Military Dress of the Peninsula War by Martin Windrow and Gerry Embleton. ( 9 1/4 x 9 1/4" 200 pages; 20 full pages of coloured illustrations; innumerable photographs, maps, engravings and line drawings. Ian Allan Ltd - £ 5.95P). Very occasionally one comes into possession of a book which causes the pulse to quicken and the breath to be swiftly indrawn; such a volume then takes its place as a treasured possession that is never lent and occupies an honoured position on one shelves. This is just such a book. Beautifully produced, obviously with real care and attention it not only lives up to its title but it also provides a fine concise history of the course of this war, perhaps one of the most fascinating to the wargamer. Besides , it lists all the major units engaged in the main battles of the war, providing an Order of Battle of great value. Its 20 coloured plates, each depicting five figures of British, French, Spanish or Portuguese troops is a delight to behold and is a credit to Gerry Embleton, an artist whom we have long learnt to admire. The photographs are excellent and I was most impressed with the life-size models dressed in uniforms of the period from the Musee de l'Emperi. There is a well selected collection of contemporary prints and engravings plus photographs of various items of dress and equipment, besides some clear and well drawn maps. Each of the coloured Plates has a couple of pages of accompanying text describing in the closest details the uniform of the figures concerned. Looking at this book explains why the greatest proportion of wargamers favour the Napoleonic Wars and there is no doubt, that it should it ever be allowed to go out of print, it will become a collectors item. Very highly recommended. Napoleon's Last Campaign in Germany 1813 by F.Loraine Petre with an Introduction by David Chandler.(8 3/4" x 5; 403 pages; 17 maps and plans. Arms and Armour Press - £ 3.95P) Recently, when researching this period for my book WARGAMES THROUGH THE AGES - Napoleonic Period, it quickly became obvious that, just as Loraine Petrels "NAPOLEON'S CONQUEST OF PRUSSIA, 18o6,, was the reference source for that campaign, so the same author's "Napoleon's Last Campaign in Germany 1813" was the definitive work for this stimulating part of the Napoleonic Campaigns* At that time both books, having been originally published in 1912 or so, were long out of print and only sterling work by the local library secured copies on a temporary loan. But now Arms and Armour Press, with great foresight, have re-introduced this book with a fine introduction by our old friend David Chandler and at a price which, for this day and age, is most reasonable. First considering the aftermath of Russia, the book deals with the New Grand Army of 1813 and then deals with the Allied Armies of the period -- those of Prussia, Russia, Austria, Sweden, Anglo/German, Mecklenburg together with their Commanders. And then its pages unfold that fascinating and colourful tapestry that ended at Leipzig on the 18th October 1813. Going into the smallest facet of each battle in greatest detail, the book also has a series of fine fold-out maps. I have been accused of being "soft" in my Book Reviews so I suggest that you go into a good bookshop and pick up this volume and look through it as I am pretty certain that you will buy it! To have one really superb book in a month is exciting, but to have two such as this and the previously reviewed volume is a real bonus. This is another one that I will not lend! Airfix Magazine Annual For Modellers edited by Bruce Quarrie. (10" x 7"; 96 pages; innumerable photographs, scaled plans and line drawings. Patrick Stephens Ltd (£ 1.60p). For three successive years this Annual has been eagerly awaited by modellers and this year this issue will not disappoint them. Although containing nothing of specific interest to wargamers, there are well illustrated articles on Modelling the Churchill 3-inch gun carrier; Converting the Airfix 54mm. Highlander to a Samurai; The 'cutaway' Tiger Tank in 1:76 scale; The Forward control Land Rover and 105mm gun plus lots on model aircraft and some interesting photographs together with a Photo Quiz. Psychological Warfare by Charles Roetter. (8 3/4" x 5 3/4"; 199 pages; 20 plates. B.T.Batsford - £ 3.50p). Apart from dropping sly hints whilst gathering for a wargame, there are few psychological aspects to tabletop wargaming. Nevertheless, whilst the psychological activities of the various combatants in World Wars I and II might not have directly caused them to end as they did, undoubtedly they shaped the course of events in an incalculable way. On re-reading, sometimes the schemes seemed so ludicrous as to almost be part of Monty Python's Flying Circus but on the other hand other schemes and activities were immensely successful. Those older wargamers who remember the wartime broadcasts of Lord Haw-Haw and the "forest fire" effect of rumours flying through the ranks, will be aware of their value, both detrimental and otherwise depending upon whose side you were on. Very well researched and written, this book explains a little considered facet of warfare. Back to Table of Contents -- Wargamer's Newsletter # 152 To Wargamer's Newsletter List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1974 by Donald Featherstone. 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