Books: Best Books/Links on The Napoleonic Era

[Zouave]

The End of Empire: Napoleon's 1814 Campaign by George F. Nafziger

http://www.amazon.com/End-Empire-Nap...&keywords=1814

Coming this december!

[Massena]

The End of Empire: Napoleon's 1814 Campaign by George F. Nafziger

http://www.amazon.com/End-Empire-Nap...&keywords=1814

Coming this december!

It's on my list-thanks for posting it.

Sincerely,
M

[Dibble201Bty]

I have had an Amazon notification that I shall soon be in possession of
Waterloo The Decisive Victory by Nick Lipscombe. It's release date is the 20th October.

As you will see by the picture in the link below, it will come with a slip case, (as with his Peninsula War Atlas) which is something I like.
There's also a pretty good 'look inside' preview too; which should be of interest.


http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...ink_refresh_T1

Paul

[vladimir Pantin]

[QUOTE=vladimir Pantin;2545608]New Russian book.
"Army of Alexander I. Infantry, artillery, engineers". The Authors O. Leonov, S. Popov, A. Kibovsky.



Volume II: Cavalry

[Massena]

Where can we get hold of it?

Sincerely,
M

[vladimir Pantin]

In this store lowest price:
http://kordegardia.ru/products-page/...072;н-2/

[Massena]

Thanks!

Sincerely,
M

[Dibble201Bty]

In this store lowest price:
http://kordegardia.ru/products-page/...072;н-2/

Which equates to Ł81.00, 102.21 Euros or $130.22.

The other one is even more expensive!

http://kordegardia.ru/products-page/...1%D0%B0%D0%BD/

+ Ł6.00, 7.50 Euro' or $10.00 postage.

Paul

[Dibble201Bty]

I have had an Amazon notification that I shall soon be in possession of
Waterloo The Decisive Victory by Nick Lipscombe. It's release date is the 20th October.

As you will see by the picture in the link below, it will come with a slip case, (as with his Peninsula War Atlas) which is something I like.
There's also a pretty good 'look inside' preview too; which should be of interest.


http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...ink_refresh_T1

Paul

I got the above book delivered to me about an hour ago. I have had a quick look through its 'lavish' (25cm X 19.5cm,) 415 pages and so far it's a beauty. Almost every page has an illustration, a very large amount of them in colour and from a myriad of contemporary to modern day artists (many of the illustrations will be new to some) such as Keith Rocco, who's splendid Legros at the North Gate, is a two page spread. There are some good maps too, a couple are of those published just after the Battle and have not been used much in books since so will be new to many.

The Book is on sale at Amazon for Ł22.75 and going by what I have seen, is worth every penny. I haven't read any of the text yet but even if it was crap and written by Hoffie or David Hamilton-Williams, It would still be worth it.

So far, for price, content of illustrations, and general presentation I would give it full marks. I haven't read it through yet but if the contribution in the text is as good, I will be giving it maximum!



Paul

[Massena]

I received my copy of the above volume in the mail today, and it is well-illustrated.

I was initially disappointed by it as it is not written by Nick Lipscombe, but edited by him. Only one of the ten chapters is written by Lipscombe, which is a shame.

All of the authors, with one exception, are British which is interesting, but some of them are first rate, such as Ian Fletcher, Philip Haythornthwaite, and Charles Esdaile.

I did take a look at the short artillery section, however, and it was rather poor, which is also unfortunate.

Sincerely,
M

[ONSunset]

What is the general opinion here on the following books

Napoleon as military commander by James Marshall-Cornwall
Napoleon Bonaparte by Alan Schom
Napoleon: A Life by Andrew Roberts

I have the first two (although I haven't read them in years) and just ordered the third book on the list.

[Cambronnne]

What is the general opinion here on the following books

Napoleon as military commander by James Marshall-Cornwall
Napoleon Bonaparte by Alan Schom
Napoleon: A Life by Andrew Roberts

I have the first two (although I haven't read them in years) and just ordered the third book on the list.

I read Schom's book years ago and found his utter contempt for his subject to be offputting and distracting. Messena (above) just commented extensively on Schom in a negative sense in another thread.
Ultimately, I lost interest in the schom book because his dislike for napoleon made it difficult accept the credibility of a number of his assertions.
I have not read the other books, but am planning on getting the Roberts book in the near future.
I would like a review of that one too if anyone has read it.

[Massena]

What is the general opinion here on the following books

Napoleon as military commander by James Marshall-Cornwall
Napoleon Bonaparte by Alan Schom
Napoleon: A Life by Andrew Roberts

I have the first two (although I haven't read them in years) and just ordered the third book on the list.

Marshall-Cornwall is worth reading.

Schom's inaccurate, albeit 'imaginative' tome is very useful for a doorstop.

I didn't care for Andrew Roberts' material too much, but his new book is worth getting (Napoleon the Great) although it is troubled by minor errors in the book on different subjects.

The best overall biography of Napoleon is still, in my opinion, Vincent Cronin's Napoleon Bonaparte: An Intimate Biography.

The following is part of Tom Holmberg's review of Schom's book. Tom Holmberg is a member of the Napoleon Series team online, is a professional librarian and an excellent Napoleonic historian in his own right:

"…Alan Schom, building on almost 200 years of the "black legend", culls every questionable allegation, spurious fact and scandalous bit of gossip to blacken Napoleon's name. Schom even casts doubts on Napoleon's military talents, misinterpreting Owen Connelly. Schom tops off his book with a simplistic and silly musing on Napoleon's mental health. But it is obvious that Schom's view of Napoleon as a psychopathic dwarf and Hitlerian mass-murdered appeals to some reviewers. This says perhaps more about those reviewers than about Napoleon. Napoleon was a human being, albeit a great one, with all the faults, vices and virtues of that species, not some cardboard cutout standing in for Hitler or Stalin. Napoleon was a product of his times, writ large, who had many great positive achievements and many great faults. But most of all Napoleon is a mystery, like many great men, but a mystery which still continues to fascinate people the world over after 200 years. Read a good book about Napoleon, not this one."-Tom Holmberg

All that being said, however, is that all books, or as many as possible should be read in order to compare and contrast those written on the same subject(s).

Sincerely,
M

[Dibble201Bty]

Half to two thirds of the way through Schom's book it gets to be less critical and overall is a very good book. If Roberts book is as fawning of Nappy as it seems, then It would be an about face from how he saw Nappy in his earlier tome 'Napoleon & Wellington' a book in which he spends slagging off Nappy throughout and slags of Wellington a la Hoffschroer, in the last chapters.

I reckon that all Roberts is doing is punting a book on Nappy that he hopes will cause controversy which in turn will garner publicity and thus sell loads and help in soothing his bank managers troubles.

I put him in the Pulp History bracket (probably something that I and Massena agree with)

I show my dislike of Nappy and much of the fawning 'first coming' guff that's published about him. Perhaps one day someone will publish an account of his life where there is no bias in the telling. Until then, Ill buy no other books on him.

All in all though, If I were you, I would ignore what I and Nappy sycophants say on the subject, do your own research and come up with your own conclusions about Napoleon and what books you would deem as worth the read.

Paul

[General Brock]

Dibby - All in all though, If I were you, I would ignore what I and
Nappy sycophants say on the subject, do your own research and come up
with your own conclusions about Napoleon and what books you would deem
as worth the read.

Well said Paul and I agree make up your own mind don't listen to some of the
rhetoric you here in this forum. Every Author has some good historical facts
in there books, which you have to sometimes pick out by reading other books
and making comparisons. Good luck all.