A mine of information, 30 Mar 2007
I wondered whether this book would be worth the money. If you are considering buying it, then don't wait any longer. I have had a great deal of pleasure reading this as a reference book, dipping into the book as and when I have had the time. There are gems of information on nearly every page and it is so plainly written - scholarly but very accessible.

There is enough here to satisfy a variety of tastes - everything from the life of a sailor to how the ships were built.

Excellent

Stunning, 10 Nov 2006
This is a comprehensive, well written, and visually beautiful guide to the trafalgar campaign, the characters, the navies, and the final battle. Nelson's navy is described in a way that is so clear that it would be easy for someone who had no previous knowledge of the period to follow, and yet the book is never patronising or trivial.

The illustrations alone are so beautiful that it is almost worth picking up the book to admire them, but if you do so be warned that you may find yourself reading it for longer than you intended.

There are a lot of excellent works on Trafalgar so there is strong competition for this description, but I think that if I could only keep one book about the campaign and the battle it would be this one.

A GREAT book on Nelson's Navy, 06 Feb 2006
The Trafalgar Companion is probably the best reference book on the Royal Navy in the time of the Napoleonic Wars. It has about 550 pages of small type and is jam packed with information. However, it is much more than its title suggests.

This book could probably be divided into three main parts: the life of Nelson, the Trafalgar campaign, and the background of the Royal Navy. There are nine sections, each with subsections and most with an epilogue. The epilogues comprise the first part, as they describe some aspect of Nelson's life or career. If one wanted to read only about Nelson, one could jump to the end of each chapter and read a very good biography of Nelson. The epilogues include his early life and career, the battles of St Vincent, the Nile, Copenhagen; his stay at Naples, Emma, and a few others. The reader really comes to know a great deal about Nelson. The second section, the background of the Royal Navy, gives the reader about 150 pages on topics such as ship construction and classification, seamanship, navigation, officers, seamen, marines, uniforms, gunnery, tactics, and many others. This section alone is invaluable to understanding the Royal Navy. The third section is about the Trafalgar campaign. The subsections include British and French naval strategy, the fleets, command, opening moves, the battle itself (about 60 pages), and the aftermath of the battle.

So, what makes this such a great book? The topics have all been discussed in tons of other books. Well, first, this book is like an encyclopedia--it brings everything together under one roof. If you want Nelson, you got 'im. If you're reading Hornblower, Ramage, Kydd, or Aubrey and you need some background info on some topic, it's here. However, this book is more than an encyclopedia. If you have several hours to spend on a great story--the battle itself--you've got a great read in front of you. Second, in addition to the text, this book is filled with hundreds of illustrations, diagrams, lists, quotes, maps, paintings, and drawings. For example, the section on fleet comparison devotes a page to each ship from both fleets. The pages include a drawing of a ship, its rating, number and type of guns, number and type of crew (i.e. naval, infantry, marine), a biography of its commander, what the ship did during and after the battle, and, for the British, a list of all its officer--all the way down to the purser! In the section on guns, gunnery, and tactics, there are eight fabulous color illustrations, each covering two pages. The first is a cross section of the Victory with all the rooms labeled. The ship looks like a mini city. Then there are top-view illustrations of each deck. Not only are the guns and other parts of the ship labeled, but also where crew members would have been assigned. I didn't know that a marine was assigned to each gun on the ship. In some cases even known personalities can be placed in certain areas on deck. There is even a page showing the number and arrangement of lanterns to indicate signals in the presence of the enemy! I particularly like the 19 maps in the battle section. The reader can follow the movements and firing of the ships throughout the battle. There are so many topics and all are treated exhaustively.

I could go on and on giving examples of the breadth and depth of this book. Besides the information, the color illustrations and quality of paper make this book visually pleasing. I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone interested in the Royal Navy in the Napoleonic Wars. It's worth every penny you'll pay for it-you won't need anything else.

The Best To Date, 24 Jan 2006
I always considered I had a reasonable knowledge regarding the battles of the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic era, and Trafalgar in particular, until I read this book.
On almost every page I found something new to me, not least the many extracts taken from the letters written by the sailors, and soldiers, who took part in the battle.
Everything the layman could want to know about Trafalgar, in the lead up, the battle itself, and the aftermath is described in detailed coloured diagrams that are easy to follow and understand.
Also, each individual ship has a section devoted to itself giving its history, specification, and a list of its principal officers and crew members.
It is packed with technical information which because of the way the book is written is as interesting to read as the description of the battle itself.
This book may be expensive but its contents make it worth every penny. If you only ever buy one book about the Battle of Trafalgar, buy this one.

the biggest and best Trafalgar book, 24 Oct 2005
I have read about a dozen books on Trafalgar. This one is different, and a real "must have" for anyone seriously interested in the topic. It combines well-researched and comprehensive text with a massive selection of full colour maps, illustrations and diagrams. At first glance some of this looks a bit childish, but on closer examination the information covered is highly detailed and accurate. I learned a huge amount, and whole heartedly recommend it.

A mine of information, 30 Mar 2007
I wondered whether this book would be worth the money. If you are considering buying it, then don't wait any longer. I have had a great deal of pleasure reading this as a reference book, dipping into the book as and when I have had the time. There are gems of information on nearly every page and it is so plainly written - scholarly but very accessible.

There is enough here to satisfy a variety of tastes - everything from the life of a sailor to how the ships were built.

Excellent

Stunning, 10 Nov 2006
This is a comprehensive, well written, and visually beautiful guide to the trafalgar campaign, the characters, the navies, and the final battle. Nelson's navy is described in a way that is so clear that it would be easy for someone who had no previous knowledge of the period to follow, and yet the book is never patronising or trivial.

The illustrations alone are so beautiful that it is almost worth picking up the book to admire them, but if you do so be warned that you may find yourself reading it for longer than you intended.

There are a lot of excellent works on Trafalgar so there is strong competition for this description, but I think that if I could only keep one book about the campaign and the battle it would be this one.

A GREAT book on Nelson's Navy, 06 Feb 2006
The Trafalgar Companion is probably the best reference book on the Royal Navy in the time of the Napoleonic Wars. It has about 550 pages of small type and is jam packed with information. However, it is much more than its title suggests.

