Between 1815 and the Duke of Wellington's death in 1852, the Battle of Waterloo became much more than simply a military victory. While other countries marked the battle and its anniversary, only Britain actively incorporated the victory into their national identity, guaranteeing that it would become a ubiquitous and multi-layered presence in British culture. By examining various forms of commemoration, celebration, and recreation, Who Owned Waterloo? demonstrates that Waterloo's significance to Britain's national psyche resulted in a different kind of war altogether: one in which civilian and military groups fought over and established their own claims on different aspects of the battle and its remembrance. By weaponizing everything from memoirs, monuments, rituals, and relics to hippodramas, panoramas, and even shades of blue, veterans pushed back against civilian claims of ownership; English, Scottish, and Irish interests staked their claims; and conservatives and radicals duelled over the direction of the country. Even as ownership was contested among certain groups, large portions of the British population purchased souvenirs, flocked to spectacles and exhibitions, visited the battlefield itself, and engaged in a startling variety of forms of performative patriotism, guaranteeing not only the further nationalization of Waterloo, but its permanent place in nineteenth century British popular and consumer culture.

About the Author
Luke Reynolds received his PhD from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York and also holds degrees from Trinity College, Dublin, Hunter College, CUNY, and the University of Cambridge. A born-and-raised New Yorker, he is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Connecticut's Stamford Campus.

Reviews
Who owned Waterloo? covers a great deal of ground in a relatively short space and without ever feeling too compressed. Reynolds writes very well: his prose is lively and free of jargon, so that this is a monograph which can be read for pleasure as well as information. He shows great skill in selecting examples to explore in detail, while never losing sight of the wider picture, and his judgment is confident and convincing. This is an important book which explains a great deal about the way that memories of Waterloo contributed to Britain's understanding of her place in the world in the decades following the battle, and, by implication, how other countries in other times shape their own self-image. * Rory Muir, Napoleonica (R) the journal *
In this compelling account of cultural appropriation, Luke Reynolds examines the many ways - from public commemorations to battlefield tourism and theatrical productions - by which nineteenth-century Britain claimed the memory of Waterloo as its own as it sought to turn Wellington's victory in the battle into a central plank of British identity. * Alan Forrest, Emeritus Professor of History, University of York *
Narrated in a lively, engaging style, with a sure-handed mastery of its sources, Who Owned Waterloo? marks the debut of an historian of exceptional promise. Luke Reynolds documents an astonishing array of Waterloo tributes and mementoes, making us comprehend how deeply the battlefield victory shaped the British psyche and polity for more than a generation. Not just an important work of history, but a vastly entertaining one. * Ron Chernow, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Alexander Hamilton and Washington: A Life *
This fascinating, thoroughly documented colourful cultural history reveals how, through an army of entrepreneurs and impresarios, civilian Britain embraced and reinvented the military victory at Waterloo. From veterans' memoirs, battlefield tourism and relic exhibitions to spectacular re-enactments, the art of celebration, monuments and merchandise, Waterloo mania and the cult of Wellington forged popular legends that bolstered the self-image of imperial Britain. Beyond a name for rebranded pubs, hotels, squares and terraces, the battle of Waterloo still rages on, in myths that underpin a proud nation's collective identity today. * Julius Bryant, Keeper Emeritus of the Victoria and Albert Museum, Former Director of Museums and Collections at English Heritage, and Director of Apsley House *
Engagingly written, convincingly argued, and laden with valuable insights on Waterloo's legacy, Who Owned Waterloo is an emphatic indication that Reynolds is one to watch in the world of Napoleonic history * Dr Zack White, Host of the Napoleonic Wars Podcast *
Reynolds' enthusiasm for his subject is infectious, and his analysis of the variant ways in which Waterloo was commemorated is intelligent. Although no one man or group could truly claim ownership over Waterloo, during Wellington's lifetime cultural ownership of the battle shifted and spread, and by the time of his death, Reynolds shows us, it had become a truly national phenomenon. * Maire Macneill, British Journal for Military History *
In conclusion, Luke Reynolds has written a notable work...that delves into the historical memory of the symbol that was Waterloo. This author has made a far-ranging contribution to studies of the history of public memory, a less-developed field in 19th century history. * Alberto Canas de Pablos, Historia y Politica *
Who Owned Waterloo? is highly recommended to those with an interest in Waterloo, British history, and identity, but also for anyone interested in the fascinating process of how collective cultural memories are constructed. * George Satterfield, Journal of Military History *


Awards
Winner of Winner, Society for Military History 2023 Distinguished Book Award, First Book Category Runner Up for the Society for Army Historical Research 2023 Best First Book Prize.



Book Information
ISBN 9780192864994
Author Luke Reynolds
Format Hardback
Page Count 272
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 542g
Dimensions(mm) 240mm * 160mm * 20mm