A Short History of the Wellington Boot

In 1817, the Duke of Wellington—freshly back from beating Napoleon—found his old boots most uncomfortable when worn with new-fangled trousers. He instructed his shoemaker to make a simple modification to his footwear. . . and the rest is history. Told here with a unique blend of humor, anecdote, and fact, the history of the Wellington boot is also the history of the world. It is an epic tale, encompassing the rise and fall of empires, corporate piracy, fetish wear, transatlantic rivalry, and such iconic figures as Christopher Columbus, Beau Brummel, Princess Diana, and Kate Moss. Entertaining and edifying, this is the story of the boot that changed the world.