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Napoleonic book suggstions - 12/10/2015 10:32:42 AM   
Delaware

 

Posts: 212
Joined: 8/6/2013
Status: offline 		I am much more familiar with the American Civil War than I am with Napoleonic stuff. What books would you recommend for general reading for context of the time? I see Andrew Roberts "Napoleon: A Life" gets great reviews. I also have Zamoyski's books on 1812 invasion of Russia and the Congress of Vienna. Any other suggestions?
Post #: 1
RE: Napoleonic book suggstions - 12/10/2015 10:37:11 AM   
76mm


Posts: 4688
Joined: 5/2/2004
From: Washington, DC
Status: offline 		I'm no Napoleonic expert, but I thought that The Campaigns of Napoleon by Chandler was very good, and is considered a classic.

(in reply to Delaware)
Post #: 2
RE: Napoleonic book suggstions - 12/10/2015 11:56:15 AM   
typhoon

 

Posts: 387
Joined: 4/2/2002
From: United Kingdom
Status: offline 		The War of wars by Robert Harvey is one of my favs and of course there is always War and Peace to get you into the right frame of mind to begin a campaign as Russian.

(in reply to 76mm)
Post #: 3
RE: Napoleonic book suggstions - 12/10/2015 3:36:52 PM   
kosmoface

 

Posts: 111
Joined: 8/10/2010
Status: offline 		1812: Napoleon's Fatal March on Moscow - Adam Zamoyski

Absolute page turner.

(in reply to typhoon)
Post #: 4
RE: Napoleonic book suggstions - 12/10/2015 3:50:59 PM   
Ironclad

 

Posts: 1924
Joined: 11/22/2006
Status: offline 		delete

< Message edited by Ironclad -- 12/10/2015 4:51:47 PM >

(in reply to 76mm)
Post #: 5
RE: Napoleonic book suggstions - 12/10/2015 3:53:07 PM   
Ironclad

 

Posts: 1924
Joined: 11/22/2006
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: 76mm

I'm no Napoleonic expert, but I thought that The Campaigns of Napoleon by Chandler was very good, and is considered a classic.


True. Nearly 50 years old but still the best book on Napoleon I have ever read and reread regularly. An outstanding account of Napoleon's practice, military genius and campaigns with superb battle maps.


< Message edited by Ironclad -- 12/10/2015 4:55:49 PM >

(in reply to 76mm)
Post #: 6
RE: Napoleonic book suggstions - 12/10/2015 5:38:06 PM   
Arsan

 

Posts: 409
Joined: 7/1/2005
From: Madrid, Spain
Status: offline 		+1 for Chandler's The Campaigns of Napoleon. Awesome

(in reply to Ironclad)
Post #: 7
RE: Napoleonic book suggstions - 12/10/2015 6:30:34 PM   
Steelers708

 

Posts: 138
Joined: 12/7/2010
From: England
Status: offline 		Swords Around a Throne by John R. Elting is an excellent book on Napoleons Grande Armee.

(in reply to Arsan)
Post #: 8
RE: Napoleonic book suggstions - 12/10/2015 7:31:11 PM   
Kai

 

Posts: 150
Joined: 12/12/2005
Status: offline 		Chandler's book is the best overall history.

For a really fun read, I can recommend Seven Men of Gascony, by Delderfield. It's historical fiction, and gives a good flavor of what it was like to be a soldier in Napoleon's army.

(in reply to Steelers708)
Post #: 9
RE: Napoleonic book suggstions - 12/10/2015 8:27:17 PM   
Arsan

 

Posts: 409
Joined: 7/1/2005
From: Madrid, Spain
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Steelers708

Swords Around a Throne by John R. Elting is an excellent book on Napoleons Grande Armee.

That is very nice too! But maybe it's better for someone who already knows and likes the napoleonic period.
I read it after having read Chandlers book.

Another excellent entry level book would be The Battle by Alessandro Barbiero. It's about Waterloo, but it's a great book to understand how battles, campaigns and armies were back then. Very readable and objective.

Regards

< Message edited by Arsan -- 12/10/2015 9:33:01 PM >

(in reply to Steelers708)
Post #: 10
RE: Napoleonic book suggstions - 12/10/2015 10:14:42 PM   
Delaware

 

Posts: 212
Joined: 8/6/2013
Status: offline 		Wanted to throw out there "The Spanish Ulcer" and "Wellington's Rifles" by Mark Urban.

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Post #: 11
RE: Napoleonic book suggstions - 12/11/2015 1:19:03 AM   
76mm


Posts: 4688
Joined: 5/2/2004
From: Washington, DC
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Steelers708
Swords Around a Throne by John R. Elting is an excellent book on Napoleons Grande Armee.

