"Swiss Regiments in the Service of France 1798-1815" Topic

…. UNIFORMS, ORGANIZATION, CAMPAIGNS

"This is the first full-length detailed study of the uniforms, organization, personnel and campaigns of the numerous Swiss units that served in the armies of Revolutionary, Directorate, and Imperial France from the campaigns of 1798 in Switzerland until the Hundred Days of 1815.

The author covers not just the regulation uniforms but also the numerous variations recorded in contemporary documents and plates. The uniforms of the Tete de Colonne could change from issue to issue and year to year and the author has tried to cover all of these known changes.

Estimates of the number of Swiss who served in the French Army from 1798-1815 vary from fifty to ninety thousand – numbers that makes the Swiss the largest non-French nationality in the Imperial Armies. There have been many studies of these units published in France and Switzerland but this is the first full-length study to be published in England."

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Amicalement
Armand

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But not pic of the book!… (smile)

Amicalement
Armand

I though that such unattractive card cover was provisionnal, but no, quite curious choice to illustrate a new book about Swiss units concerning their uniforms and orgnaisation, I hoped to see Christa Hook, Steve Noon or an other good recognized artist, it seems illustrated by previously published plates

What's wrong with the book cover illustration?

I expected for a new book on uniforms something new and better aesthetically than already known old unattractive artwork, from Boisselier this one I think

Illustration is such a matter of personal taste. It is brought home to me by comparing various illustrators for Osprey. That compendium book, Armies of the Napoleonic Wars, Chris McNab, is well illustrated from various published Opsrey booklets. Individual artist's work is instantly recognisable.

The more recent Osprey books can carry work that belongs in a children's comic. Frantic action, lots of gritted teeth and garish colouring.

Courcelle takes some beating

I expected for a new book on uniforms something new and better aesthetically than already known old unattractive artwork, from Boisselier this one I think

I though that such unattractive card cover was provisionnal, but no, quite curious choice to illustrate a new book about Swiss units concerning their uniforms and orgnaisation, I hoped to see Christa Hook, Steve Noon or an other good recognized artist, it seems illustrated by previously published plates

There is no pleasing some people. Have you seen the book yet? If not, then quit complaining until you do. As of now, you don't have a valid point only that you don't like the cover. I think it is quite good. I have some of Helion's books in the series and they are excellent. They are scholarly and well done, and not like the variable quality of the Ospreys, many of which are not scholarly.

I think that the artist is Richard Knotel. If it is he or Boisselier, then they are recognized military artists.

And the book is not an Osprey. If that is what you prefer, then get their book on the subject. This one is 148 pages, not less than 100, as are the Ospreys.

Let me chip in to agree and again say that Osprey books can be very good on history of units, or accounts of battles fought, but that uniforms can be an afterthought sometimes and illustrations can vary from superb, to simply childish, in more recent releases.

This may be great. I have no idea as I have not opened it. If it uses aged illustrations that is disappointing. If they are very commonly seen that is worse. They may be "primary" sources"…even if from half a decade later…but I like the Histoires idea of presenting compilations of what various artists have shown over the years, with editors' reservations. That is called added value. Then suit yerself….

the Helion books starts already in 1798 – so far I bought several Helion books from their Reason to Revolution range, I did not regret those buys, a lot of unusual topics as well.

my point of view is totally valid as anybody else and more as Osprey & Helion reader and customer I am totally able to see the difference between both, to think and write that
given the fact that the book claimed to be about "uniforms" I expect for a new book on uniforms to offer new lavishly artwork in consequence and not usual already seen, already known, already used, already published, recycled again and again past color plates…here it is RIGO's artwork
e.g. Rousselot or Detaille are very talented, but it doesn't mean that I wish to see again in a further uniform book on Napoleonic Army
yes the variable quality of the Osprey but the level of the illustrations are not allways at the rendez-vous in comparison with the textual quality in Helion too

and potential customers readers sharing their opinions even only the card cover, can serve…
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You're entitled to your own opinions, but not to your own facts.

"This is the first full-length detailed study of the uniforms, organization, personnel and campaigns of the numerous Swiss units that served in the armies of Revolutionary, Directorate, and Imperial France from the campaigns of 1798 in Switzerland until the Hundred Days of 1815"

Given description FIRST FULL-LENGTH DETAILED STUDY…and some of the other books shown, I am left wondering the possible variation in meaning of: First; Full-length; Detailed and Study, I might have with the writer [ps – there is also a volume published by Ken Trotman Books authored by Digby Smith titles "NAPOLEON'S SWISS IN THE RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN OF 1812"…[264 pg].

So for someone to claim the first, full-length, detailed study…well, color me skeptical given I have all the others above. I guess it might have diminishing value vice the price.

I received this volume yesterday and it is excellent, especially the illustrations, at first look.

The cover art is by Knotel.

I generally prefer the older illustrations by Knotel, Boisselier, etc. Modern interpretations are also excellent in many cases, but in some cases are not.

So for someone to claim the first, full-length, detailed study…well, color me skeptical given I have all the others above.

I believe the blurb states 'published in England.'

There have been many studies of these units published in France and Switzerland but this is the first full-length study to be published in England."

my point of view is totally valid as anybody else and more as Osprey & Helion reader and customer I am totally able to see the difference between both, to think and write that
given the fact that the book claimed to be about "uniforms" I expect for a new book on uniforms to offer new lavishly artwork in consequence and not usual already seen, already known, already used, already published, recycled again and again past color plates…here it is RIGO's artwork
e.g. Rousselot or Detaille are very talented, but it doesn't mean that I wish to see again in a further uniform book on Napoleonic Army
yes the variable quality of the Osprey but the level of the illustrations are not allways at the rendez-vous in comparison with the textual quality in Helion too

The book isn't only about uniforms, it covers, and states in the blurb, that the book is about…

"This is the first full-length detailed study of the uniforms, organization, personnel and campaigns of the numerous Swiss units that served in the armies of Revolutionary, Directorate, and Imperial France from the campaigns of 1798 in Switzerland until the Hundred Days of 1815.

The bottom line is if you don't care for it, don't buy it.

Thanks Kevin!.

Amicalement
Armand

the secptisism of rmcaras is not without any reason – my thoughts about the book

The author has compiled from a lot of sources and a good coverage of the Suisse from 1798 to 1815 regarding history, formations, uniforms, colours is achieved.

Still there is nothing new, for illustrations serve the old Bucquoy series, Rene North's paint your own uniform cards, old Rigo plates about that topic, some of R. Knötel as well as photos or orignal items and contemporary plates of Vernet.

Still in my opinion more could have done with the available sources of the subject, the author ignores more or less German sources (and there exist quite a few superb works about the subject) – foremost of Dr. Albert Maag : Geschichte der Schweizer Truppen unter Napoleon – several volumes, providing a wealth of information, also about uniforms, as other German works such as Steiger : Ein Schweizerbataillon in franz. Kriegsdienste und dessen Kämpfe gegen die neapolitanischen Briganten (1805 – 1808), Buckhardt : Die Schweizer Emigration 1798 – 1801, to name a few works, seemingly the author cannot read German to exploit those sources.

The author is surprised that in the establishment of the Demi Brigades Helvétiques 1798 – 1805 a specific colour bearer is missing, he is oblivious to the then costumn that one of the sergent – majors would have been chosen (as with the French army till 1808) to carry it.

The books is very nicely laid out and very crisp illustrations of high quality of Helion books.

summary : good book covering the Suisse army and will answer a lot of questions.

The book is not on the Swiss Army, but the Swiss units in the service of France-in other words the French army's Swiss units from 1798-1815. It isn't the same thing.