Books - Napoleonic Wars
General Works
Armies of the Irish Rebellion 1798, Stuart Reid. A study of the British, French and Irish rebel armies involved in the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and the brief French intervention that came after the defeat of the main rebel armies. Demonstrates the variety of troops involved on the British side, the tiny size of the French expeditionary force and the limited organisation of the Irish rebels. [read full review] |
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Prussian Napoleonic Tactics 1792-1815, Peter Hofschröer. An examination of the organisation, tactics and battlefield effectiveness of the Prussian Army, from the early reasonably successful involvement in the Revolutionary Wars, through the crushing defeats at Jena and Auerstadt and on to the brief involvement in Russia in 1812, the War of Liberation and the final defeat of Napoleon. [read full review] |
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Armies of the Napoleonic Wars, ed. Gregory Fremont-Barnes. A collection of ten articles by nine different authors looking at the main armies of the Napoleonic Wars, from 1803 to 1815. The chapters vary in tone, with some only having the space to trace the evolving structure of an army, while others, for the smaller participants, also provide details on the army's performance. A very useful reference work. [read full review] |
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The Art of War: Restored Edition, Baron Antoine Henri de Jomini.
Jomini's Art of War was one of the most important works of military theory to come out of the Napoleonic Wars, and for many years dominated military thinking on both sides of the Atlantic. This edition uses the standard translation of 1862, but with the addition of Jomini's introduction which includes some fascinating insights into his rivalry with Clausewitz. No longer an essential book for every budding military commander, the Art of War is still invaluable for anyone with a serious interest in the Napoleonic Wars. [see more] |
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The Line upon a Wind, Noel Mostert. This is an excellent account of the greatest naval war of the age of sail. Mostert covers a wider range of topics than most books on this subject, while always remaining readable. There is a good section on the rise of American naval power and the War of 1812 [see more] |
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Imperial Guardsman 1799-1815 , Richard hook, A beautifully illustrated book with some excellent colour plates and illustrations of equipment and men in action. A must for any figure collector or wargamer with a good deal of historical info on the French Elite formation of the Napoleonic wars |
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British Cavalrymen: 1792-1815 , Philip Haythornthwaite, Richard hook, A well illustrated book with excellent information on cavalry training and tactics and engagements. The illustrations of formations are particularly useful to wargamers. [see more] |
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The Cossacks 1799-1815, Laurence Spring. This detailed book looks at the famous Russian Cossacks during the period of the Napoleonic wars. History has given the Cossacks a very mixed reputation and this book helps dispel some of the myths. [see more] |
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Napoleon's Guard Cavalry, Emir Bukhari This 48 page Osprey scratches the surface of a fascinating subject, that of the elite of Napoleons Cavalry. The book is full of some superb black and white plates and 9 pages of full colour plates of some fantastically colourful and diverse uniforms. [see more] |
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Brunswick Troops, 1809-15, Otto Von Pivka.
An interesting and well illustrated Osprey which deals with a small but very distinctively dressed force from the Napoleonic wars. If you are interested in the Brunswickers then this is a must have introduction not only for the colour illustrations and descriptions of uniform but also of the history with sections dealing with the 1809 campaign, their actions in the Peninsular war and good detail on the 1815 campaign and their role in the battle of Waterloo |
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Biographies and Memoirs
Peninsular War
The Spanish Ulcer, A History of the Peninsular War, David Gates. An excellent single volume history of the Peninsular War, which when it was published was the first really good English language history of the entire war since Oman. This is a well balanced work with detailed coverage of those campaigns conducted entirely by Spanish armies, as well as the better known British intervention in Portugal and Spain. |
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The Peninsular War: A Battlefield Guide, Andrew Rawson. A very useful guide book for anyone wanting to visit the British battlefields of the Peninsular War, from Portugal to the French border, with accounts of each major battle followed by a tour of the modern battlefield, each supported by photographs of key features and sketch maps to illustrate the battles. [read full review] |
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Spanish Army of the Napoleonic Wars: 1808-12 v. 2, Rene Chartrand. The second of three volumes dealing with the often overlooked Spanish forces during the Napoleonic wars. This is the period of Guerrilla warfare vs the French invaders and the sieges of Zaragoza and Gerona. As well as detailing Regular Spanish forces and illustrating their uniforms it also looks briefly at the Guerrillas and resistance forces but as always with Osprey books it short length means it serves as an introductionary text. Contains various maps and 8 colour plates |
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Spanish Army of the Napoleonic Wars: 1812-15 v. 3. Rene Chartrand. The final volume in the Osprey 3 part series dealing with the Spanish Army in the Napoleonic wars, this one deals with the final years where aided by the British the Spanish finally won their freedom from French rule and drove Napoleon's armies back over the Pyrenees. It is a brief but well researched volume which used both British and Spanish archives to give a more balanced view. Its main focus as with many osprey books is that of uniform and organisation and it is well illustrated with 8 full colour plates but all that said it covers the history of this period very briefly and if you are looking for more information on the final battles and campaign then look elsewhere |
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Aspern, Wagram and the War of 1809
Aspern and Wagram, 1809, Ian Castle. An interesting Osprey campaign book covering some of the largest but often forgotten battles of the Napoleonic wars, including Aspern, Napoleon's first defeat on the battlefield. It is clearly written and of great use to those interested in the Austrian Army of the period [see more] |
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Austerlitz
Austerlitz 1805, Ian Castle An excellent introduction to one of the most famous battles in History and a classic of military deception and manoeuvring. Austerlitz was the battle which truly establishes Napoleons reputation. [see more] |
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Austerlitz 1805 , David G.Chandler, A detailed and colourful book written by one of the accepted experts on the Napoleonic period. This book contains excellent 2D and 3D maps and a guide to wargaming the battle. |
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Badajoz
Badajoz, 1812: Wellingtons Bloodiest Siege, Ian Fletcher. The town of Badajoz was much fought over during the Peninsular war and this detailed and lengthy osprey covers the siege of 1812 which was the hardiest fought and bloodiest of the war, in whose aftermath the British army displayed savagery and wanton destruction rarely seen as the British troops brutally sacked the town. [see more] |
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The Berezina
Borodino
Corunna
Corunna 1809, Philip J. Haythornthwaite. A 96 page Osprey campaign book written by one of the leading authors on the Peninsular war. It is packed full of 3 D maps, colour artist plates and black and white images and some contemporary photographs of the battle area. It is better organised and laid out than many Ospreys which makes for better reading and includes orders of battle for the forces involved [see more] |
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EggMuhl 1809, Ian Castle.
