A New Magazine Based on the results of the reader survey we conducted in issue #10 of EE&L and reported in my column last issue, you will see an almost completely new magazine in January 1996. The "Napoleonic Sourcebook" will remain a feature in the new NAPOLEON magazine. However, I plan to share this column with contributors when they provide special reports. Two such articles currently being developed include a "how to" on collector figures and a guide to collecting Napoleonic militaria by experts in these areas. Collector figures are much larger than wargaming miniatures but very different from toy soldiers. Most are 54mm or bigger, and depending on the subject and the paint job, can be quite valuable. (Although they are often referred to as "military" miniatures, many of the Napoleonic-era castings available are of civilians such as diplomats, Napoleon's family, and other famous personalities.) Unfortunately, the turmoil created while the staff analyzed and evaluated the reader survey, and now works to introduce a new magazine, has interrupted my product surveys begun in issue #11 of EE&L. These surveys will resume in 1996 in NAPOLEON magazine. New Items Received Antique Linen Company, 4660 Campus Avenue, San Diego, CA 92116 produces reproduction 18th and 19th Century clothing. Their flyer emphasizes that they "use vintage trims and the finest reproduction cottons and silks for an authentic look." They sew custom-made clothes for men, women, and children, everything from ball gowns to wedding gowns, including corsets, hoops, and bustles. For a catalog of either "Vintage Couture 1700's to 1920's" or "Children's and Men's 1700's to 1890's" send $5.00 for each catalog to the address above. Phone orders are taken at (619) 291-8709. Ernest Jones, 1005 S.E. 17th, Portland, OR 97214 mails three to four lists per year with many one-of-a-kind Napoleonic books, videos, games, and collector figure castings. He also offers a "museum-quality" painting service for 54mm and larger miniatures. The list is free to anyone who writes to request it. Waterloo Miniatures, 106 Chatsworth Circle, Sugarland, TX 77479 sent their latest catalog which is a one-stop shopping guide for anyone interested in playing wargames with miniatures or painting 54mm collector figures. They offer several lines of 15mm and 25mm wargaming figures along with the bases to mount them on, plus paints, brushes, and painting guides, scale flags, rules books, and table top terrain including scale buildings. A periodic newsletter is also sent with updates on new products. A catalog is $4.00 (refunded on the first order) by writing to the address above. Phone orders are taken after 5 p.m. CST Monday through Friday or 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday or Sunday at (800) 577-1815 or (713) 565-1815. Columbia Games Inc., PO BOX 3457, Blaine, WA 98231 will release in November a new Napoleonic card game series called "Eagles". The first run of cards is titled "Eagles: Waterloo" with a total of 300 different cards depicting French, British, Dutch, Belgian, Brunswick, or Prussian regiments, batteries, and leaders, plus cards for terrain and special actions. The mix includes all military units available during the 1815 campaign, not just the ones that fought at Waterloo. Decks with a random assortment of 60 cards will retail for $8.95 each. Many hobby and games stores should have the "Eagles" decks in before Christmas, or you can order them directly from the publisher. Columbia Games will print each card in three versions: bronze (common), silver, and gold. The latter two are called "chase" cards for people who like to collect uncommon and rare sets of cards. The color will not, however, have any effect on the play of the game (a bronze card is identical in value to a gold card when played in the game). Greenhill Books (distributed by Stackpole Books, 5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055) celebrated the tenth anniversary of its "Napoleonic Library" series in August. There are now twenty-nine volumes in the series, and over the next two years Greenhill will reprint all seven volumes of Sir Charles Oman's classic work: A History of the Peninsular War. For a free catalog write to Stackpole at the above address or call (800) 732-3669. Greenhill will be hosting the third annual Napoleonic Fair at the Royal National Hotel on Bedford Way in London on Sunday, February 4, 1996 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. More than 100 stands of collector and toy figures, books, prints, pictures, models, wargames, militaria, videos, battlefield tours, etc., are expected. For further information write to "Napoleonic Fair" at Greenhill Books, Park House, 1 Russell Gardens, London NW11 9NN or call 0181~58-6314 or fax 0181-905-5245. More Book Recommendations With the purpose of helping people start or expand their Napoleonic libraries, in issue #10 of EE&L this column began publishing lists of Napoleonic books recommended by both scholars and amateur historians. J. David Markham, a member of the board of directors of the Napoleonic Society of America, editor-in-chief of all NSA publications, and a prolific writer in his own right, sent us his suggestions. He drew upon his personal library of some 600 books to compile this list. Markham noted in his letter that: "It is, of course, futile to try to select a 'top ten' on such a broad subject, but the likelihood of futility has never stopped me