‘Cecil Lewis exceptional account of his life as an RFC pilot is rightly regarded as one of the classics of World War One literature. . . . This is probably the best of the books written by serving pilots during those awful days. . . . Cecil Lewis’s book is vital reading by anyone with even the smallest interest in flying. It is also an exceptional piece of writing and should be made essential reading in the classrooms of our schools’ – Wingspan reviewing Sagittarius Rising by Cecil Lewis.
‘This book is possibly the greatest aviation work to emanate from World War I. . . . This must be on everybody’s shelf’ – Cross & Cockade Journal reviewing Sagittarius Rising by Cecil Lewis.
‘Harris, it is often forgotten, because he was an airman, was one of the great generals of the Second World War. With hindsight, he is contro-versial; but there is no point in crying over spilt milk. Nobody asked the Germans to invade Poland; nobody asked them to bomb cities. The problem is, when you bomb British cities, you might just find we perfect that technique – a war was to be fought, and there's no point in crying about it now.’ – Liberator reviewing Bomber Harris, His Life and Times by Henry Probert. ‘Excellent, detailed treatment of many hard-fought actions.’ – The NYMASD Newsletter (USA) reviewing Wellington Invades France: The Final Phase of the Peninsular War, 1813-1814 by Ian C. Robertson.
'Many books claiming to be encyclopedias of aircraft exist, but all of them fall far short of the mark. A true, accurate encyclopedia of all aircraft may never be published, because the task of gathering accurate information about such a vast subject is far too formidable. However, any attempt to produce such an encyclopedia should begin with Bell's work . . . This unique book strives to catalogue every airplane produced by every manufacturer or designer in the world. The research was meticulous and the scope of the book is staggering in its magnitude. . . Extensively cross-referencing makes it easy to find any aircraft designation or name. . . Every aviation enthusiast can spend hours poring over the listings and be fascinated by the information . . . This work is very comprehensive and up-to-date reference. It should find its way into the libraries of all aviation historians and airplane enthusi-asts. ’ – Air Power History (USA) reviewing The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Directory of Airplanes: Their Design and Manufacturers by Dana Bell.
‘Noted Napoleonic Wars historian Smith has produced a very readable and useful book . . . recommended for all military history collections.’ – Library Journal reviewing Charge! Great Cavalry Charges of the Napoleonic Wars by Digby Smith.
‘Informative and perceptive. . . They shed light on Napoleon's perceptions, character, leadership, and subordinates, as well as the Emperor's attempts to praise his soldiers, inform the home population, and shape public opinion. The volume is an invaluable addition to the personal library of anyone interested in Napoleon and his wars. Greenhill Books is to be congratulated for filling this void in Napoleonic literature.’ – Military Heritage reviewing Imperial Glory: The Bulletins of Napoleon’s Grand Armee, 1805- 1814 by J. David Markham.
‘“Screwball” Beurling, as he and collaborator Leslie Roberts relate in this lively, fast-paced account, showed himself to be one of the best fighter pilots of the war. In 14 days of combat he destroyed 27 enemy planes, damaged eight, and probably destroyed three more. One of his officers remarked, “He was a wonderful pilot, and an even better shot.” Beurling won four decora-tions for gallantry and a commission within two months . . . This gripping narrative, which places the reader virtually in Beurling's cockpit, is an outstanding aviation memoir, an engaging study of a gifted combat flier, and an inside look at the epic defense of strategic Malta during 1941 and 1942.’ – WWII History reviewing Malta Spitfire by George Beurling and Leslie Roberts.
‘The War of Independence: The British Army in North America is a substantial step toward under-standing the Revolutionary War. . . Of great value to the scholar and casual reader’ – Military Review (USA) reviewing The War of Independence: The British Army in North America, 1775-1783 by Sir John Fortescue.
‘Fortescue's narrative style make his work a pleasure to read.’ – The Bulletin of the Military Historical Society reviewing The War of Independence: The British Army in North America 1775-1783 by Sir John Fortescue.
‘Uniquely captures the thoughts and emotions of a soldier from the 1940s, his narrative reads like a diary instead of a history. His accounts are largely drawn from his own wartime letters, dutifully saved by his wife. The letters, which provide first-hand accounts written within hours of each event, are a treasure of facts and emotions not subject to memories 50 years faded. They are, quite simply, a time capsule of the emotional culture of the period. . . Bowen points out that just being a survivor in war is an achievement. His amazing story, from historic pitched battles to prisoner-of-war experience easily supports that testament. I highly recommend Bowen's book for several reasons: it is good recreational reading for the historical student'; it is a good historical reference of World War II glider troops; and it is an excellent resource for understanding the period experi-ences of the common infantry soldier.’ – Military Review reviewing Fighting with the Screaming Eagles: With the 101st Airborne from Normandy to Bastogne by Robert M. Bowen.
