The Napoleon Options

Book Review

By the Old Duffer

Ed. Jonathan North for Greenhill

What japes, collect a group of wargamer/historians and get them to post alternate histories arising from a few well chosen alterations of history. Sadly few of them seem able to request maps in the text so be prepared for some confusion. The quality of the writing is very spotty, the late John Elting froths at the mouth as usual, Digby Smith pokes fun at Hofschroer, but on the whole (maps aside) it is not bad. Paddy Griffith has Hoche invading Ireland successfully. Charles Grant sees Nelson getting unlucky and Napoleon wining in Egypt. Philip Haythornthwaite uses a very small change in history to spoil Vimiero and see the British withdraw from the Peninisula. John Gill has the Austrians moving faster in 1809 than they did historically, they end up worse off! Digby Smith has Platov's turning movement at Borodino succeed. Jonathan North has some forceful action by LOC troops assist Napoleon to maintain himself on the borderlands in 1812. John Gallaher (an especially map-less horror since he endeavours to tell a dynamic tale) has a small change winning Kulm for the French, the Prussians making Peace and Russia opting for a second Tilsit. Peter Hofschroer has Wellington start retreating and end up at Antwerp with a collapsing army. Andrew Uffindell sees Waterloo being fought further back. Elting (as usual) has the French totally victorious (yawn). Make sure you have Esposito & Elting handy. Grant and Haythornthwaite takes the prices I think.

More Old Duffer's Book Corner (book reviews)

Marengo and Hohenlinden: Napoleon's Rise to Power Book Review.

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