Book Review:
Napoleonic Uniforms (Elting)
by Dave Watkins, UK.
 |
In this issue we take a look at three new releases for the enthusiast from three different publishers. I am pleased to say that each is of exceptional value to and although two are limited editions they are well worth sacrificing those extra pennies to get your copy now. Napoleonic Uniforms Author: John R. Elting, published by Macmillan Publishing of New York, Distributed in the U.K. by Greenhill Books, Telephone: 081 458 6314. Two volumes at £ 150.00 per set. Limited edition of 300 sets in the UK, a total 2500 sets world wide many of which have found their way into the American library system. If you are reeling at £ 150.00 price tag, keep in mind that this has to be what will become one of the most sought after Napoleonic Uniform books of the century and reeks of quality. Can you afford not to be one of the 300 hundred lucky owners? I think not. The hot news is that there are probably only 100 copies left unsold in the UK and this is despite the fact that the official publication date is 30th September 1993. Yes, I know that this sounds like an advert, but this book has made a lasting impression on me. The total 864 pages (overall dimensions 11" x 8.25" - slightly smaller than First Empire) contain 916 full colour plates taken from water colours commissioned by Elting from the renowned artist Herbert Knotel (1893-1963). Knotel, working from many works contemporary to the period, produced this series in a style to reflect how the uniforms looked, not what the regulations stated they should look like. Elting constructively comments in the text that accompanies each plate, and I like the way that he has made use of newly discovered material to correct errors that Knotel made but, could not have known about. 793 of the plates are devoted to La Grande Armee, the remainder cover the Royal Army pre-Revolution and 1814-1830, Revolutionary armies and the Army of Egypt (this section is particularly eye opening). The various Tirailleurs de Po, Corse etc, are covered in excellent detail as is the oft missed subject of the Young Guard Cavalry Squadrons. It's a serious must have/sell a child/marry a rich widow/book. Highly recommended. More Book Reviews:
Book Review: Cavalry in the Waterloo Campaign Book Review: The Leipzig Campaign of 1813 Back to Table of Contents -- First Empire #13 Back to First Empire List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1993 by First Empire. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com |