‘Directory of Airplanes is a wealth of data on aviation history, attempting to identify every aircraft, along with its manufacturer and designer. An essential reference book for the aviation enthusiast, it is a comprehensive guide to the large number of aircraft produced in the last 100 years.’ – Sea Power (USA) reviewing The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s Directory of Airplanes: Their Designers and Manufacturers edited by Dana Bell.
‘Computer enhancement techniques have made it possible to reproduce a selection of these pictures with little or no loss of definition, and a very interesting collection they make. . . the pictures . . . might be regarded as a classic collection of wartime photography’ – Royal Air Force Historical Society Journal reviewing Targeting the Reich by Dr Alfred Price.
‘The narrative flows . . . sixty excellent photographs . . . Among the fresh insights that illumi-nate Dog-Fight are references to, and a number of verbatim extracts from interviews that the author conducted from the 1960s onwards with veterans of WWI, several of whom, Hollinghurst, Gould-Lee and Leask, for example, had reached air rank before retiring. There are even first hand recollections from a number of observers, the generally overlooked tribe who actually did much of the damage inflicted by ‘Fees’ and Bristol Fighters. These interludes add to the texture and there will be few readers who will not find something new buried within the text. . . Dog-Fight is also particularly good at amplifying the differing attitudes adopted by the various air forces towards, and policies implemented to govern, the validation of combat claims. . . A worthwhile investment, even if your shelves are already well-furnished with books on the fighter pilots of WWI. For those who do not have a reasonably firm grasp of the subject, however, Dog-Fight will provide a very sound foundation.’ – Royal Air Force Historical Society Journal reviewing Dog-Fight by Norman Franks.
‘A lifetime of interest and research has imbued Edward Ryan with a deep, penetrating understanding of the military imperatives and social fabric of France under Napoleon. This, and his friendship and collaboration with Henri de Clairval, the great, great-grandson of General Daumesnil, and generous access to family archives and papers, has made possible the telling of a remarkable life. In France (where the name and memory of General Baron Pierre Daumesnil is perhaps more widely recognised through his nickname, ‘la Jambe de Bois’) he is honoured as a national hero. But until now, his life has eluded the English speaking world for the simple reason that there are no biographies of Daumesnil in English and few, if any, references in even the best English texts of the period. . . Mr Ryan’s descriptions of these military peregrinations are superb. Ulm, Austerlitz and Jena-Auerstadt come to life. The record of Murat’s grand charge at Eylau, in which Daumesnil participated, is the finest I have ever seen in print. . . Mr Ryan has presented a biography of spellbind-ing interest to Napoleonic scholars and enthusi-asts alike.’ – The Gazette of the Napoleonic Alliance reviewing Napoleon’s Shield and Guardian: The Unconquerable General Daumesnil by Edward Ryan.
‘This latest offering on small arms from Greenhill’s Military Manuals series is a real stunner that deserves every success. John Walter has followed up his superb Military Rifles of Two World Wars with this companion volume on handguns . . . The combination of history, technical detail and specifications of each item make this manual the unrivalled information source book on the subject. Even if you think you are knowledgeable on the subject, read and be further enlightened. Absolutely recommended for the curator or enthusiast.’ – Syd Wigzell (Australia) reviewing Military Rifles of Two Worlds Wars by John Walter.
‘For anyone trying to keep up with the latest front line tanks of countries that can afford them, this latest compendium from the Greenhill Military Manuals series is a must. For youthful enthusias-tic tank spotting on the TV news segments or professional commentators comparing the capa-bilities of countries shaping up to each other, the answer is conveniently within reach . . . The text is generously supported by excellent b&w photos and superb line drawings by the very talented Ray Hutchins. . . . outstanding up-to-date offering from Greenhill.’ – Syd Wigzell reviewing Battletanks by Alan K Russell and W. J. Hennessey.