This book could probably be divided into three main parts: the life of Nelson, the Trafalgar campaign, and the background of the Royal Navy. There are nine sections, each with subsections and most with an epilogue. The epilogues comprise the first part, as they describe some aspect of Nelson's life or career. If one wanted to read only about Nelson, one could jump to the end of each chapter and read a very good biography of Nelson. The epilogues include his early life and career, the battles of St Vincent, the Nile, Copenhagen; his stay at Naples, Emma, and a few others. The reader really comes to know a great deal about Nelson. The second section, the background of the Royal Navy, gives the reader about 150 pages on topics such as ship construction and classification, seamanship, navigation, officers, seamen, marines, uniforms, gunnery, tactics, and many others. This section alone is invaluable to understanding the Royal Navy. The third section is about the Trafalgar campaign. The subsections include British and French naval strategy, the fleets, command, opening moves, the battle itself (about 60 pages), and the aftermath of the battle.

So, what makes this such a great book? The topics have all been discussed in tons of other books. Well, first, this book is like an encyclopedia--it brings everything together under one roof. If you want Nelson, you got 'im. If you're reading Hornblower, Ramage, Kydd, or Aubrey and you need some background info on some topic, it's here. However, this book is more than an encyclopedia. If you have several hours to spend on a great story--the battle itself--you've got a great read in front of you. Second, in addition to the text, this book is filled with hundreds of illustrations, diagrams, lists, quotes, maps, paintings, and drawings. For example, the section on fleet comparison devotes a page to each ship from both fleets. The pages include a drawing of a ship, its rating, number and type of guns, number and type of crew (i.e. naval, infantry, marine), a biography of its commander, what the ship did during and after the battle, and, for the British, a list of all its officer--all the way down to the purser! In the section on guns, gunnery, and tactics, there are eight fabulous color illustrations, each covering two pages. The first is a cross section of the Victory with all the rooms labeled. The ship looks like a mini city. Then there are top-view illustrations of each deck. Not only are the guns and other parts of the ship labeled, but also where crew members would have been assigned. I didn't know that a marine was assigned to each gun on the ship. In some cases even known personalities can be placed in certain areas on deck. There is even a page showing the number and arrangement of lanterns to indicate signals in the presence of the enemy! I particularly like the 19 maps in the battle section. The reader can follow the movements and firing of the ships throughout the battle. There are so many topics and all are treated exhaustively.

I could go on and on giving examples of the breadth and depth of this book. Besides the information, the color illustrations and quality of paper make this book visually pleasing. I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone interested in the Royal Navy in the Napoleonic Wars. It's worth every penny you'll pay for it-you won't need anything else.

The Best To Date, 24 Jan 2006
I always considered I had a reasonable knowledge regarding the battles of the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic era, and Trafalgar in particular, until I read this book.
On almost every page I found something new to me, not least the many extracts taken from the letters written by the sailors, and soldiers, who took part in the battle.
Everything the layman could want to know about Trafalgar, in the lead up, the battle itself, and the aftermath is described in detailed coloured diagrams that are easy to follow and understand.
Also, each individual ship has a section devoted to itself giving its history, specification, and a list of its principal officers and crew members.
It is packed with technical information which because of the way the book is written is as interesting to read as the description of the battle itself.
This book may be expensive but its contents make it worth every penny. If you only ever buy one book about the Battle of Trafalgar, buy this one.

the biggest and best Trafalgar book, 24 Oct 2005
I have read about a dozen books on Trafalgar. This one is different, and a real "must have" for anyone seriously interested in the topic. It combines well-researched and comprehensive text with a massive selection of full colour maps, illustrations and diagrams. At first glance some of this looks a bit childish, but on closer examination the information covered is highly detailed and accurate. I learned a huge amount, and whole heartedly recommend it.

Nice introduction..., 28 Oct 2008
Paddy Griffith is an undoubted authority when it comes to re-evaluating the historical battlefield. Examining the tactical evolutions employed and their impact on combat, he has looked at how wars have been fought over the last two hundred years in previous publications. In this volume, he attempts to describe how French practises developed from the shambolic improvisations of 1792-3 to the "corupt gigantism" of the later Empire.

Using the timeline of the wars as his framework, he progresses through in a readable enough fashion (as always; Griffith's seeming distaste for Bonaparte aside), but says little new.

The plates by Peter Dennis are excellent in conveying the sheer scope of the manoeuvres described, and serve as a useful corrective to TV and film imagery of Napoleonic battles.

The book, as with most Ospreys, suffers from the restrictions of the format - there is simply too much to say for the space available, so becomes simply a "primer" for further reading. A guarded recommendation.

A mine of information, 30 Mar 2007
I wondered whether this book would be worth the money. If you are considering buying it, then don't wait any longer. I have had a great deal of pleasure reading this as a reference book, dipping into the book as and when I have had the time. There are gems of information on nearly every page and it is so plainly written - scholarly but very accessible.

There is enough here to satisfy a variety of tastes - everything from the life of a sailor to how the ships were built.

Excellent

Stunning, 10 Nov 2006
This is a comprehensive, well written, and visually beautiful guide to the trafalgar campaign, the characters, the navies, and the final battle. Nelson's navy is described in a way that is so clear that it would be easy for someone who had no previous knowledge of the period to follow, and yet the book is never patronising or trivial.

The illustrations alone are so beautiful that it is almost worth picking up the book to admire them, but if you do so be warned that you may find yourself reading it for longer than you intended.

There are a lot of excellent works on Trafalgar so there is strong competition for this description, but I think that if I could only keep one book about the campaign and the battle it would be this one.

A GREAT book on Nelson's Navy, 06 Feb 2006
The Trafalgar Companion is probably the best reference book on the Royal Navy in the time of the Napoleonic Wars. It has about 550 pages of small type and is jam packed with information. However, it is much more than its title suggests.