I agree that this is a great book, but IIRC it is organized thematically (ie, each chapter covers a topic such as infantry, cavalry, engineers) so not the best book looking for an overview of the campaigns. But a great source for someone looking for detailed info about the Napolean's armies!

(in reply to Steelers708)
Post #: 12
RE: Napoleonic book suggstions - 12/11/2015 11:32:17 AM   
typhoon

 

Posts: 387
Joined: 4/2/2002
From: United Kingdom
Status: offline 		This post also made me delve deep into the book cupboard and dig out Bruce Quarries excellent Napoleonic Wargames in Miniature whilst some of it does not apply some of the chapters offer a real good beginning to the Napoleonic Wars I especially enjoy the Generals and their summaries. Also glad of the nostalgia been years since I looked at it.

(in reply to 76mm)
Post #: 13
RE: Napoleonic book suggstions - 12/11/2015 5:53:41 PM   
Crimguy


Posts: 1409
Joined: 8/15/2003
From: Cave Creek, AZ
Status: offline 		Campaigns of Napoleon - US $65 on Amazon . . . for the Kindle version!

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Post #: 14
RE: Napoleonic book suggstions - 12/11/2015 6:11:24 PM   
Uxbridge


Posts: 1505
Joined: 2/8/2004
From: Uppsala, Sweden
Status: offline 		David Chandler's Campaigns of Napoleon was a bible for me 30 years ago. If you can get the real book -- get it! If ever you get tired of reading it, you can always use it knocking out burglars.

_____________________________


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Post #: 15
RE: Napoleonic book suggstions - 12/14/2015 3:01:14 PM   
Citizen Emperor


Posts: 69
Joined: 12/28/2013
From: Memphis
Status: offline 		The most comprehensive study of a major Napoleonic campaign ever published in English...

1809: Thunder On the Danube by John H. Gill
Three Volumes:
I. Politics, Strategies and the Road to Abensberg-Eggmuhl
II. The Fall of Vienna and the Battle of Aspern
III. Wagram and Znaim

Absolutely EVERY aspect of Napoleon's 1809 campaign is covered in detail, from the insignificant small-unit actions to the decisive battles. Scores of OB tables and charts, and over 100+ maps!


_____________________________

"A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon."

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Post #: 16
RE: Napoleonic book suggstions - 12/14/2015 3:25:30 PM   
Marcus_Antonius

 

Posts: 79
Joined: 8/20/2007
Status: offline 		The book below is currently 1.99 on Amazon (for Kindle).


quote:

ORIGINAL: Citizen Emperor

The most comprehensive study of a major Napoleonic campaign ever published in English...

1809: Thunder On the Danube by John H. Gill
Three Volumes:
I. Politics, Strategies and the Road to Abensberg-Eggmuhl
II. The Fall of Vienna and the Battle of Aspern
III. Wagram and Znaim

Absolutely EVERY aspect of Napoleon's 1809 campaign is covered in detail, from the insignificant small-unit actions to the decisive battles. Scores of OB tables and charts, and over 100+ maps!



(in reply to Citizen Emperor)
Post #: 17
RE: Napoleonic book suggstions - 12/15/2015 12:57:50 AM   
Aurelian

 

Posts: 3916
Joined: 2/26/2007
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: a_gonatas

The book below is currently 1.99 on Amazon (for Kindle).


quote:

ORIGINAL: Citizen Emperor

The most comprehensive study of a major Napoleonic campaign ever published in English...

1809: Thunder On the Danube by John H. Gill
Three Volumes:
I. Politics, Strategies and the Road to Abensberg-Eggmuhl
II. The Fall of Vienna and the Battle of Aspern
III. Wagram and Znaim

Absolutely EVERY aspect of Napoleon's 1809 campaign is covered in detail, from the insignificant small-unit actions to the decisive battles. Scores of OB tables and charts, and over 100+ maps!





The first volume is.

_____________________________

If the Earth was flat, cats would of knocked everything off of it long ago.

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Post #: 18
RE: Napoleonic book suggstions - 12/15/2015 6:15:37 AM   
Ironclad

 

Posts: 1924
Joined: 11/22/2006
Status: offline 		Excellent value. Not sure how kindle will handle the maps though. Its a while since I read the trilogy even though its on my bookshelves, but I can remember some of the great maps needed the magnifier.

