Soldiers and Uniforms of Mapoleonic Wars

Rating:
Summary: A must for Napoleonic uniform enthusiasts
Review: If you have any interest in Napoleonic Uniforms this is one book I would highly recommend. It has over eighty plates covering the Napleonic soldier from the Egyptian Campaign to the fatal day at Waterloo. It includes many pictures of Napoleonic cavalry and infantry including Red Lancers, Dragoons, Hussars, Chassuers, Line Infantry, foreign troops and a host of others. It does focus primarily on the French but it also covers other nationalities. I hate looking at Napoleonic uniform plates in black and white. You miss the nuances of the uniforms, facings and piping. This book has all 80 plus plates in color. Hours of enjoyment await any uniform enthuiast perusing this book. The artist Jack Girbal is the principle illustrator but Patrice Courcelle also contributed to this work. Both with their own style convey the beauty of the Napoleonic clothing.

This book does have its faults. It was originally written in French and poorly translated into English. All the books of the Histoire Collection who published it seem to translate their works in one of those online translation services. The English is poor and laborious. I unfortunately have come to expect this poor quality of translation by Histoire Collections.

This book does give some detail to the life of General La Salle, the Hussar General. About 6 or 7 plates cover various episodes of his military career. A short history and a description of the units military importance is highlighted in the text.

This is a wonderful book on Napoleonic uniforms. I highly endorse it for its fine colorful prints.

Rating:
Summary: Brings to life the glory of the Imperial army
Review: This must have book is a signifant improvement over the French text version published several years ago. All the Hourtoulle's plates are included, the colors are vibrant and lively, not static pictorials of soldiers in a white background. Though the translation is somewhat halting, it is of rich detail, telling of events that made the careers of such legends as Lasalle and the Colbert brothers. As expected there are plates of the Guard and Line Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery; but there are also several plates of hard to find units, such as the Tirailleurs de Corsica and Po.