This book could probably be divided into three main parts: the life of Nelson, the Trafalgar campaign, and the background of the Royal Navy. There are nine sections, each with subsections and most with an epilogue. The epilogues comprise the first part, as they describe some aspect of Nelson's life or career. If one wanted to read only about Nelson, one could jump to the end of each chapter and read a very good biography of Nelson. The epilogues include his early life and career, the battles of St Vincent, the Nile, Copenhagen; his stay at Naples, Emma, and a few others. The reader really comes to know a great deal about Nelson. The second section, the background of the Royal Navy, gives the reader about 150 pages on topics such as ship construction and classification, seamanship, navigation, officers, seamen, marines, uniforms, gunnery, tactics, and many others. This section alone is invaluable to understanding the Royal Navy. The third section is about the Trafalgar campaign. The subsections include British and French naval strategy, the fleets, command, opening moves, the battle itself (about 60 pages), and the aftermath of the battle.

So, what makes this such a great book? The topics have all been discussed in tons of other books. Well, first, this book is like an encyclopedia--it brings everything together under one roof. If you want Nelson, you got 'im. If you're reading Hornblower, Ramage, Kydd, or Aubrey and you need some background info on some topic, it's here. However, this book is more than an encyclopedia. If you have several hours to spend on a great story--the battle itself--you've got a great read in front of you. Second, in addition to the text, this book is filled with hundreds of illustrations, diagrams, lists, quotes, maps, paintings, and drawings. For example, the section on fleet comparison devotes a page to each ship from both fleets. The pages include a drawing of a ship, its rating, number and type of guns, number and type of crew (i.e. naval, infantry, marine), a biography of its commander, what the ship did during and after the battle, and, for the British, a list of all its officer--all the way down to the purser! In the section on guns, gunnery, and tactics, there are eight fabulous color illustrations, each covering two pages. The first is a cross section of the Victory with all the rooms labeled. The ship looks like a mini city. Then there are top-view illustrations of each deck. Not only are the guns and other parts of the ship labeled, but also where crew members would have been assigned. I didn't know that a marine was assigned to each gun on the ship. In some cases even known personalities can be placed in certain areas on deck. There is even a page showing the number and arrangement of lanterns to indicate signals in the presence of the enemy! I particularly like the 19 maps in the battle section. The reader can follow the movements and firing of the ships throughout the battle. There are so many topics and all are treated exhaustively.

I could go on and on giving examples of the breadth and depth of this book. Besides the information, the color illustrations and quality of paper make this book visually pleasing. I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone interested in the Royal Navy in the Napoleonic Wars. It's worth every penny you'll pay for it-you won't need anything else.

The Best To Date, 24 Jan 2006
I always considered I had a reasonable knowledge regarding the battles of the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic era, and Trafalgar in particular, until I read this book.
On almost every page I found something new to me, not least the many extracts taken from the letters written by the sailors, and soldiers, who took part in the battle.
Everything the layman could want to know about Trafalgar, in the lead up, the battle itself, and the aftermath is described in detailed coloured diagrams that are easy to follow and understand.
Also, each individual ship has a section devoted to itself giving its history, specification, and a list of its principal officers and crew members.
It is packed with technical information which because of the way the book is written is as interesting to read as the description of the battle itself.
This book may be expensive but its contents make it worth every penny. If you only ever buy one book about the Battle of Trafalgar, buy this one.

the biggest and best Trafalgar book, 24 Oct 2005
I have read about a dozen books on Trafalgar. This one is different, and a real "must have" for anyone seriously interested in the topic. It combines well-researched and comprehensive text with a massive selection of full colour maps, illustrations and diagrams. At first glance some of this looks a bit childish, but on closer examination the information covered is highly detailed and accurate. I learned a huge amount, and whole heartedly recommend it.

Nice introduction..., 28 Oct 2008
Paddy Griffith is an undoubted authority when it comes to re-evaluating the historical battlefield. Examining the tactical evolutions employed and their impact on combat, he has looked at how wars have been fought over the last two hundred years in previous publications. In this volume, he attempts to describe how French practises developed from the shambolic improvisations of 1792-3 to the "corupt gigantism" of the later Empire.

Using the timeline of the wars as his framework, he progresses through in a readable enough fashion (as always; Griffith's seeming distaste for Bonaparte aside), but says little new.

The plates by Peter Dennis are excellent in conveying the sheer scope of the manoeuvres described, and serve as a useful corrective to TV and film imagery of Napoleonic battles.

The book, as with most Ospreys, suffers from the restrictions of the format - there is simply too much to say for the space available, so becomes simply a "primer" for further reading. A guarded recommendation.


Gruelling Napoleonic soldiering from a Dorsetshire Sheppard., 18 Aug 2008
Numerous editions of this classic memoir exist; mostly all abridged. The publishers have done an excellent job here by provided Recollections of Rifleman Harris completely unabridged and unedited. The only liberty taken with the text is the establishment of chapters for clarity and ease. Also included is a 1928 introduction by Sir John Fortescue which neatly summarises the history of the 95th Rifles.

Rifleman Harris was not long in the Peninsular War and most of his days of soldiering were occupied in lengthy marching and sickness. He was present at only two set-piece battles (Rolica and Vimeiro) and was involved in Moore's Retreat to Corunna and the disastrous Walcheren Expedition. In the final chapter Harris recounts how he ended up convalescing in a veteran's battalion being finally discharged in 1814. Despite his absence from bouts of fighting he seems to have stayed in firm contact with the trials and tribulations of the 'Old 95'; anecdotes of certain solders at later battle are recounted for example.

Harris is indispensable for those wanting to understand the social-history of army-life: recruiting, sickness, desertion, regimental-women etc etc. He is also prone to the amusing battle anecdote. We find Harris, regimental-cobbler, with seemingly the entire 95th's shoes during the opening salvo at the Battle of Vimeiro! He is particularly famous for his eulogies of Robert Craufurd, the firm disciplinarian of the Rifle-Brigade, who maintained their discipline during the infamous retreat. The retreat is usually named after Corunna where Moore fought his fatal battle and allowed the army to disembark for England. In actual fact Craufurd's Brigade split from the main body in order to disembark at Vigo. Nevertheless, their plight was the same as their comrades heading for the former port and Harris is essential for discovering the horrors encountered their. Harris in fact barely made it.

