Petard & Rigo Histoire & Collections
French text
£ 14.95 plus postage:

This book covers the Chasseur a Cheval of the Imperial Guard and Line Hussars and Chasseurs from 1801 to 1815, including the restoration in 1814. Its main strength is that the authors appeared determined to have produced a book which genuinely contributes to understanding the subject.

The illustrations of individual cavalrymen are beautiful, clearly detailed and inspirational. An extensive series of plates cover the topics thoroughly with every facet of arms and armour broken down in extreme detail. There are also a number of high quality colour photographs of original uniforms and weapons.

The text is liberally dotted with tables which, when used with the plates, allow any reader to be clear about the dress of virtually every rank of every regiment at almost any poini during the Napoleonic era.

Although obviously ideal for the larger scale modefler everything the wargamer needs to create impeccable 25 and 15mm units is in this book. Because of the French text I thought I was taking a risk when ordering it, but I'm now glad that I did. It will inspire me to buy and paint units which otherwise I may have shied away from through lack of information or a worry about the complexity of their uniforms.

The only criticism is that I recently read that plans for an English text version have been abandoned, Thz though hardly matters, the text is accessible with basic French and a hid knowledge of uniform and military terms. Above all though the illustrations and depth of information are superb.

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