7YWA Newsletter

Books, Magazines and Movies

By Jim Purky

6. Last of the Mohicans, the Movie, the 1992 film featuring Daniel Day-Lewis is now available for rental in most major video stores. You can also purchase a copy for about $100.00, but if you wait six to eight months, the price will probably be lowered below the $30.00 level. The 1936 version featuring Randolph Scott is now available for sale in video stores for $9.95 and it is interesting to compare the quality of the two films. The new version really comes off well in comparison. Going in the other direction, a video version of the short-lived television series staring Steve Forrest and Andrew Prine is also available, but this film ranks up there with Clive of India as being one of the worst period films ever produced. The Indians ride around the countryside on large war horses and are dressed like Sioux Indians. AAARRGH!

7. Researching the Lace Wars, Bulletin of the SYW Study Group -- SYWA member Juan L. Sanchez Martin sent me a copy of his August 1992 bulletin which features an excellent article on the Saxon Cavalry Regiments 1756 to 1762, written by John Laing. As an added bonus, John includes color photocopies of eight uniform plates for the Saxon cavalry. This is a must have edition for anyone who has an interest in the Saxon army during the SYW. Subscriptions to this fine publication cost $25.00 for three issues. Inquiries should be sent to Juan Sanchez Martin at: SYW Study Group, Apartado 14065; 28080 Madrid, Spain.

8. The Bloody Eleventh, History of the Devonshire Regiment. Volume 1: 1685 - 1815, by R.E.R. Robinson. This book was originally published in 1988 and is a veritable gold mine of information about the campaigns of the British army during the War of Austrian Succession and the Seven Years War in Germany, with emphasis on the role of the 11th Regiment of Foot. The book also covers the Marlburian campaigns and the conflict in Spain during the Napoleonic Wars. The writing style is very readable and the maps are well done. Highly recommended for SYW and Napoleonic enthusiasts. The book is currently available by mail order from Partizen Press/Caliver Books, 26 Cliffsea Grove, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex SS9 1NQ, United Kingdom and costs £25.00.

9. William Augustus Duke of Cumberland, by Rex Whitworth. This is probably the first full length biography of the much-maligned "Butcher of Culloden" and provides us with a rather sympathetic view of the Prince. Cumberland's military campaigns are given light coverage and the book focuses more on his personality and the events that shaped his life. One discovers that Cumberland was an accomplished public servant who foresaw the need to reorganize and retrain the British army of the mid 18th century. This is an interesting book and well worth the $40.00 price. The book may be purchased from Caliver Books (see item #8 above) in the UK or from Articles of War, 8806 Bronx Ave., Skokie,IL 60077 in the USA.

10. Fontenoy And Great Britain's Share in the War of the Austrian Succession 1741 - 48, by Francis Henry Skrine. This book is now available in reprint form from Caliver Books and Articles of War. This classic study comes in a set of six paperback volumes roughly the same size as the SYWA Journal at a cost of approximately $50.00. The narrative of the British campaigns is quite detailed, although the writing style is, shall we say, a bit jingoistic and nationalistic from the British point of view.

7YWA Newsletter

Back to Seven Years War Asso. Journal Vol. VI No. 3 Table of Contents
Back to Seven Years War Asso. Journal List of Issues
Back to Master Magazine List
© Copyright 1993 by James E. Purky

This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web.
Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com