Recollections was first published in 1848, a whole thirty-nine years after Harris arrived back from Walcheren stricken with fever. He was illiterate; his account being transcribed to a half-pay officer, Captain Henry Curling of the 52nd Foot, in a rather un-chronological fashion. In a way this adds to the charm of the piece: his recollections have not turned into a literary masterpiece aka Kincaid and Leech. Despite its ominous birth this is the most honest and authenticated voice of the British Napoleonic foot-soldier. The only memoir which can possibly compete for that accolade is the Letters of Private Wheeler.

A mine of information, 30 Mar 2007
I wondered whether this book would be worth the money. If you are considering buying it, then don't wait any longer. I have had a great deal of pleasure reading this as a reference book, dipping into the book as and when I have had the time. There are gems of information on nearly every page and it is so plainly written - scholarly but very accessible.

There is enough here to satisfy a variety of tastes - everything from the life of a sailor to how the ships were built.

Excellent

Stunning, 10 Nov 2006
This is a comprehensive, well written, and visually beautiful guide to the trafalgar campaign, the characters, the navies, and the final battle. Nelson's navy is described in a way that is so clear that it would be easy for someone who had no previous knowledge of the period to follow, and yet the book is never patronising or trivial.

The illustrations alone are so beautiful that it is almost worth picking up the book to admire them, but if you do so be warned that you may find yourself reading it for longer than you intended.

There are a lot of excellent works on Trafalgar so there is strong competition for this description, but I think that if I could only keep one book about the campaign and the battle it would be this one.

A GREAT book on Nelson's Navy, 06 Feb 2006
The Trafalgar Companion is probably the best reference book on the Royal Navy in the time of the Napoleonic Wars. It has about 550 pages of small type and is jam packed with information. However, it is much more than its title suggests.

This book could probably be divided into three main parts: the life of Nelson, the Trafalgar campaign, and the background of the Royal Navy. There are nine sections, each with subsections and most with an epilogue. The epilogues comprise the first part, as they describe some aspect of Nelson's life or career. If one wanted to read only about Nelson, one could jump to the end of each chapter and read a very good biography of Nelson. The epilogues include his early life and career, the battles of St Vincent, the Nile, Copenhagen; his stay at Naples, Emma, and a few others. The reader really comes to know a great deal about Nelson. The second section, the background of the Royal Navy, gives the reader about 150 pages on topics such as ship construction and classification, seamanship, navigation, officers, seamen, marines, uniforms, gunnery, tactics, and many others. This section alone is invaluable to understanding the Royal Navy. The third section is about the Trafalgar campaign. The subsections include British and French naval strategy, the fleets, command, opening moves, the battle itself (about 60 pages), and the aftermath of the battle.

So, what makes this such a great book? The topics have all been discussed in tons of other books. Well, first, this book is like an encyclopedia--it brings everything together under one roof. If you want Nelson, you got 'im. If you're reading Hornblower, Ramage, Kydd, or Aubrey and you need some background info on some topic, it's here. However, this book is more than an encyclopedia. If you have several hours to spend on a great story--the battle itself--you've got a great read in front of you. Second, in addition to the text, this book is filled with hundreds of illustrations, diagrams, lists, quotes, maps, paintings, and drawings. For example, the section on fleet comparison devotes a page to each ship from both fleets. The pages include a drawing of a ship, its rating, number and type of guns, number and type of crew (i.e. naval, infantry, marine), a biography of its commander, what the ship did during and after the battle, and, for the British, a list of all its officer--all the way down to the purser! In the section on guns, gunnery, and tactics, there are eight fabulous color illustrations, each covering two pages. The first is a cross section of the Victory with all the rooms labeled. The ship looks like a mini city. Then there are top-view illustrations of each deck. Not only are the guns and other parts of the ship labeled, but also where crew members would have been assigned. I didn't know that a marine was assigned to each gun on the ship. In some cases even known personalities can be placed in certain areas on deck. There is even a page showing the number and arrangement of lanterns to indicate signals in the presence of the enemy! I particularly like the 19 maps in the battle section. The reader can follow the movements and firing of the ships throughout the battle. There are so many topics and all are treated exhaustively.

I could go on and on giving examples of the breadth and depth of this book. Besides the information, the color illustrations and quality of paper make this book visually pleasing. I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone interested in the Royal Navy in the Napoleonic Wars. It's worth every penny you'll pay for it-you won't need anything else.

The Best To Date, 24 Jan 2006
I always considered I had a reasonable knowledge regarding the battles of the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic era, and Trafalgar in particular, until I read this book.
On almost every page I found something new to me, not least the many extracts taken from the letters written by the sailors, and soldiers, who took part in the battle.
Everything the layman could want to know about Trafalgar, in the lead up, the battle itself, and the aftermath is described in detailed coloured diagrams that are easy to follow and understand.
Also, each individual ship has a section devoted to itself giving its history, specification, and a list of its principal officers and crew members.
It is packed with technical information which because of the way the book is written is as interesting to read as the description of the battle itself.
This book may be expensive but its contents make it worth every penny. If you only ever buy one book about the Battle of Trafalgar, buy this one.

the biggest and best Trafalgar book, 24 Oct 2005
I have read about a dozen books on Trafalgar. This one is different, and a real "must have" for anyone seriously interested in the topic. It combines well-researched and comprehensive text with a massive selection of full colour maps, illustrations and diagrams. At first glance some of this looks a bit childish, but on closer examination the information covered is highly detailed and accurate. I learned a huge amount, and whole heartedly recommend it.

Nice introduction..., 28 Oct 2008
Paddy Griffith is an undoubted authority when it comes to re-evaluating the historical battlefield. Examining the tactical evolutions employed and their impact on combat, he has looked at how wars have been fought over the last two hundred years in previous publications. In this volume, he attempts to describe how French practises developed from the shambolic improvisations of 1792-3 to the "corupt gigantism" of the later Empire.

Using the timeline of the wars as his framework, he progresses through in a readable enough fashion (as always; Griffith's seeming distaste for Bonaparte aside), but says little new.

The plates by Peter Dennis are excellent in conveying the sheer scope of the manoeuvres described, and serve as a useful corrective to TV and film imagery of Napoleonic battles.

