After Waterloo: Reminiscences of European Travel 1815-1819

A series of candid letters from a retired British officer transports listeners to the restless years immediately after the fall of Napoleon. Written in a clear, confident hand, the correspondence sketches daily life across the emerging modern Europe— bustling cafés of Paris, the rebuilt streets of Brussels, and the tranquil valleys of Italy. The writer’s military experience lends a sharp eye to the political undercurrents that still ripple through the continent, while his fluency in several languages lets him capture local color with vivid precision.

Beyond the grand sweep of history, the narrative dwells on the small pleasures of travel: an impromptu theatre performance in Vienna, the scent of fresh bread in a Provençal market, and the quiet contemplation of ancient ruins. The letters read like a personal diary, intimate yet unselfconscious, inviting the audience to share in moments of curiosity, humor, and quiet awe. Listeners will come away with a textured portrait of a Europe in transition, seen through the eyes of a curious, worldly soldier‑scholar.