In the first complete history of the War of 1812 written from a British perspective, Jon Latimer offers a compelling and authoritative account of the second war between Britain and the United States; an account that places the conflict firmly in its strategic context and illuminates an extraordinary episode in British history, long overshadowed by the enormous 22 year struggle against Revolutionary and Napoleonic France. It also provides a fascinating insight into the true nature of the ‘special relationship’ and its modern state.

In 1812 America aimed both to assert her nationhood on the world stage and to expand her territory north and westward. For Americans the war provided many iconic moments in their history; the bombardment of Fort McHenry at Baltimore inspired Francis Scott Key to compose The Star-Spangled Banner, while victories in single ship actions and at New Orleans - in a battle fought after the signing of the peace treaty - went some way to atone for the humiliation of the burning of the public buildings in Washington by the British in 1814.

The British viewed the War of 1812 as an ill-fated attempt to annex British North America, as British and Canadian forces drove out a series of American invasion attempts, and in so doing, saved Canada as an independent nation. Because for America the war was a essentially a failure, for the issues leading to it - impressment of sailors and neutral trade rights - were left unaddressed at its conclusion. For Britain the war was secondary to the colossal struggle with France, and the preservation of the status quo and the independence of Canada were deemed a satisfactory conclusion to an unsatisfactory and unnecessary war.

The book describes events not merely through the eyes of the generals, admirals and politicians, but through those of the soldiers, sailors and ordinary people directly affected. Drawing on personal letters, diaries and memoirs, Jon Latimer crafts an intimate narrative that marches the reader right into the heat of battle.