The book, as with most Ospreys, suffers from the restrictions of the format - there is simply too much to say for the space available, so becomes simply a "primer" for further reading. A guarded recommendation.


Gruelling Napoleonic soldiering from a Dorsetshire Sheppard., 18 Aug 2008
Numerous editions of this classic memoir exist; mostly all abridged. The publishers have done an excellent job here by provided Recollections of Rifleman Harris completely unabridged and unedited. The only liberty taken with the text is the establishment of chapters for clarity and ease. Also included is a 1928 introduction by Sir John Fortescue which neatly summarises the history of the 95th Rifles.

Rifleman Harris was not long in the Peninsular War and most of his days of soldiering were occupied in lengthy marching and sickness. He was present at only two set-piece battles (Rolica and Vimeiro) and was involved in Moore's Retreat to Corunna and the disastrous Walcheren Expedition. In the final chapter Harris recounts how he ended up convalescing in a veteran's battalion being finally discharged in 1814. Despite his absence from bouts of fighting he seems to have stayed in firm contact with the trials and tribulations of the 'Old 95'; anecdotes of certain solders at later battle are recounted for example.

Harris is indispensable for those wanting to understand the social-history of army-life: recruiting, sickness, desertion, regimental-women etc etc. He is also prone to the amusing battle anecdote. We find Harris, regimental-cobbler, with seemingly the entire 95th's shoes during the opening salvo at the Battle of Vimeiro! He is particularly famous for his eulogies of Robert Craufurd, the firm disciplinarian of the Rifle-Brigade, who maintained their discipline during the infamous retreat. The retreat is usually named after Corunna where Moore fought his fatal battle and allowed the army to disembark for England. In actual fact Craufurd's Brigade split from the main body in order to disembark at Vigo. Nevertheless, their plight was the same as their comrades heading for the former port and Harris is essential for discovering the horrors encountered their. Harris in fact barely made it.

Recollections was first published in 1848, a whole thirty-nine years after Harris arrived back from Walcheren stricken with fever. He was illiterate; his account being transcribed to a half-pay officer, Captain Henry Curling of the 52nd Foot, in a rather un-chronological fashion. In a way this adds to the charm of the piece: his recollections have not turned into a literary masterpiece aka Kincaid and Leech. Despite its ominous birth this is the most honest and authenticated voice of the British Napoleonic foot-soldier. The only memoir which can possibly compete for that accolade is the Letters of Private Wheeler.

Rifleman Costello The adventures of a soldier of the 95th rifles , 13 Aug 2007
Highly informative and entertaining account of the personal experiences of an ordinary soldier of the peninsular wars. A rare personal account of the lower ranks due to a lack of literacy at that time.

A mine of information, 30 Mar 2007
I wondered whether this book would be worth the money. If you are considering buying it, then don't wait any longer. I have had a great deal of pleasure reading this as a reference book, dipping into the book as and when I have had the time. There are gems of information on nearly every page and it is so plainly written - scholarly but very accessible.

There is enough here to satisfy a variety of tastes - everything from the life of a sailor to how the ships were built.

Excellent

Stunning, 10 Nov 2006
This is a comprehensive, well written, and visually beautiful guide to the trafalgar campaign, the characters, the navies, and the final battle. Nelson's navy is described in a way that is so clear that it would be easy for someone who had no previous knowledge of the period to follow, and yet the book is never patronising or trivial.

The illustrations alone are so beautiful that it is almost worth picking up the book to admire them, but if you do so be warned that you may find yourself reading it for longer than you intended.

There are a lot of excellent works on Trafalgar so there is strong competition for this description, but I think that if I could only keep one book about the campaign and the battle it would be this one.

A GREAT book on Nelson's Navy, 06 Feb 2006
The Trafalgar Companion is probably the best reference book on the Royal Navy in the time of the Napoleonic Wars. It has about 550 pages of small type and is jam packed with information. However, it is much more than its title suggests.

This book could probably be divided into three main parts: the life of Nelson, the Trafalgar campaign, and the background of the Royal Navy. There are nine sections, each with subsections and most with an epilogue. The epilogues comprise the first part, as they describe some aspect of Nelson's life or career. If one wanted to read only about Nelson, one could jump to the end of each chapter and read a very good biography of Nelson. The epilogues include his early life and career, the battles of St Vincent, the Nile, Copenhagen; his stay at Naples, Emma, and a few others. The reader really comes to know a great deal about Nelson. The second section, the background of the Royal Navy, gives the reader about 150 pages on topics such as ship construction and classification, seamanship, navigation, officers, seamen, marines, uniforms, gunnery, tactics, and many others. This section alone is invaluable to understanding the Royal Navy. The third section is about the Trafalgar campaign. The subsections include British and French naval strategy, the fleets, command, opening moves, the battle itself (about 60 pages), and the aftermath of the battle.

So, what makes this such a great book? The topics have all been discussed in tons of other books. Well, first, this book is like an encyclopedia--it brings everything together under one roof. If you want Nelson, you got 'im. If you're reading Hornblower, Ramage, Kydd, or Aubrey and you need some background info on some topic, it's here. However, this book is more than an encyclopedia. If you have several hours to spend on a great story--the battle itself--you've got a great read in front of you. Second, in addition to the text, this book is filled with hundreds of illustrations, diagrams, lists, quotes, maps, paintings, and drawings. For example, the section on fleet comparison devotes a page to each ship from both fleets. The pages include a drawing of a ship, its rating, number and type of guns, number and type of crew (i.e. naval, infantry, marine), a biography of its commander, what the ship did during and after the battle, and, for the British, a list of all its officer--all the way down to the purser! In the section on guns, gunnery, and tactics, there are eight fabulous color illustrations, each covering two pages. The first is a cross section of the Victory with all the rooms labeled. The ship looks like a mini city. Then there are top-view illustrations of each deck. Not only are the guns and other parts of the ship labeled, but also where crew members would have been assigned. I didn't know that a marine was assigned to each gun on the ship. In some cases even known personalities can be placed in certain areas on deck. There is even a page showing the number and arrangement of lanterns to indicate signals in the presence of the enemy! I particularly like the 19 maps in the battle section. The reader can follow the movements and firing of the ships throughout the battle. There are so many topics and all are treated exhaustively.

