'Arthur Wellesley, the First Duke of Wellington, is at his desk writing letters. It is Sunday, 18 June 1815; the place is Waterloo...'

Jane Wellesley is a descendent of the First Duke of Wellington whose victory at Waterloo is celebrated as one of our nation's greatest triumphs. But while little remains unknown about the 'Iron Duke', Jane's family memoir paints an intimate and compelling portrait of his dynasty.

From the Belgian battlefield with her father, the current 8th Duke, Jane journeys through the past, unearthing memories, secrets and stories to illuminate her family tree. What unfolds is a saga peppered with fascinating characters: the 2nd Duke was a full-time eccentric and had his lawnmower pulled by an elephant; the 6th Duke's playboy lifestyle often led to trouble; 7th Duke, Gerald, worked for MI6; and Jane's grandmother ran off with writer Vita Sackville-West.

The Wellesley story shows how Wellington's descendents lived on in the light of their ancestor's fame, and how a family is so much more than the history of one man.