Napoleonic information is vital to all historians who venture into this vast and colourful period. This article is about the amount of different sources available to the enthusiast, wargamer, historian and re-enactment society. The information has been broken down into different sections each corresponding together to research into the availability of accurate works and organizations on the period concluding with a personal account of the information gathered. Please read on. Historical Re-enactment Societies Considering I was going to join the French 21st Line regiment about a year ago I have high praise for this society. Only transport and lack of money hindered me, although once finishing my studies at home on the Napoleonic era and writing about the subject - I may then join up. May I first point out that when discussing “lack of transport” I actually refer to recruiting areas-mustering points. I have transport but also a very tight personal rota which I need to complete for my own desires. If recruiting points were more closer then we would find many more people being interested in the period and also a larger society in the Napoleonic Association. The problem I am raising here is again the lack of subsidies and support the organization would prosper from. I am in no way criticizing the Napoleonic Association because I know that it is well managed and puts on great performances of battles. It is a benefit to history to see a society of people enjoying and helping others enjoy the Napoleonic period. Joining this association would promote the use of Napoleonic literature and actual conditions during the wars-realism. I had a great deal of interesting information from Chris Durkin, a Lieutenant in the 21st Line regiment which was informative and considerate. It is obvious that the Napoleonic Association would love to see new members so please all those interested and supporting the N.A. contribute financially and supportingly when attending a re-enactment particularly the onlookers and will hopefully open up new recruiting depots for a society which portrays the times of Napoleon so dedicated to the cause making it an invaluable attraction. Congratulations for the Napoleonic Association. Museums With all due respect to the last two major conflicts fought in this century I would like to see more museums contributing to the Napoleonic wars. The Imperial War Museum is mostly with respect dealing with the 1st but mainly 2nd World War. Here we have a problem. Unfortunately two more great wars were fought and many still remember the horrors which dwarfed even Waterloo. It would be nice to see, however a small portion dedicated to the wars of Napoleon and be interesting to see the amount of support this period would get from the public. A museum in Chelmsford is quite an exception - it is free to enter and has a smaller military museum incorporating the Napoleonic period with information concerning the Essex regiments and uniforms,muskets and a captured French Eagle standard. Very interesting and useful for all people inside and outside this period creating a nostalgia for the community. The amount of subsidies, obviously depends on the museums success in this case and expansion also depends on public interest. Magazines Magazines are available in many different varieties and in my opinion are cheap and worth their money. It is interesting to note that magazines covering a whole variety of periods sell more widely than a magazine dedicated to one historical period in history. First Empire is postal delivery but would be nice to see on shop shelves. This probably will not be possible because it does not cover the scope of warfare through history but is based upon Napoleonic roots. (Ed. Actually First Empire can now be obtained from Independant News Agents via Hobby Games!! Hurrah!) This serves a good purpose though - a magazine dedicated to Napoleonic warfare entirely is a bonus to those solely interested in this specific period. Congratulations to David Watkins for a great magazine which us readers can buy instead of relying only on other magazines which cater for a wide scope reducing the amount on Napoleonic study. A benefit of First Empire magazine is that its great value allows us to collect several issues providing us sometimes with more information than an expensive book on the subject. True value here. Also First Empire now promotes the Napoleonic Association which is great news and the magazine is growing ever popular, increasing the potential for new adventures in the period. Books With such a wide market on books concerning battles from Marengo to Waterloo we are thankfully being overwhelmed with information-uniform guides,biographies,campaigns etc. Although this does have a reverse effect. What book do we choose which will suit our needs when so manly works cater for individual campaigns, the variation in information is likely to be considerable. To choose a book which is best suited for our requirements is a matter of chance and always has been unless accompanied by a review and even then it is a personal opinion. The answer is simple, please could we have more Napoleonic works in libraries around the country where we could read a work and if satisfied go to our local bookshop and order a copy, that is if it is still in print which is where my praise is directed to Worley Publications for re-printing a large collection of Napoleonic books including authors Houssaye, General Foy and A.H. Atteridge. It is also good to see First Empire offering a book service increasing the scope of choice and will hopefully help the magazine too. Another point worth mentioning is the price of books which to me seem quite high. I used to be a printer and know of the prices of paper, ink and so on but it would be nice to see a fall in the price for works which may contribute much more successfully “en masse” if at a lower price instead of volumes which level at an expensive cost. Of course this is only a personal view and realise the profits which have to be made by those involved in creating, selling the volumes. Perhaps it is a question of demand and consumer expenditure or inflation which I will not discuss because politics bores me. However their is still a large number of works available to the Napoleonic historian at a reasonable price and depends how much enjoyment the purchaser will gain. If I want a book so badly I will pay up to a considerable price to add to my collection. My collection is reasonably large but try to find the best volumes for each individual campaign and expand from say Marengo to Austerlitz and so on. This depends on cash available and afraid to say Libraries offering services for a study of the work before actually buying it. Lets see more Libraries offering Napoleonic books for loan which I think would flourish the book market without decreasing the sale of Napoleonic volumes. Videos Many videos are now available to the historian. The old Waterloo has seen a new revival and Cromwell Films Limited has produced a fine range, two of which I have bought-”1812 Road To Moscow” and “Austerlitz” which are accompanied by a small book and features film footage from “War and Peace” also including the historian David Chandler explaining the events of the campaign’s broken by good graphical maps of the armies dispositions. At around £15 they are great value and available through Cromwell Productions, CAMPAIGNS IN HISTORY P.O. BOX 142 JUBILEE ESTATE FOUNDRY LANE HORSHAM WEST SUSSEX RH13 5FJ. Alternatively they are also stocked in W.H. Smith stores. Art Mr. David Watkins is the man to thank for art. All the reader needs to do is look at the front or back cover of First Empire and appreciate the value and choice of fine prints. I have purchased two and am delighted with them - they make a Napoleonic study a place to treasure having fine art decorating the walls gives satisfaction to wargaming and study, creating a nostalgic atmosphere. Thank you Mr. Watkins for making these prints available to us. Conclusion With all the topics now researched I am happy to remark that the Napoleonic historian has a large amount of information to collect and study and that any points made in adverse are minor ones. After all when studying the Napoleonic period we all tend to gather as much criteria as possible and draw from as many sources possible. I see the Napoleonic period expanding in interest as we proceed in the years ahead. Criticisms which I have made are small but worth a thought. However just looking at the pages of First Empire - work from readers proves the period and information gathered and valued, also professional. This also increases the recognition of the N.A. A wider approach publicly for the N.A. and more information in museums, lower book prices (providing more people wish to read Napoleonic warfare) and a larger creation of videos and televised series (Sharpe) would help. On the whole we are doing extremely well to have this information, and an expansion on Napoleonic interests looks likely along with this magazine. I wish all Napoleonic historians much luck when searching for information. Back to Table of Contents -- First Empire #21 Back to First Empire List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1997 by First Empire. 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