30^th Regiment during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars (2011).
Companion volume to the above, and packed with fascinating detail about daily life, promotions, service conditions, courts martial and discipline. The author's site, www.caroledivall.co.uk is also well worth regular visits.

Lieutenant-Colonel William Mayne & Captain Lillie, A Narrative of the Campaigns of the Loyal Lusitanian Legion during the years 1809, 1810, & 1811 (reprint 2005).

Gibbes Rigaud, Swift and Bold. The 60th Rifles during the Peninsula War (2008).
An interesting Leonaur re-print.

Charles Cadell, The Slashers. The campaigns of the 28^th Regiment of Foot during the Napoleonic Wars by a serving officer (2008).

Mark Urban, Rifles. Six years with Wellington's legendary sharpshooters (2003).
Lively and insightful account. The same author's Fusiliers (2007), about the 23^rd Royal Welch Fusiliers in the American War of Independence is also well worth a look.

Alan Lagden and John Sly, The 2/73^rd at Waterloo (1988).
Full listing of the members of this battalion, with details from their service record and other sources. All in all, a wonderful snapshot of a line battalion, and a rich source of names for characters in the stories!

Alexander H. Craufurd, General Craufurd and his Light Division: with many anecdotes, a paper and letters by Sir John Moore, and also letters from the Right hon. W. Windham, the Duke of Wellington, Lord Londonderry, and others. (re-print 2004)

John Mollo, The Prince's Dolls. Scandals, skirmishes and splendours of the Hussars, 1739-1815 (1997).

N. Ludlow Beamish, History of the King's German Legion. 2 Volumes (1997 re-print)

Willoughby Verner, History and campaigns of the rifle Brigade 1800-1813. 2 Volumes (1912)

Digby Smith, Napoleon's German Division in Spain. Vol. 1 - Nassau, Baden, Frankfurt, Dutch and Hessen-Darmstadt Troops, their regimental History, Uniforms, and Organisation (2012).

George Nafziger, Mariusz T. Wesolowski, Tom Devoe, Poles and Saxons of the Napoleonic Wars (1991).