I could go on and on giving examples of the breadth and depth of this book. Besides the information, the color illustrations and quality of paper make this book visually pleasing. I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone interested in the Royal Navy in the Napoleonic Wars. It's worth every penny you'll pay for it-you won't need anything else.

The Best To Date, 24 Jan 2006
I always considered I had a reasonable knowledge regarding the battles of the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic era, and Trafalgar in particular, until I read this book.
On almost every page I found something new to me, not least the many extracts taken from the letters written by the sailors, and soldiers, who took part in the battle.
Everything the layman could want to know about Trafalgar, in the lead up, the battle itself, and the aftermath is described in detailed coloured diagrams that are easy to follow and understand.
Also, each individual ship has a section devoted to itself giving its history, specification, and a list of its principal officers and crew members.
It is packed with technical information which because of the way the book is written is as interesting to read as the description of the battle itself.
This book may be expensive but its contents make it worth every penny. If you only ever buy one book about the Battle of Trafalgar, buy this one.

the biggest and best Trafalgar book, 24 Oct 2005
I have read about a dozen books on Trafalgar. This one is different, and a real "must have" for anyone seriously interested in the topic. It combines well-researched and comprehensive text with a massive selection of full colour maps, illustrations and diagrams. At first glance some of this looks a bit childish, but on closer examination the information covered is highly detailed and accurate. I learned a huge amount, and whole heartedly recommend it.

Nice introduction..., 28 Oct 2008
Paddy Griffith is an undoubted authority when it comes to re-evaluating the historical battlefield. Examining the tactical evolutions employed and their impact on combat, he has looked at how wars have been fought over the last two hundred years in previous publications. In this volume, he attempts to describe how French practises developed from the shambolic improvisations of 1792-3 to the "corupt gigantism" of the later Empire.

Using the timeline of the wars as his framework, he progresses through in a readable enough fashion (as always; Griffith's seeming distaste for Bonaparte aside), but says little new.

The plates by Peter Dennis are excellent in conveying the sheer scope of the manoeuvres described, and serve as a useful corrective to TV and film imagery of Napoleonic battles.

The book, as with most Ospreys, suffers from the restrictions of the format - there is simply too much to say for the space available, so becomes simply a "primer" for further reading. A guarded recommendation.


Gruelling Napoleonic soldiering from a Dorsetshire Sheppard., 18 Aug 2008
Numerous editions of this classic memoir exist; mostly all abridged. The publishers have done an excellent job here by provided Recollections of Rifleman Harris completely unabridged and unedited. The only liberty taken with the text is the establishment of chapters for clarity and ease. Also included is a 1928 introduction by Sir John Fortescue which neatly summarises the history of the 95th Rifles.

Rifleman Harris was not long in the Peninsular War and most of his days of soldiering were occupied in lengthy marching and sickness. He was present at only two set-piece battles (Rolica and Vimeiro) and was involved in Moore's Retreat to Corunna and the disastrous Walcheren Expedition. In the final chapter Harris recounts how he ended up convalescing in a veteran's battalion being finally discharged in 1814. Despite his absence from bouts of fighting he seems to have stayed in firm contact with the trials and tribulations of the 'Old 95'; anecdotes of certain solders at later battle are recounted for example.

Harris is indispensable for those wanting to understand the social-history of army-life: recruiting, sickness, desertion, regimental-women etc etc. He is also prone to the amusing battle anecdote. We find Harris, regimental-cobbler, with seemingly the entire 95th's shoes during the opening salvo at the Battle of Vimeiro! He is particularly famous for his eulogies of Robert Craufurd, the firm disciplinarian of the Rifle-Brigade, who maintained their discipline during the infamous retreat. The retreat is usually named after Corunna where Moore fought his fatal battle and allowed the army to disembark for England. In actual fact Craufurd's Brigade split from the main body in order to disembark at Vigo. Nevertheless, their plight was the same as their comrades heading for the former port and Harris is essential for discovering the horrors encountered their. Harris in fact barely made it.

Recollections was first published in 1848, a whole thirty-nine years after Harris arrived back from Walcheren stricken with fever. He was illiterate; his account being transcribed to a half-pay officer, Captain Henry Curling of the 52nd Foot, in a rather un-chronological fashion. In a way this adds to the charm of the piece: his recollections have not turned into a literary masterpiece aka Kincaid and Leech. Despite its ominous birth this is the most honest and authenticated voice of the British Napoleonic foot-soldier. The only memoir which can possibly compete for that accolade is the Letters of Private Wheeler.

Rifleman Costello The adventures of a soldier of the 95th rifles , 13 Aug 2007
Highly informative and entertaining account of the personal experiences of an ordinary soldier of the peninsular wars. A rare personal account of the lower ranks due to a lack of literacy at that time.

Good but flawed, 16 Mar 2008
This book does contain many thought-provoking insights into its subject, many of which could be applied to modern wars. One example I will give is the author's assertion that most people involved in a battle do not actually kill or wound anyone. That sounds a large statement to make, but Mr Muir swiftly explains why it must be true. I much appreciated his coverage of how cowardly officers were handled, and really there is much to commend the book to anyone with an interest in military history. Ultimately though, when I dip into this book I never feel that Mr Muir has really breathed life into it, hence only 4 stars.

age of wellingon., 13 Oct 2006
Tactics and Experience of Battle in the Age of Wellington would be much precise title for the book. As the author is the expert about Wellington, his most examples are from Spanish campaign of his. Sometimes from such kind of battles that are absolutly inferior to other battles in the same age. Apart from that book is brilliant. Deep investigation of all types of troops.

An interesting read, 29 Jul 2004
If you are interested in military history and particularly Napoleonic wars then this book is a very good read. Details all the different troop types used during the period, how they were used and their benefits. Its well written and a worthy addition to any military buffs library

A well researched and captivating book, 11 Jun 2001
Muir uses his extensive research to paint a vivid picture of how the Napoleonic armies fought. The individual accounts are expanded by Muir so that the reader can feel the horror of facing charging calvalry and the tense moments whilst under fire. Overall this is written with extreme clarity and contains a great deal of interesting analysis.

