"Best book for 1745 Jacobite Rebellion" Topic

I would appreciate a compare and contrast, from a wargaming perspective, of Christopher Duffy's books

The '45: Bonnie Prince Charlie and the untold story

Fight for a Throne: the Jacobite '45 Reconsidered

Any other suggestions would also be appreciated.

Alan

Alan,

Two I have found very useful are:

1745: A Military History by Stuart Reid link

and

Like Hungry Wolves by Stuart Reid and Gary Embleton link

It's been a long time since I read them – and my armies for the '45 have languished equally long – but I remember both were informative from a military history/wargaming point of view and eminently readable. The Hungry Wolves book concentrates on Culloden and has maps showing the development of the battle every few minutes; so a great wargaming resource.

Best wishes,

Bill Speck's book

I have both of the Duffy '45 books and I'd say the first The '45: Bonnie Prince Charlie and the untold story will give you all you need from a wargaming perspective.

That said the sheer amount of info' in the second book makes it an essential read for anyone interested in the detail social, political and military behind the battles. It is well worth reading both.

I have Duffy's "The '45: Bonnie Prince Charlie and the untold story"

Excellent in depth study. One of these days I must finish reading it …

Alan

You may possibly may know this one already but it's worth mentioning here. Culloden, the 1964 docudrama from the BBC and free to watch on YouTube. Still very chilling to watch after all these years

Still very chilling to watch after all these years

Indeed it is.

Thanks for the replies.

Perhaps I am dating myself but I remember seeing the docudrama when it was broadcast the first time.

Let me break a lance for John Prebble. Although the "historical quality" may be a little flawed (an interesting comment on his books is here:
link at least his "Culloden", where he used many personal stories, is unputdownable. And Peter Watkins' documentary (mentioned in this thread) was based on it.

Think the second Duffy (Fight for a Throne) is an expanded / updated version of "Untold Story". See if you can have a look in Amazon at the look inside option at the preface or intro – pretty sure he said this when I was browsing

Jeremy Black's 'Culloden and the '45' makes interesting reading, especially with regard to the various strategic possibilities and might have beens. The idea of a French army in Scotland in 1744 commanded by de Saxe would really be an interesting one to explore as a game.

Perhaps I am dating myself

If you are, do you go 'Dutch'?

Can anyone comment on whether there is much difference between the two editions of Stuart Reid's book on the Jacobite Rising?

Thanks for all the help.

For my money definitely Like Hungry Wolves by Stuart Reid and Gary Embleton, excellent book great colour plates.

Just to clarify,is there much of a difference between the 1996 and 2000 editions of "1745: A Military History of the Last Jacobite Uprising" by Stuart Reid?