Buckeye AKA Darryl | 24 Jun 2016 12:48 p.m. PST |
Looking for a military perspective on the Peninsula. Something that covers the entire Nappie period and gives some accounts of the battles and units/nations. Suggestions? |
Whirlwind | 24 Jun 2016 12:59 p.m. PST |
A couple of good ones: David Gates': link (good apart from the very basic maps) Nick Lipscombe's: link (gorgeous, more expensive) Oman is brilliant and free online and comprehensive: link (the remaining volumes are available too) There are other good books but don't quite meet your requirements: Napier (free online): link (less detail) Esdaile: link (excellent on the wider scope of the war but not quite as useful for the details you're after) |
Whirlwind | 24 Jun 2016 1:05 p.m. PST |
From the French point of view, I only know one that covers the whole war: Lachoque's Napoleon's War in Spain link This one doesn't have the details you are after. It does have some good maps: I believe that these were taken from Foy's book so only cover a few of the battles (I could be wrong about this). The rest are very basic. It has some gorgeous uniform plates too. It is very pro-French and has far more accuracy problems. |
Hafen von Schlockenberg | 24 Jun 2016 2:08 p.m. PST |
The thought of reading all the Oman volumes on line makes my head hurt. Do yourself a favor,and buy the set. You won't be sorry. |
rmaker | 24 Jun 2016 2:37 p.m. PST |
Napier has some problems. First, he hated Wellington. Second, he loved Soult. Third, he idolized Moore. |
138SquadronRAF | 24 Jun 2016 2:53 p.m. PST |
Oman remains the most comprehensive account is English. Some of his analysis – the whole "Line v. Column" thing is flawed but you learn so much from it. Nick Lipscombe's atlas a great addition to Oman. |
Timmo uk | 24 Jun 2016 3:03 p.m. PST |
Gates is a good compressed read (when seen in comparison to Oman) as noted the maps are rubbish. However, Oman remains the seminal work IMHO. |
Buckeye AKA Darryl | 24 Jun 2016 3:45 p.m. PST |
Of course I had heard of Oman and wasn't looking to buy the entire set, but it looks like I can piece a set together from used dealers on Amazon for a good price…but each book is massive! There has to be a TON of info there. What about a combo of Gates for condensed text and Lipscombe for maps? I can find both of those for decent prices and would not crush a bookshelf in the process as compared to Oman. :) |
Hafen von Schlockenberg | 24 Jun 2016 5:05 p.m. PST |
Speaking for myself,once I picked up volume 1, I couldn't stop until I finished the set. A great read. Consider yourself warned. |
langobard | 25 Jun 2016 4:45 a.m. PST |
I have Gates, Lipscombe and all 7 volumes of Oman. For wargames purposes you can easily survive with Gates and Lipscombe, but if you get the chance, get Oman too, because while you may not need it, you'll love it :) |
Brechtel198 | 25 Jun 2016 5:39 a.m. PST |
Oman and the Lipscombe Atlas are very highly recommended. If you're going to study the Peninsular War these are a must-have. Pelet's memoir of Massena's campaign in Portugal is also highly recommended. The various memoirs from both sides are also highly recommended. John Grehan's The Lines of Torres Vedras and Mark Thompson's Wellington's Engineers are also essential for any study of the Peninsular War. The latter definitely demonstrates why Wellington's sieges were hasty, cobbled together affairs that usually ended up bloody. Lastly, Wellington's Worst Scrape by Carole Divall is noteworthy and useful. It handily describes the failed siege of Burgos in 1812 and the near-disastrous retreat into Portugal afterwards. |
dibble | 25 Jun 2016 7:25 a.m. PST |
Gates' tome is pretty good but he lets it down by giving opinion instead of just giving accounts. And (a rarity) I concur with Brechtel's advice but add that the Rifle Green in the Peninsula series by Caldwell, Cooper and Dann, are also a must. I would supplement Lipscombes atlas with Ian Robertson's and add Lipscombe's 'Wellington's Guns' too. Paul :) |
Green Tiger | 25 Jun 2016 1:19 p.m. PST |
Sure Napier had opinions but he's an actual veteran his opinions were coloured by experience. As long as you bear that in mind when you are reading it makes it a valuable account I believe. |
nsolomon99 | 25 Jun 2016 1:37 p.m. PST |
Another vote for The Spanish Ulcer. If you can only buy 1 volume on the Peninsula War then this is it. |
21eRegt | 25 Jun 2016 4:34 p.m. PST |
I treasure my set of Oman, but I echo the endorsement of The Spanish Ulcer for "one stop shopping." |
rmaker | 25 Jun 2016 9:12 p.m. PST |
Sure Napier had opinions but he's an actual veteran his opinions were coloured by experience. Only for 1809. The Napier in Spain for the rest of the war was his brother. |
arthur1815 | 26 Jun 2016 12:01 a.m. PST |
Not true! William Napier was present at the Coa (1810), Cazal Nova (1811), Fuentes D'Onoro (1811), Badajoz (1812), Salamanca (1811), Nivelle (1813), Nive (1813), Orthes (1814) and Toulouse (1814). |
Brechtel198 | 26 Jun 2016 4:07 a.m. PST |
Agree wholeheartedly on Wellington's Guns by Lipscombe. That and Wellington's Engineers cover the British military 'savants' quite well. Both are valuable and as the subjects of artillery and engineers of the period are seldom covered, should be owned by anyone interested in the period. |