in the past! My list tries to cover a range of periods and types of sources. All would be useful to the advanced reader, and most useful as well to the novice." Napoleonic Books Recommended by J. David Markham (not in any order of priority): David Chandler, Dictionary of the Napoleonic Wars (1979). This is an excellent resource for checking some detail or some name that pops up in the course of reading some other reference. It often provides all you really need to know, or at least gets you started in the right direction. Proctor Jones, Napoleon: An Intimate Account of the Years of Supremacy (1992). Using the accounts of Meneval and Constant, Jones provides an excellent way to get to know Napoleon personally. Moreover, the sumptuous illustrations make this an impossible book to put down. John Elting, Swords around a Throne (1988). This is as good as it gets on Napoleon's military. A beginner might be somewhat overwhelmed, but there is a wealth of knowledge to be had in this book. Vincent Cronin, Napoleon Bonaparte (1972). While Cronin is sometimes considered "pro" Napoleon, there may be no better overall biography of Napoleon to be found. This is an excellent resource for the novice and the scholar. The excellent bibliographic reference section is quite useful as well. Armand Caulaincourt, Memoirs/With Napoleon in Russia (1935) and No Peace With Napoleon (1936). This is a well written set that really takes the reader to the events of the time. Caulaincourt was right where the action was in the last years of the Empire, and he brings those eventsÄand NapoleonÄto life. Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, A Selection from the Letters and Despatches of the First Napoleon, with Explanatory Notes, 3 volumes (1884), compiled by Captain D. A. Gingham. No study of Napoleon can be complete without reference to some of the original documents written by him. There are quite a few collections. The best, of course, is the thirty-two volume Correspondance, but that requires excellent French and is not readily available to most students of Napoleon. The gingham set is not only an invaluable collection of translated primary source material, butcontains a very useful narrative to place the letters in their proper context. Charles Montholon, History of the Captivity of Napoleon at St. Helena, 4 volumes (1846). There are a number of important memoirs from the exile at St. Helena. This one is among the most important, and most readable. Like Caulaincourt, Montholon takes you right to the action and presents an excellent chance to get to know Napoleon and the other players as well. There is some question as to honesty of his writing regarding Napoleon's health, but most of his narrative is both useful and interesting. Baron John Fain, The Manuscript of 1814 (1832). Another excellent firsthand account of this critical year in Napoleon's career. In addition to the excellent and very readable accounting of the action, Fain provides English translations of many important letters and documents. Marie Henri Beyle (pseudonym for Stendhal), A Life of Napoleon (1956). Stendhal was cousin to Count Daru, an important luminary in Napoleon's government. Daru obtained a number of important positions for Stendhal, who served in the 1800 Italian campaign, the 1812 Russian campaign, and the campaign in Germany of 1813. A great French literary figure, Stendhal's fictional characters reflect his own love of Napoleon. This work, an unfinished life of Napoleon, takes a surprisingly even handed approach to Napoleon's career. John Bignham Morton, Brumaire: The Rise of Bonaparte, A Study of French History from the Death of Robespierre to the Establishment of the Consulate (1948). This may be the sleeper in my list. The early career of Napoleon is often overlooked. A number of important books on the subject do exist, and this may be the best of them. While it omits Toulon, it gives the reader an excellent sense of the political situation during the crucial years from the end of Terror to Napoleon's coup d'etat. Jean Tulard, L'Histoire de Napoleon Par La Peinture (The History of Napoleon by Paintings). While I am reluctant to include a book with French text, the value of this book transcends the text. It is virtually impossible to really understand the epoch of Napoleon without reference to the visual imagery we have of the period. This large book is filled with countless color reproductions of these images. To page through it is both a pleasure and an education. New Project I am currently collecting lists for a Napoleonic book project. These lists can be historical, such as "Napoleon's Best (or Worst) Marshals," "Napoleon's Staunchest Enemies (or Friends)," etc. Or, the lists can be about contemporary products, such as "The Best (or Worst) Books on Napoleon," "The Best (or Worst) Napoleonic Board Games," etc. It's not necessary to go into great detail, but a few notes supporting your choices would be appreciated. If I am able to use part or all of your list(s) or suggestions, you will receive credit for your contribution when the final product is published. (This is strictly volunteer, no compensation is available. More creative and unusual lists will receive special recognition, however.) Back to Empire, Eagles, & Lions Table of Contents Vol. 2 No. 14 Back to EEL List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1995 by Emperor's Headquarters 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