(in reply to Aurelian)
Post #: 19
RE: Napoleonic book suggstions - 12/15/2015 11:07:28 AM   
Delaware

 

Posts: 212
Joined: 8/6/2013
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Ironclad

Excellent value. Not sure how kindle will handle the maps though. Its a while since I read the trilogy even though its on my bookshelves, but I can remember some of the great maps needed the magnifier.

a reviewer of the Kindle version stated the maps are not included, though listed on the table of contents

(in reply to Ironclad)
Post #: 20
RE: Napoleonic book suggstions - 12/15/2015 1:30:38 PM   
Citizen Emperor


Posts: 69
Joined: 12/28/2013
From: Memphis
Status: offline 		Personally, I wouldn't read 1809: THUNDER ON THE DANUBE without the maps... They're somewhat essential.

_____________________________

"A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon."

(in reply to Delaware)
Post #: 21
RE: Napoleonic book suggstions - 12/15/2015 2:29:54 PM   
Lord_Stanley

 

Posts: 32
Joined: 1/21/2007
From: on the pond
Status: offline 		Swords Around A Throne has already been mentioned several times, and for good reason.
Another to consider is 1805: Austerlitz: Napoleon and the Destruction of the Third Coalition

(in reply to Citizen Emperor)
Post #: 22
RE: Napoleonic book suggstions - 12/15/2015 3:40:47 PM   
Recognition


Posts: 193
Joined: 2/24/2002
From: A Brit in Holland / UK
Status: offline 		A lot of good books mentioned here and I have a lot of them myself. I've just purchased 1809: THUNDER ON THE DANUBE all 3 vol from pen and sword uk online as a ebook ( not Kindle ) as I've just acquired a Windows Tablet

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Post #: 23
RE: Napoleonic book suggstions - 12/15/2015 4:53:14 PM   
Ironclad

 

Posts: 1924
Joined: 11/22/2006
Status: offline 		You're in for a treat. One of my favourite Napoleon's campaigns - his counter-offensive was a real work of genius and sustained energy. Amongst other things it demonstrates Lannes' great qualities and how highly Napoleon regarded him as a commander and friend.

Btw I don't know if the publishers have changed this but in my editions they included a map in volume 2 which was introduced to help readers better understand some of the Austrian movements in volume 1. If so its well worth having that available for reference when reading the first volume.

(in reply to Recognition)
Post #: 24
RE: Napoleonic book suggstions - 12/15/2015 9:56:21 PM   
Aurelian

 

Posts: 3916
Joined: 2/26/2007
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Citizen Emperor

Personally, I wouldn't read 1809: THUNDER ON THE DANUBE without the maps... They're somewhat essential.






Not the best pic, but there it is. And you can zoom in.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Aurelian -- 12/15/2015 10:57:39 PM >

_____________________________

If the Earth was flat, cats would of knocked everything off of it long ago.

(in reply to Citizen Emperor)
Post #: 25
RE: Napoleonic book suggstions - 12/15/2015 9:58:18 PM   
Aurelian

 

Posts: 3916
Joined: 2/26/2007
Status: offline 		Zoomed in. Dang phone camera.




Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Aurelian -- 12/15/2015 10:59:04 PM >

_____________________________

If the Earth was flat, cats would of knocked everything off of it long ago.

(in reply to Aurelian)
Post #: 26
RE: Napoleonic book suggstions - 12/16/2015 9:03:53 PM   
warspite1


Posts: 41353
Joined: 2/2/2008
From: England
Status: offline 		Five books I would recommend - the former and the latter in particular:

Waterloo - A Near Run Thing - David Howarth
La Grande Armee - Georges Blond
The Peninsular War - Charles Esdaile
The Napoleonic source Book - Philip J Haythornthwaite
The Waterloo Companion - Mark Adkin


< Message edited by warspite1 -- 12/16/2015 10:07:21 PM >

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805



(in reply to Aurelian)
Post #: 27
RE: Napoleonic book suggstions - 12/31/2015 2:50:44 PM   
Walloc

 

Posts: 3141
Joined: 10/30/2006
From: Denmark
Status: offline 		Another name to go by is: James R Arnold.

Having read most of the books that has been listed here, i can safely say that IMHO in some 100+ campaign books read on the napolonic subjects that his is the best written and best/fullest explaination of the campaigns in question.

His 1809 and 1807 series are superb, as is his Marengo and Hohenlinden book. His latest on the 1813 spring campaign isnt quite at the same level, but still a very good book.


Also as it isnt usually the country written most about in the periode. Dominic Lieven's Russia against Napoleon is great for understanding what goes on in Russia and why different decisions about post 1805 era is made. Politically and militarily.

Kind regards,
Rasmus

< Message edited by Walloc -- 12/31/2015 3:51:11 PM >

(in reply to warspite1)
Post #: 28
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