"Review the Battle of Minden 1759" Topic

The Miraculous Victory of the Seven Years War

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Many thanks for that.

I have not read my copy yet but to be honest I am not expecting much and you have confirmed my expectations.

Still any book on the SYW in the West is welcome and I am sure will teach us something we did not know.

Regards

Use spellcheck:
disapionted
soures
comfterble
exeption
introcution
castualites
suplimentary
structurs
wonderfull
intersted
mabye
wouned
descrition
becasue
plus numerous typos, lack of capital letters and spacing
Also the browser tag has on it – Gunfreak's Historty of War

If I spoke Norwegian half as well as Gunfreak speaks English, I would be very happy! If I attempted to write in Norwegian, heaven only knows what I would spell incorrectly.

Well done, Gunfreak. Great book review.

Thank you for the great review! Saved me a lot of money.

Actually Gunfreak,from your description, I think I want this.

I too was disappointed – Not a patch on Piers Mackesey's 'The Coward of Minden' and that is largely about the trial of Lord Sackville. Am curious as to why the reviewer feels there must be French sources…

To fill out the book, there is a massive lack of descriptions from the battle, both Allied and French.

I've always been leery of books by Stuart Reid. He may know a lot about some subjects but misses the point on others.

GedanMawashiGeri

I think your post is in very poor taste and that an apology to Gunfreak would be in order.

Regards

+1 for @Broglie and ExtraBio1947
Thanks Gunfreak, for taking the trouble to give us your thoughts on this book.

I haven't read this particular book, but I think the criticisms made by Gunfreak could apply to many Military History books. Titles are often misleading, as the bulk of the book may deal with " peripheral" issues. I think this is understandable, as there may be a dearth of detailed information. Sources are often in a language other than English, so may not be easily accessible to a writer whose first language is English. It is often helpful to set a particular battle event in the context of a broader campaign, as appears to be the case here. Like Broglie, I welcome anything on the SYW, as there are few books available to the general reader.

Having had dyslexia since first day of school, I generally ignore comments about my spelling.
As I said in the review. I'm not sorry I bought it. And the book it self is just fine (not great) but the dry description and lack of ambiance ect is a let down.

I guess it's from me reading all those wonderful books on napoleonic battles. Long books fantastic descriptions of events ect

Your posts are always enjoyable and interesting to read. To me that's what really matters.

Gunfreak, Many thanks for the review. I was anxiously waiting for this book to be released hoping it would be better than sadly your review of it. Based on the items you've shared I feel I can best put that money to better use.

As for facing colors, there are already too many excellent sources for these, as well as numerous OOBs.

As for the battle itself, I think it is going to be very difficult to top the old Knight's Battles for Wargamers book "Minden 1759" by Howard N. Cole published 1972. I bought this little book when it was fist published and have enjoyed over the years many, many times since. I like the description of the battle (32 pages), the OOBs in the back are reasonable. If you can find a copy I recommend it for anyone interested in the battle. It not only covers the advance of the British Brigades and the Hanoverian support brigades but also covers the French reactions, and of course the lack of action by British Horse.

Minden is my favorite battle of the SYW, thus my hope for this new tome – but alas! Thanks again for saving me some hobby budget dollars.

Terry

Its already heavily discounted in some places!
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Profound apologies. Forgot to take my meds.

I think there is quite good descriptipn od the battle in German General Staff multi volume series about SYW. Many years ago I used it as a base for my article about Minden, published in popular press. As I can remember, there was more fighting than repulsing French cavalry charges.

'Having had dyslexia since first day of school, I generally ignore comments about my spelling'

Outstanding use of the dyslexia defence there. Victimhood achieved and the other party made to feel slightly uncomfortable. Well done!

Perhaps next time you could state any such conditions up front. Or indeed, knowing you have dyslexia, use the spell check – presuming that you are not also colour blind and that the little red lines under the mis-spelt words are invisible to you.

That way, nobody will think you to be a dimwit instead of a victim.

I usually don't need too. As generally people don't comment on it
And I've never said i was a victim of anything.

I think I detect some (totally unnecessary) sarcasm in Foresightpaint's post.