A very interesting and useful look at Napoleonic warfare., 10 Feb 2001
What it was really like to fight in a Napoleonic battle. This book is full of interesting and sometimes amusing anecdotes to help the reader get an understanding of the tactics used, without burdening the reader with too much technical detail.

It is a welcome addition to my collection.

A mine of information, 30 Mar 2007
I wondered whether this book would be worth the money. If you are considering buying it, then don't wait any longer. I have had a great deal of pleasure reading this as a reference book, dipping into the book as and when I have had the time. There are gems of information on nearly every page and it is so plainly written - scholarly but very accessible.

There is enough here to satisfy a variety of tastes - everything from the life of a sailor to how the ships were built.

Excellent

Stunning, 10 Nov 2006
This is a comprehensive, well written, and visually beautiful guide to the trafalgar campaign, the characters, the navies, and the final battle. Nelson's navy is described in a way that is so clear that it would be easy for someone who had no previous knowledge of the period to follow, and yet the book is never patronising or trivial.

The illustrations alone are so beautiful that it is almost worth picking up the book to admire them, but if you do so be warned that you may find yourself reading it for longer than you intended.

There are a lot of excellent works on Trafalgar so there is strong competition for this description, but I think that if I could only keep one book about the campaign and the battle it would be this one.

A GREAT book on Nelson's Navy, 06 Feb 2006
The Trafalgar Companion is probably the best reference book on the Royal Navy in the time of the Napoleonic Wars. It has about 550 pages of small type and is jam packed with information. However, it is much more than its title suggests.

This book could probably be divided into three main parts: the life of Nelson, the Trafalgar campaign, and the background of the Royal Navy. There are nine sections, each with subsections and most with an epilogue. The epilogues comprise the first part, as they describe some aspect of Nelson's life or career. If one wanted to read only about Nelson, one could jump to the end of each chapter and read a very good biography of Nelson. The epilogues include his early life and career, the battles of St Vincent, the Nile, Copenhagen; his stay at Naples, Emma, and a few others. The reader really comes to know a great deal about Nelson. The second section, the background of the Royal Navy, gives the reader about 150 pages on topics such as ship construction and classification, seamanship, navigation, officers, seamen, marines, uniforms, gunnery, tactics, and many others. This section alone is invaluable to understanding the Royal Navy. The third section is about the Trafalgar campaign. The subsections include British and French naval strategy, the fleets, command, opening moves, the battle itself (about 60 pages), and the aftermath of the battle.

So, what makes this such a great book? The topics have all been discussed in tons of other books. Well, first, this book is like an encyclopedia--it brings everything together under one roof. If you want Nelson, you got 'im. If you're reading Hornblower, Ramage, Kydd, or Aubrey and you need some background info on some topic, it's here. However, this book is more than an encyclopedia. If you have several hours to spend on a great story--the battle itself--you've got a great read in front of you. Second, in addition to the text, this book is filled with hundreds of illustrations, diagrams, lists, quotes, maps, paintings, and drawings. For example, the section on fleet comparison devotes a page to each ship from both fleets. The pages include a drawing of a ship, its rating, number and type of guns, number and type of crew (i.e. naval, infantry, marine), a biography of its commander, what the ship did during and after the battle, and, for the British, a list of all its officer--all the way down to the purser! In the section on guns, gunnery, and tactics, there are eight fabulous color illustrations, each covering two pages. The first is a cross section of the Victory with all the rooms labeled. The ship looks like a mini city. Then there are top-view illustrations of each deck. Not only are the guns and other parts of the ship labeled, but also where crew members would have been assigned. I didn't know that a marine was assigned to each gun on the ship. In some cases even known personalities can be placed in certain areas on deck. There is even a page showing the number and arrangement of lanterns to indicate signals in the presence of the enemy! I particularly like the 19 maps in the battle section. The reader can follow the movements and firing of the ships throughout the battle. There are so many topics and all are treated exhaustively.

I could go on and on giving examples of the breadth and depth of this book. Besides the information, the color illustrations and quality of paper make this book visually pleasing. I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone interested in the Royal Navy in the Napoleonic Wars. It's worth every penny you'll pay for it-you won't need anything else.

The Best To Date, 24 Jan 2006
I always considered I had a reasonable knowledge regarding the battles of the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic era, and Trafalgar in particular, until I read this book.
On almost every page I found something new to me, not least the many extracts taken from the letters written by the sailors, and soldiers, who took part in the battle.
Everything the layman could want to know about Trafalgar, in the lead up, the battle itself, and the aftermath is described in detailed coloured diagrams that are easy to follow and understand.
Also, each individual ship has a section devoted to itself giving its history, specification, and a list of its principal officers and crew members.
It is packed with technical information which because of the way the book is written is as interesting to read as the description of the battle itself.
This book may be expensive but its contents make it worth every penny. If you only ever buy one book about the Battle of Trafalgar, buy this one.

the biggest and best Trafalgar book, 24 Oct 2005
I have read about a dozen books on Trafalgar. This one is different, and a real "must have" for anyone seriously interested in the topic. It combines well-researched and comprehensive text with a massive selection of full colour maps, illustrations and diagrams. At first glance some of this looks a bit childish, but on closer examination the information covered is highly detailed and accurate. I learned a huge amount, and whole heartedly recommend it.

Nice introduction..., 28 Oct 2008
Paddy Griffith is an undoubted authority when it comes to re-evaluating the historical battlefield. Examining the tactical evolutions employed and their impact on combat, he has looked at how wars have been fought over the last two hundred years in previous publications. In this volume, he attempts to describe how French practises developed from the shambolic improvisations of 1792-3 to the "corupt gigantism" of the later Empire.

Using the timeline of the wars as his framework, he progresses through in a readable enough fashion (as always; Griffith's seeming distaste for Bonaparte aside), but says little new.

The plates by Peter Dennis are excellent in conveying the sheer scope of the manoeuvres described, and serve as a useful corrective to TV and film imagery of Napoleonic battles.

