This is a popular biography of a man who was consciously a self advertiser. Maj-Gen. Sir Robert Wilson, hoped to be seen as a competent Military man and a high level diplomat. In both areas, his sucess was spotty. For the historian his status is problematic. Wilson, being the author of a very readable set of memoirs and occasional pamphlets, confronts the researcher with questions about their variable quality as evidence. He exaggerates and sometimes is completely misleading. So how can his testimony be regarded as true, should he have told the truth? Well, sometimes he is verified by outsiders but what about uncorroborated accounts?
Michael Glover has tried to produce an insightful biography of a man who deliberately deflected or denied insights. His book is readable, and may serve as a paradigm for dealing with the products of similar personalities in similar circumstance. For those looking for a portrait of an average Peninsular Officer, this is not it. But it is valuable in dealing with those who did try to fly high in those areas in Regency England. For those looking for light reading, I suggest the novel by Thomas B. Costain, "Ride With Me", dealing with Wilson's career. There are three chapters dealing with Wilson as the founder of the "Loyal Lusitanian Legion" and thus are useful in Peninsular studies. ( )