‘These memoirs by a Russian Tank rider present a front-line view of the horrific combat that was the eastern front from the Kursk battles of 1943 to the fall of Berlin in 1945 . . . This is a no-frills account written from an infantry platoon leader’s perspec-tive that in this case is from the back of a tank far in advance of the main Russian forces. . . A sobering look at Russian small-unit tactics, which focused on results without regard for the individ-ual soldier. Bessonov recounts the courage and fear, bravery and stupidity of all those in his military family, both above and below him. In so doing, he leaves an honest account of soldiers at war and a unique glimpse into the makeup of the Russian soldier. Recommended.’ - Library Journal (USA) reviewing Tank Rider: Into the Reich with the Red Army by Evgeni Bessonov.
‘Naval historians waited a long time for a compre-hensive and cumulative list of all British warships . . . Then in 1969 former Chatham Dockyard apprentice James Colledge published his splendid two-volume Ships of the Royal Navy that provided historians for the first time with a complete record of all fighting ships of the Royal Navy from the Fifteenth Century to the present. . . Now the major fighting ships volume has been revised and updated. About 2,000 of the 12,500 ship entries have been amended, including ships which have been built or disposed of since the last editions appeared in 1987. Cdr Warlow and Greenhill Books have given this compact and highly detailed reference book a thorough refit. The recommissioned Colledge will be well received and will delight all who write and read about ships and the sea.’ – Lawrence Phillips in Ships Telegraph (Ministry of Defence) reviewing Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy from the Fifteenth Century to the Present by J. J. Colledge.
‘This clever and capable author writes a brilliant overview of 500 years of its political and military history. . . . The Teutonic Knights is a terrific book . . . Well-written, concise, and fast moving, you'll appreciate Urban’s efforts to highlight crusader action on the fringes of Christendom’ – Magweb (USA) reviewing The Teutonic Knights: A Military History by William Urban.
‘Smith is certainly good at describing battles . . . the maps are very well done.’ - Magweb (USA) reviewing Charge!: Great Cavalry Charges of the Napoleonic Wars by Digby Smith.
‘Might be the ultimate barstool debate manual. Each time some technique or tactic is discussed, up pops a shaded box with an anecdote. . . . This how-to guide is all very entertaining.’ – Magweb (USA) reviewing The Counter Insurgency Manual by Leroy Thompson.
‘Truly a magnificent collection . . . a wonderful addition to a Napoleonic buff’s library.’ – Magweb (USA) reviewing Uniforms of Napoleon’s Army by Carle Vernet, translated by Jonathan North.
‘It provides those most sought-after of accounts: the recollections of the men who took part in the actions. Considering the period in which it was written, it is remarkable how much material was produced by private soldiers, but as you might expect, the bulk of the writing was done by officers. The accounts given here are culled from letters, diaries and memoirs and provide a colourful and often moving picture of the major actions during those six eventful years, seen from an individual participant’s point of view. . . Highly recommended to anyone who wishes to know what is was really like to be a soldier in those days. . . Brought to life with extraordinary immediacy. There is humour, too, as one would expect from the British soldier: some things never change. . . Handsomely produced, with 300 pages, 27 illustrations, half a dozen maps and an excellent bibliography, this is a valuable addition to any library of military history.’ - Journal of the Royal Artillery reviewing Voices from the Peninsula: Eyewitness Accounts by Soldiers of Wellington’s Army 1808-1814 edited by Ian Fletcher.
‘This is a book which commands examination by anyone seeking to understand the critical first week of OVERLORD in greater depth.’ – Journal of the Royal Artillery reviewing Fighting in Normandy – The German Army From D-Day to Villers-Bocage edited by David C. Isby.
‘This splendid book, which is large enough to be seen as a coffee table item but is in fact a valuable reference work, includes sixty plates, beautifully reproduced at approximately A4 size. . . . The text has been written by Philip J. Haythornthwaite, a well-known and respected authority on the British Army of the Napoleonic period. He introduces the book with a fascinating chapter on the artist and his work, followed by a succinct but comprehensive overview of the British Army of 1812-15 and an equally useful general chapter on the uniforms of that period. However, most interestingly, he has written a full-page commentary facing each plate, with a back-ground history of each subject and detailed points on the uniforms depicted. . . I can heartily recommend this book both for the plates and the supporting text. – The Journal of the Royal Artillery reviewing Wellington’s Army: The Uniforms of the British Soldiers, 1812-1815, Plates by Charles Hamilton Smith, Text by Philip J. Haythornthwaite. ‘
March of Death is not just a story of tragedy, but also of heroics viewed through the eyes of those who were there, and relived through the diaries, journals and memoirs of mounted officers and foot soldiers alike. . . A vivid history - one which did not, after all, end in disaster.’ – Yorkshire Evening Press reviewing March of Death by Christopher Summerville.
