"The Anatomy of Glory: Napoleon and his Guard" Topic

A trivia enquiry ;-)
My copy of this book was published in the UK in 1978, and I bought a copy the same year. For some reason, I cut off the price printed on the inside front dust cover. Can anyone who owns the same edition tell me what the printed price was?
Many thanks.

£14.95 GBP mine says from April 21st 1978.

mind you….back in those days.

You could have seven nights in a B&B in Bridlington in mid winter for that money….

I know which was the better deal…

Blimey, I read a library copy of that in about 1980. If I'd known it was that expensive I'd have sold it.

Thanks deadhead!
I was a trainee in my first job and that was a big chunk of a week's salary. I must have been mad ;-)

I was 25 and working in a central London Casualty dept….solo cas surgeon most nights. I did not have a clue…seriously, not a clue……

Does anyone remember the same author's book "Waterloo" that came out shortly after? It was a larger "Coffee table format" size and was mainly a picture book frankly. The best bit was reproducing the Waterloo Panorama over several pages. I had never seen most of the images presented in that book. I gave it away in a big clear out eventually.

No regrets and I am not even that keen on Anatomy of Glory. Not sure it has stood the test of time as well as say "Swords Around etc"

@Deadhead
Commandant Henry Lachouque – I still have my copy (as well as Lachouque's Anatomy of Glory.)
link

Dassit!

Anatomy of Glory and swords around the throne are totally different not comparable, both great books. The Anatomy of Glory is one of my fav books always inspiring, will be buried with it lol

I agree with marmont1814!

I have the first U.S. edition published by Brown University Press in 1961. I bought it when it just came out. The price on the dust jacket is $14.00 USD.

If you have an interest in the French Imperial Guard, you cannot live without that book. I know I have read it at least six times, maybe more. I refer to it countless times.

I think Rick Carlile Military Books will have one at Fall In.

Tom

I remember the days well when I got Anatomy of Glory (the re – edition for 14.95 pounds) and as well as the Waterloo book, I was flushed with enthusiasm then.

Now upteen years later, I would rather see much better researched books – instead of perpetuating fairy tails – than a re print of the old myths.

Don't be grumpy – the old myths are what got us enthused about the period. It's the Hollywood version of history. Sadly, without some of those myths I doubt all of us would have found the period or this hobby.

That is not to say that, as adults we can't enjoy the modern research that people like you bring.

But I still like my Lilian and Fred books, so fantasy has its place

Marc

The Funckens' books ? Prized! Just found Cassin Scott's Uniforms of the Napoleonic Wars (1973) for £2.99 GBP…condition as new. Many, far better, Blandford books followed, but this one I missed first time around!

I agree with von W. Anatomy of Glory is a great nostalgia trip. But it is of its time…….Marc is right too of course, even if nostalgia is not what it used to be these days.

it also shows inflation, a book like this massive, full of excellent black and white and colour plates – for just below 15 pounds sterling.
Funckens of course I got them as well, quite tattered now but they are still in my shelves, if for no other than nostalgic reasons

I have just picked up Anatomy of Glory from my local library yesterday;

Published about 1998 (i don't have it to hand to be exact on the date) and priced at £35.00 GBP GBP.

Would be £60.00 GBP today.

Cassin Scott's "Uniforms of the Napoleonic Wars"! I was given it the year it came out. That book is as much Christmas to me as a tin of Quality Street.

Danish jagers and Greek evzones. Who'd have thought it?

Does anyone have or has read the original French text? I seem to remember the English translation being criticised for omitting the hard facts and only retaining the anecdotes.

@Allan F Mountford

I have the original French version (from new) and have never read the English version so cannot comment on whether the latter is defective….

@Prince of Essling
I would be interested in exploring the idea that the English version is abridged. Would you be able to share some typical pages with me to compare the French and English versions?

How interesting. I often thought there were breaks in continuity and put this down to losing something in translation, rather than abridging the text.

All makes sense if so…….

@Allan F Mountford

Very happy to do so. Please let me know which sections from the two volumes that are of particular interest to you, and an e-mail address that will take attachments.

@Prince of Essling

I am back in my study later today. Perhaps I could select a short section and we could compare content. My personal email address is allanDOTmountfordAToutlookDOTcom if you wouldn't mind sending an email so I can add you to my contacts.

Many thanks.

@Allan F Mountford,

Our exchange refers – sorry about the crossed wires on this as I had thought the discussion had moved onto Funcken…

However an interesting review on Anatomy of Glory at link which says "….free translation of the French work, leaving out with the author's permission, many names and details." etc

I have both on my gameroom bookshelf. Anatomy of Glory bought in the early 80's in a shop in Bedford, UK. Waterloo, bought around the same time in London. Both frayed now, but read several times.

Had to go and look at mine. Its also 1978 and cost £14.95 GBP as well.

Its officially the 3rd Edition in English, the first two were printed in 1961 and 1962.

I thought it was amazing at the time but going on for 40 years later, realism has triumphed over romance.

The edition published in 1999 by Greenhill has an excellent introduction by John Elting.

@Allan F Mountford,

Our exchange refers – sorry about the crossed wires on this as I had thought the discussion had moved onto Funcken…

However an interesting review on Anatomy of Glory at link which says "….free translation of the French work, leaving out with the author's permission, many names and details." etc

Vincent Esposito & John Elting make a similar observation in their 'Atlas' where they say: 'Its text is slightly abridged'. John Elting makes a similar comment in 'Swords'. Another reviewer, whose name escapes me, suggested that much of the hard data in the original was omitted in the translation.

@ pbishop

Was that Bedford shop the Guardroom?