General de Brigade

baxterj · Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:26 am Post subject: Current Reading

Ok gents, been at least six months since we did this one.

For my part, I am halfway through Esdaile’s ‘Peninsula Eyewitnessses’. It comprises the usual British suspects, but also lots of Spanish and French accounts.
Also started Arnold’s ‘Marengo’ which is v good and will finish when I complete Esdaile.
Next then is the Gill vol 2 on 1809.

John

captain chook · Fusilier Joined: 18 Apr 2008 Posts: 203

Hi John.

Reading Gill vol 2, re-reading parts of vol 1 to try to base a scenario on the combat at Arnhofen and Biburg or Teugn/Hausen. Also re-reading With Musket Cannon and Sword given the recent comments about this.

Ants

mikeb · Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:37 am Post subject:

"Saratoga" By John Luzader

The author has an interesting background: an Army Ranger in WWII and a long time employee of the National Park Service, he apparently did a lot of his research on-site at Saratoga. The book is very detailed. The author seems to be quite a fan of Gates, giving him much more credit for the victory than most other authors seem to. I'm not sure it is the best book I have read on Saratoga, but he does give a very detailed description of the combats at Freeman's Farm and Bemis. I'm just starting the narrative on the October 7 battle.

As an aside: I am (really) reading the trilogy; "Troy" by David Gemmell. I just finished the first book, Lord of the Silver Bow. Book two is Shield of Thunder. There is a third book, written after the author's death by his wife. Set, obviously, in the era of the Tojan War, this series is one of the best historical fictions I have read. It is one of those, "can't put it down" books. Can't say it has anything to do with GdB ... but it is great reading.

I give "Saratoga" 3 1/2 stars; "Troy" gets 5 stars.

Mike B.

Custor · Joined: 19 Mar 2008 Posts: 30 Location: Kent

With Eagles to Glory.

If i'd read this before starting collecting again every unit I'd have would be 'German'.

Waiting for paperback versions Danube.

genew49 · Joined: 11 Jan 2009 Posts: 9 Location: Westchester, NY

Napoleonic Wargaming by Charles Grant. Reprint with new material by Charles S. Grant. Arrived yesterday.

RAMCSEARCH · Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 8:58 am Post subject:

1944 Pocket Guide to Field Surgery !

Bill Bryson. "Down Under"

The beatiful Belgian series of Waterloo Books Les Carnets de la Campagne

http://www.historic-one.com/carnets/carnets.htm
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Simon W

baxterj · Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 10:55 am Post subject:

Simon, the Carnets series look good. How much colour is in them and are they worth it if your French is sketchy?

John

RAMCSEARCH · Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 7:58 am Post subject:

They are a superb series of books, my french is not good but I get by with a dictionary close to hand. Most of the military words crop up quite a lot, and I never did bother with past and future tense, so I got grade 5 at 'o' level a very long time ago ! Some of the volumes have the english eye witness reports in english. I expect that they would not translate well as the english used is 'old fashioned'. My mate who has a place in france says my french is turning into Napoleonic Belgian in its sentence construction and use of old words, which has got to be an improvement !!!

The colour plates are by Patrice Courcelle and very good, though there are a few small ? errors / ? differences eg Corwnall regt shown with red over white plumes. In my view they are a good balance between text, colour plates , maps and diagrams, and a little what if discussion.

They are pricey but I started with just two. Hougoumont and Placenoit
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Simon W

Ordnanceboard · Joined: 26 Sep 2008 Posts: 61 Location: Salisbury, Wilshire

Following a recommendation on another thread, I ordered and received

schultz · Joined: 27 Nov 2008 Posts: 35 Location: Melbourne Australia

I was really fortunate to acquire an original copy of "The History of Napoleon Buonaparte" printed in 1867 with illustrations by George Cruikshank. The book is in outstanding condition considering its age and makes for some fascinating reading. The english is precise, informal for the times and quite wonderful. I have read the first few chapters. It deals with all aspects of Napoleon's life in considerable detail and deals with events in contemporary perspective. After all it was published only 52 years after Waterloo with so many characters and personalities were still alive.

A great read.

Schultz

alanmccoubrey · Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 58

The Battle of Quatre Bras by Mike Robinson. A brilliant eye openner on a battle which we Brits generally don't get to read much about.

Littlearmies · Joined: 29 May 2006 Posts: 95 Location: London

I seem to be on something of a WWII kick at the moment. I finished Six Armies In Normandy by Keegan a few weeks ago and I'm about 1/3rd of the way through D-Day by Stepehen Ambrose.

My New Year's resolution to read twice as many books as I buy pretty much went out the window earlier this week when I stumbled across six volumes of Sutton Publishing's Battle Zone Normandy books reduced from £14.99 to £4.99 - and, well, it would have been rude not to....My previous WWII interest was the first 18 months or so of the war on the Eastern Front (I tend to lose interest when the big shiny toys started to be produced - ie the absolute reverse of most wargamers) so I can see this might well be the start of a slide down a slippery slope.

My reason for the resolution was a desire to reduce the unread book pile to more manageable proportions. I think it must be something about wargamer's personalities that we buy both more books and more lead than we can manage in the foreseeable future - perhaps there should be some tailored nine point plan for us.