‘For the ‘armchair pilot’ there is nothing better, since the pilots notes are included. Now even I know what to do after an engine failure over Berlin! Frivolity aside, this is a serious reference, I have in the past wished that I had access to the relevant Air Publication when trying to find details not found in normal reference books. For the modeller the technical drawings will be of the most help. Produced for maintenance engineers, they leave no room for guesswork. . . Undercarriage and cockpit detail is invaluable. . . This is the root information that other authors get some of their information from, so why not go to that source yourself?’ – Scale Aircraft Modelling reviewing The Lancaster Manual: Official Air Publication.
‘A very well-written book . . . the authors argue that the battle was more a Zulu victory than a British defeat and have done so convincingly. . . There is enough here to whet the appetite of even the most jaded Zulu war buff. . . This is a most comprehensive account of a fascinating battle that will provide many talking points, and is a welcome addition to the Zulu War literature.’ – Soldiers of the Queen reviewing Zulu Victory: The Epic of Isandlwana and the Cover-Up by Ron Lock and Peter Quantrill.
‘An inside view of how the Luftwaffe “experten” achieved their successes, describing a number of combat methods of individual pilots with diagrams of their special manoeuvres. Every major theatre is covered in detail with weather conditions, climate, numerical and qualitative strength. A book that put the reader right alongside the pilot in the cockpit!’ – Aeronews (Belgium) reviewing Luftwaffe Fighter Aces by Mike Spick.
‘A useful source for someone whose interest in modern tanks is more than general but who does not want to go the expense of more expansive reference books.’ – The Tank: The Journal of the Royal Tank Regiment reviewing Battle Tanks by Alan K. Russell.
‘Highly recommended’. – Arms Collectors Guild (Australia) reviewing Combat Handguns by Leroy Thompson.
‘This narrative history of the Teutonic Order . . . fills an important gap in English writing on crusading history. Urban is a distinguished historian of the Christianization of the Baltic in the period between the twelfth and fourteenth centuries, and gives us a general history of the order and of the great process conversion in which it played such a major role. . . . Enlivened by Urban’s occasional acerbic remarks, as exem-plified in his bibliography: “Some well-known works have been omitted because their only worth is for propaganda in disputes now long forgotten or for providing the author's income”.’ – History: The Journal of the Historical Association reviewing The Teutonic Knights: A Military History by William Urban.
‘In a masterly study, Jacques Heers, a professor at the Sorbonne, provides a vivid picture of the rise of the Barbary corsairs, and their murderous attacks on shipping and coastal towns. . . . Heers’s detailed description of this amazing sea battle (Battle of Lepanto) which involved more than 600 ships and in which the Turks lost 30,000 men killed or wounded is one of the high points of the book. Heers succeeds in combining a clear overview of the religious and political forces behind the corsair operations with an in-depth description of life in the North African ports from which the corsairs operated. There is a wonder-fully atmospheric description of Algiers in the 1530s: a walled city full of palaces and prisons, dark alleyways and market squares, and teeming with peoples of different nationalities.’ – David Cordingly in the BBC History Magazine reviewing The Barbary Corsairs: Warfare in the Mediterranean, 1480-1580 by Jacques Heers.
‘A corpse-ridden saga of rapes, floggings, hangings, beheadings and disembowlings. . . . This book will enthral. . . . A strong stomach is recommended but this book is worth reading for an account of one of the epochal sea battles in the world, Lepanto in 1520, and the Siege of Malta, in 1565, which marked the turn in the tide of Mediterranean history.’ – Warships International Fleet Review reviewing The Barbary Corsairs: Warfare in the Mediterranean, 1480-1580 by Jacques Heers.
‘Robertson’s book is a small masterpiece.’ – Warships International Fleet Review reviewing The Golden Horseshoe by Terence Robertson.
‘All you need to know (and more) about Rifles from around the world in the first half of the twentieth century.’ – Pennant: The Journal of the Forces Pensions Society reviewing Military Rifles of Two World Wars by John Walter.
‘A revised and updated edition of this highly acclaimed biography first published in 1975.’ – Pennant: The Journal of the Forces Pensions Society reviewing Guderian: Panzer General by Kenneth Macksey. ‘Provides a fascinating insight into Rommel's military skills and his thoughts about his opponents’ strengths and weaknesses. It is enhanced by expert commentary which provides context and background. – Pennant: The Journal of the Forces Pensions Society reviewing Rommel and his Art of War by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel.
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