The book is specifically oriented to the adventures and world of Sharpe with the advantages to the fan. To the historian, however, I have found that once beyond the details relating to the life outside the battalion level, it is best mated to Oman's larger scale work on the Peninsular army as a whole. The most obvious flaw is a "birds-eye" view of the battlefield of Waterloo. It has not even a hint of the ridgeline that dictated the Duke of Wellington's handling of the battle. as I have a copy of Beamish's history of the King's German Legion with it's map of the battle field I was able to do a correction. Adkin has,, produced a book that is adequate for the fan, and of some help to the re-enactor. ( )