Napoleon War Book

[dennis a feary]

Hello all & anyone reading War & researching ditto, may I suggest that you obtain a copy of what is (I believe) the best book written & most informative of the Napoleonic Wars. It the Memoirs of Baron De Marbot, Lt.General in French army. Translated by A.J. Butler & Longmans, Green & Co. 1905.
Comes in two Volumes although I believe there is a `shorter' version published later. If you want a good & informative read - DO NOT MISS.
Takes you thro most of Nap's battles, and gives view `from the top' !!
Good reading.

Sadsac

[berry]

Thanks for that,will keep a look out for it.As an aside,for a naval aspect into the Napoleonic era you can't better 'Billy Ruffian' by David Cordingly,the story of the Line-of battleship 'Bellerophon'.She was present at the Glorious First of June,the Nile,and Trafalgar.After Waterloo Napoleon surrendered to her Captain.The 'Bellerophon' had dogged his foot-steps for more than twenty years.
regards
Sid

[Guz rating]

Thank you Dennis and Sid for the book titles, Its my favourit period in naval and military history and im looking forward to reading them.

Regards

Alan

[dennis a feary]

Hello SID, yes, ALL land-battles have to Britain a Sea input, inthat the reasons for such a battle are to do with sea-power. Thanks for mentioning that book - have not seen but will try to.

GUZAlan - yes ditto me, a much favourite period - so much going on then.
Britain had to fight (at one time) all of Europe as well as Russia (foretast of WW11) Nap, master of the land battle never did understand the sea.
Another great yarn was that of R.F. Delderfield (spelling) - `The March of the Twenty-six' - the story of Nap's Marshalls.
I well recall (always) the comment of Marshall Soult to Nap at Waterloo `The British Infantry are the best in the World - fortunately there are not many of them' !! Also the remark by the Great Lord St Vincent when asked if the French would invade England he replied ` I do not say the Frenchies cannot come, I only say they cannot come by Sea' !! Perhaps A.H should have recalled those words & added `cannot come by Air' !!!!

Sadsac

[Scurs]

Not strictly applicable to theme except for comment about AH not invading be air....................

I am always ploughing a lone furrow, each Battle of Britain Sunday, when I state the reason Germany never invaded in 1940, was not due to the RAF, but more to do with their lack of sea power. They had some good ships, but far too few to cover a major sea-bourne invasion, when outnumbered by the RN Home Fleet so massively.

[dennis a feary]

SCURS - agree - to a point. Believe it was for both reasons. The British Fleet was much too numerous for the German, but it was not until the defeat / blocking of the GAF that it finally dawned on AH that it was an impossible feat. Again, as with Nap, AH did not understand sea warfare !!

Sadsac

[jainso31]

I have read through all the posts in this "thread" and I can only comment that I am completely bewildered by it's content-which first of all recommends a particular book and then proceeds to go way off thread in an Other Forum???!!:confused::confused:
PS There is an Other Section in the MILITARY FORUM.and a RECOMMENDED BOOK SECTION
jainso31

[Vegaskip]

Jim, the thing you ar talking about was , that a 'Gate crasher' came in to this thread with a link to an other site, selling stuff, nothing what so ever to do with the Forum. I drew the attention of one of the moderators to it, who promptly removed it.
Hope this clears up the mystery
Jim

[jainso31]

Thanks Jim- but I am still at a loss, when there is a separate a)Book Forum and b)Military Forum to make posts in.The thread starts by promoting a book about Napoleon's battles.!??

jainso31

[Don Boyer]

I just passed by here -- my two cents worth: I thought the book forum would be the place to discuss a book itself..author, reliability, quality, content and those issues that make for a good historically accurate read (or not, as is often the case these days). The military side is for discussing the actual battles or events covered in the book as stand-alone items not related to any particular book or author. At least that's how I've approached this thread so far! :)

Regards,

[dennis a feary]

Jim, Don, I put in a Thread re De Marbot's book on Nap here because I could not find a `Military Book' Thread to post it in. Where is the Recommend a Book' & `Military Forum Thread ?? All those I could see was `NAVAL Book', not Military (Army). Did not Post to `promote' the book, just to inform members that it was a good read & most informative. As to `moving on' to other topics - well that does happen as `comments' beget comments.
Do not wish to continue `a controversy', but thought I should reply with an `explanation'.

Sadsac

[Don Boyer]

I thoght the post was fine right where it is....a place to comment on the book itself: "military" and "naval" crossover so much, it's certainly no prob. for me!

:)

don

[astraltrader]

To be honest this is the first time I have ever seen this thread.

We do have a designated section for Naval/Maritime books and although this is not strictly a naval book I have moved it there as it would appear to be the best compromise.