Books: Iron Duke

WELLINGTON—Philip Guedalla—Harper ($4).

One of the most typical great men England ever produced, Arthur Wellesley, first Duke of Wellington (1769-1852) survives "as little more than the instrument of a single victory and the gruff hero of a dozen anecdotes." Biographer Guedalla, in 536 coruscating pages, has rubbed the rust off the Iron Duke, polished him till he shines.

Born the fourth son of Irish nobility, Arthur was sent to Eton, where he failed to distinguish himself even on the playing-fields. But he throve in the army, won his spurs in India, was promoted fast. In the Peninsular War he made his reputation,...