A very detailed account of this complex campaign with the usual high standard of 3 d battle maps, black and white and colour pictures and impressive battle scenes. Includes sections on war gaming the campaign and the battlefields today. Very useful for anyone looking at the Austrian army of the time and sheds light on events in Europe that are often over looked due to the Peninsular war. [SEE MORE] |
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Jena
Jena, 1806, David Chandler. A 96 page osprey campaign book with the usual winning combination of orders of battle, 3D and 2D colour maps, black and white plates and colour plates. This book covers the campaign which many feel was Napoleon's best and which the German high command took inspiration from when planning the Blitzkrieg of World War Two. [see more] |
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Leipzig
Marengo 1800 , David Hollins, A well illustrated and colour book containing a vast amount of detail on this important early Napoleonic battle. Contains an extensive guide to wargamming the campaign |
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Salamanca
Salamanca, 1812, Ian Fletcher. A comprehensive and easy to read study of what many consider the key battle in the Peninsular War. Once Wellington crushed the French at Salamanca, the British and their allies would have the upper hand in the long drawn out struggle to come. [see more] |
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Waterloo Collection 1: Ligny and Quatre Bras (DVD). The first of four DVDs looking at the Waterloo campaign, this DVD looks at the background to the campaign and the battles of Quatre Bras and Ligny, the first serious fighting of the short campaign. An informative DVD, filmed on the battlefield and presented by a group of historians and expert battlefield guides [read full review] |
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Wellington at Waterloo, Jac Weller. Takes a different approach to the Battle of Waterloo, looking from the fighting from Wellington's point of view, seeing how he responded to the information at his disposal rather than taking the more usual overview approach. This approach gives us a clearer picture of Wellington's handling of the battle, and helps us see why he made the decisions he did. [read full review]
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Waterloo: Netherlands Correspondence, ed John Franklin. A valuable collection of previously unprinted documents relating to the Netherlands army during the Waterloo campaign, shedding light on this often neglected part of the Allied army - the second biggest contingent after the British, and effectively a separate army under the command of the Prince of Orange. [read full review]
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Waterloo 1815 , Geoffrey Wooten,
A good introduction to one of the most important battles of European history. Well illustrated but lacking the depth of some of the studies on the market, a starting point for those interested. Lacks a section on wargamming the battle.
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Napoleon's Commanders: Vol 1, Philip Haythornthwaite. Despite the emphasis on Napoleon, the scale of the Napoleonic Wars meant that his Marshals played a significant role in the early French successes. This volume covers the careers of the most important French commanders up till the Austrian campaign of 1809. [SEE MORE] |
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Wellington's Generals, Michael Barthorp.
This is a typical short Osprey at 48 pages which serves as an excellent introduction to some of the characters who served as generals to Wellington during the Peninsular War and the brief campaign in France. It covers (briefly) eleven of the British officers including Picton and ‘Daddy’ Hill with a brief section on Wellington’s staff system. As usual it is well illustrated with 8 full colour plates each one showing a famous general and some staff. |
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A Dorset Rifleman: The Autobiography of Sgt. Williams Lawrence 1790-1869 , edited by Eileen Hathaway forward by Bernard Cornwell. An excellent book with updated information from the Hardback edition gives a real flavour of the Napoleonic Wars |
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| The Rise and Fall of Napoleon: Rise , Robert Asprey, Abacus, 2001, 608 pages. The first of a two volumn biography, this book takes Napoleon from his birth on Corsica, through the turbulant years of the revolution and to the brink of his great victory at Austerlitz. |
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| The Rise and Fall of Napoleon: Fall (UK)/ The Reign of Napoleon (US & Canada), Robert Asprey, Abacus, 2002, 512 pages. Continues the story of Napoleon from his great victory at Austerlitz through to eventual defeat and exile. Asprey's great strength is his study of Napoleon as a general. These two books give a great overview of the life of one of the most important men in history. |
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Wellington: A Military Life, Gordon Corrigan. This in an excellent military biography of the Duke of Wellington. It focuses very heavily on Wellington the general, allows Corrigan to describe the wider campaigns in some detail, giving a good idea not only of what Wellington did, but also why he did it. [see more] |
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| Sharpe - The Complete Series , the definative collection of this excellent series which if not always totally historically accurate does give a great feel of the atmosphere of the Napoleonic wars in Spain. The series follows the rising career of Richard Sharpe and his trusty men as Sharpe is promoted from the ranks to rise to high position making friends and enemies and fighting battles along the way. |
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