| helmet101 | 09 May 2008 8:04 a.m. PST |
I only ever had the Funcken's for almost 15 years. Enough is enough,here are the books I have decided to collect: "The Campaigns of Napoleon"
David G. Chandler "Fighting Techniques of the Napoleonic Age 1792 – 1815: Equipment, Combat Skills, and Tactics"
Robert B. Bruce "Atlas for the Wars of Napoleon (West Point Military History)"
Thomas E. Griess "The Waterloo Companion: The Complete Guide to History's Most Famous Land Battle"
Mark Adkin "British Napoleonic Infantry Tactics 1792-1815 (Elite)"
Philip Haythornthwaite "French Napoleonic Infantry Tactics 1792-1815 (Elite)"
Paddy Griffith "Soldiers and Uniforms of the Napoleonic Wars"
F Hourtouille "Napoleon's Finest"
Translation and Commentary by Scott Bowden I'm quite satisfied with this lot and rather happy to have decided to spare the cash for this project and spoil myself. Any obvious unforgivable omission, mistake, don't do? |
| Grizwald | 09 May 2008 8:06 a.m. PST |
Are they all still in print? |
| Kutusov | 09 May 2008 8:12 a.m. PST |
I'd add Napoleons invasion of Russian by Nafziger published by presidio kutusov |
| Pictors Studio | 09 May 2008 8:19 a.m. PST |
For Waterloo a nice primer/beginning history is the Battle by Alessandro Barbero |
| DeWolfe | 09 May 2008 8:22 a.m. PST |
I could go on and on recommending books but two particularly good ones that I have enjoyed and that relate to the bicentenials next year are: -With Eagles To Glory by John H. Gill which is about the Confederation of the Rhine troops in the 1809 campaign. -Cisis On The Danube by James Arnold which is about the first half of the 1809 campaign Both authors have writen other Napoleonic books and both authors are still in print. If those particular books aren't in print then they will be easy to find second-hand online. I haven't read all the books you listed but those I have read were good and I've read good reviews of most of the others. |
| DeWolfe | 09 May 2008 8:23 a.m. PST |
Darn it! 'Cisis' should read 'Crisis'. |
| rusty musket | 09 May 2008 8:26 a.m. PST |
Heck, there is a ton of ommissions especially if you take into account everyone's preferences. But you have enough reading material for now. Napoleonics never ends, it just grows. Have fun! |
| NoLongerAMember | 09 May 2008 8:39 a.m. PST |
I would start just with the campaigns and the atlas, and then go for the areas of particular interest, its is a very broad subject. |
| Gunfreak | 09 May 2008 8:46 a.m. PST |
My Libary looks like this so far Campaigns Of Napoleon by Chandler
Crisis in the snows by Arnold/Reinertsen
1812 Leipzig by Smith
Salamanca 1812 by Muir
Atlas for the war of napoleon
Wellingtons Riles by Urban
the battle of borodino by Mikaberidze
Napoleon's Finest translated by Bowden |
| quidveritas | 09 May 2008 9:25 a.m. PST |
Elting's Swords around the throne would be a sad omission. Might be the best "core" book for wargamers out there -- and that includes Chandler. mjc |
| 138SquadronRAF | 09 May 2008 9:36 a.m. PST |
I'd like to suggest the following whihc I found helpful: John Etling's "Swords Around a Throne" – since you'll need a good study of the the French army.
Kevin Kiley – who write on this list – "Once There Were Titans" – it shows examples of leadership again from a French view point and covers most of the campaigns from 1800 to 1815.
David Chandler "Napoleon's Marshals" – good overview of the period. I'd also point out that some reading on the French Revoultion would not be out of place either, to put the later wars in context. Not necessarily military histories but some general studies on why the First Empire came about.That's why I'm currently reading "Fatal Purity: Robespierre and the French Revolution" by Ruth Scurr. The Funkens are a useful resource – but need to be treated with some causion – plus they have an obsession with muscians . For uniforms consider the series by Hourtonoulle – such as "Borodino: The Moskova". One of the problems I find with the period there is so much to study. Once you've hit on an aspect you are more interested in then you can specialise a bit more. Hope this helps.
Elliott |
| Kevin Kiley | 09 May 2008 1:04 p.m. PST |
I would substitute the Esposito/Elting Atlas for the Griess Atlas. I used the Griess Atlas at West Point and found the earlier one to be much superior. Sincerely,
Kevin |
| isttexas | 09 May 2008 1:47 p.m. PST |
IMHO:
If I was stranded on a desert island I would want (no particular order): "The Campaigns of Napoleon"
Chandler "Swords Around the Throne"
Elting "History & Atlas of Napoleonic Wars"
Esposito/Elting (1999 version) "Crisis in the Snow"
Arnold "The Battle of Borodino"
Mikaberidze "Napoleon's Finest"
Bowden "How to Get Off A Deserted Island For Dummies"
Gilligan |
| Desert Rat | 09 May 2008 3:23 p.m. PST |
I find "The Napoleonic Sourcebook" by Philip Haythornthwaite a very handy one-volume resource. |
| nsolomon99 | 09 May 2008 9:40 p.m. PST |
Ya gotta love a list of "starting books" that includes" Napoleon's Finest". What a magnificent tome it is – if you dont feel inspired after even a browse of that book then you'll never be a napoleonic enthusiast!! |
| Stosstruppen | 10 May 2008 8:45 a.m. PST |
Thunder on the Danude by Gill I heartily second With Eagles to Glory i would add Nafzigers Lutzen and Liepzig books if you can afford them and also The Anatomy of Glory by Henry Lachouque and Anne S.K. Brown |
| Byrhthelm | 10 May 2008 8:47 a.m. PST |
I would add Delderfield's "March of the Twenty Six" – if it is still around A biographical record of Boney's Marshals. |
| colbert | 11 May 2008 10:22 a.m. PST |
Two good ones their, "March of the Twentysix" & "The Anatomy of Glory" .Would not be without the latter,top book.
Also any books from Jean Tranie & Jaun Carlos Carmigniani,very good but only French text.
Regards, |
