With Moore at Corunna was published by Blackie and Son in 1898. Dowell accompanies Sir John Moore’s expeditionary force into Spain in the autumn of 1808, expecting to support Spanish resistance to Napoleon’s invasion. Instead, the army finds itself outflanked by vastly superior French forces under Napoleon himself and must execute a devastating winter retreat across the mountains of Galicia to the port of Corunna (La Coruña), where the Royal Navy waits to evacuate them.
The retreat to Corunna (1808–1809) was one of the most harrowing episodes in British military history — the army disintegrated under the pressure of cold, hunger, and French pursuit, with discipline collapsing and thousands dying on the mountain roads. Moore himself was killed in the rearguard battle at Corunna that secured the evacuation.
Collecting With Moore at Corunna
First edition (Blackie and Son, London, 1898): Pictorial cloth.
Market values:
- Fine condition: $150–$400
- Very good: $60–$150
- Good: $20–$60
Projected values (2026–2036): Moderate appreciation.
The Peninsular War
Set during Sir John Moore’s campaign in Spain (1808–1809), the novel follows a young English soldier through the advance into Spain and the famous retreat to Corunna, where Moore was killed at the moment of victory. The retreat — through mountains, in winter, with the French in pursuit — is one of the great episodes of Napoleonic military history, and Henty captures its hardship and heroism with characteristic vividness.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Napoleonic-era novels did Henty write? Several, covering different campaigns: Through Russian Snows (1812 retreat from Moscow), With Moore at Corunna (Peninsular War), One of the 28th (Waterloo), At Aboukir and Acre (Napoleon in Egypt), and In the Reign of Terror (French Revolution). Together they form an informal curriculum in the Napoleonic Wars.