The book, as with most Ospreys, suffers from the restrictions of the format - there is simply too much to say for the space available, so becomes simply a "primer" for further reading. A guarded recommendation.


Gruelling Napoleonic soldiering from a Dorsetshire Sheppard., 18 Aug 2008
Numerous editions of this classic memoir exist; mostly all abridged. The publishers have done an excellent job here by provided Recollections of Rifleman Harris completely unabridged and unedited. The only liberty taken with the text is the establishment of chapters for clarity and ease. Also included is a 1928 introduction by Sir John Fortescue which neatly summarises the history of the 95th Rifles.

Rifleman Harris was not long in the Peninsular War and most of his days of soldiering were occupied in lengthy marching and sickness. He was present at only two set-piece battles (Rolica and Vimeiro) and was involved in Moore's Retreat to Corunna and the disastrous Walcheren Expedition. In the final chapter Harris recounts how he ended up convalescing in a veteran's battalion being finally discharged in 1814. Despite his absence from bouts of fighting he seems to have stayed in firm contact with the trials and tribulations of the 'Old 95'; anecdotes of certain solders at later battle are recounted for example.

Harris is indispensable for those wanting to understand the social-history of army-life: recruiting, sickness, desertion, regimental-women etc etc. He is also prone to the amusing battle anecdote. We find Harris, regimental-cobbler, with seemingly the entire 95th's shoes during the opening salvo at the Battle of Vimeiro! He is particularly famous for his eulogies of Robert Craufurd, the firm disciplinarian of the Rifle-Brigade, who maintained their discipline during the infamous retreat. The retreat is usually named after Corunna where Moore fought his fatal battle and allowed the army to disembark for England. In actual fact Craufurd's Brigade split from the main body in order to disembark at Vigo. Nevertheless, their plight was the same as their comrades heading for the former port and Harris is essential for discovering the horrors encountered their. Harris in fact barely made it.

Recollections was first published in 1848, a whole thirty-nine years after Harris arrived back from Walcheren stricken with fever. He was illiterate; his account being transcribed to a half-pay officer, Captain Henry Curling of the 52nd Foot, in a rather un-chronological fashion. In a way this adds to the charm of the piece: his recollections have not turned into a literary masterpiece aka Kincaid and Leech. Despite its ominous birth this is the most honest and authenticated voice of the British Napoleonic foot-soldier. The only memoir which can possibly compete for that accolade is the Letters of Private Wheeler.

Rifleman Costello The adventures of a soldier of the 95th rifles , 13 Aug 2007
Highly informative and entertaining account of the personal experiences of an ordinary soldier of the peninsular wars. A rare personal account of the lower ranks due to a lack of literacy at that time.

Good but flawed, 16 Mar 2008
This book does contain many thought-provoking insights into its subject, many of which could be applied to modern wars. One example I will give is the author's assertion that most people involved in a battle do not actually kill or wound anyone. That sounds a large statement to make, but Mr Muir swiftly explains why it must be true. I much appreciated his coverage of how cowardly officers were handled, and really there is much to commend the book to anyone with an interest in military history. Ultimately though, when I dip into this book I never feel that Mr Muir has really breathed life into it, hence only 4 stars.

age of wellingon., 13 Oct 2006
Tactics and Experience of Battle in the Age of Wellington would be much precise title for the book. As the author is the expert about Wellington, his most examples are from Spanish campaign of his. Sometimes from such kind of battles that are absolutly inferior to other battles in the same age. Apart from that book is brilliant. Deep investigation of all types of troops.

An interesting read, 29 Jul 2004
If you are interested in military history and particularly Napoleonic wars then this book is a very good read. Details all the different troop types used during the period, how they were used and their benefits. Its well written and a worthy addition to any military buffs library

A well researched and captivating book, 11 Jun 2001
Muir uses his extensive research to paint a vivid picture of how the Napoleonic armies fought. The individual accounts are expanded by Muir so that the reader can feel the horror of facing charging calvalry and the tense moments whilst under fire. Overall this is written with extreme clarity and contains a great deal of interesting analysis.

A very interesting and useful look at Napoleonic warfare., 10 Feb 2001
What it was really like to fight in a Napoleonic battle. This book is full of interesting and sometimes amusing anecdotes to help the reader get an understanding of the tactics used, without burdening the reader with too much technical detail.

It is a welcome addition to my collection.

Detailed history of Borodino, 28 Feb 2008
I mainly study early 20th Century European history and specifically WWII but Napoleon's invasion of Russia, and the Napoleonic period as a whole, have always intrigued me. Never could I fully comprehend how men could so easily risk their lives in reckless charges against "squares" of infantry bristling with bayonets! Wondering about it all finally forced me to dive into this period and while my readings of it have been quite limited (perhaps a dozen or so books to date) this is one of the more interesting and certainly detailed works out there today that I have encountered.

The author, as a reviewer has already noted, is fluent in Russian, Georgian, English, French, and possibly even German (his list of sources tell the entire story). I find his appreciation for detail to be inspiring. Here we have an author who looks at a dozen authors and historians who have come before him and analyzes and presents all their points of view in regards to events during this battle, be they contradictory or complementary, and lets the reader decide what to believe. That is something to aspire to. From time to time he will also make his own conclusions known. More so, he simply gives you the information, which if you are interested in, you can easily know where to look and who to consult, something that I rarely find in current historical literature. A few myths are explained and put to rest and I found the narrative interesting enough to keep me wanting to read more especially since here we have both sides of the battle being presented. There were a few grammar mistakes and missing words but that is easily overlooked. I commend the author for his efforts and I'm more than sure that this will be the standard history of the Battle of Borodino for years to come.

Sources and Style, 05 Feb 2008
Any book about military history is ultimately only as good as the sources on which it is based, but the use of good sources alone does not guarantee a successful book. A really good history book must, in addition, present its information in a clear and spirited narrative supported by appropriate source citations, critical analysis of sources, clear maps, quality illustrations and a comprehensive bibliography. Alexander Mikaberidze has written such a book about the Battle of Borodino in 1812. This is the first English-language study of the battle that gives equal weight to Russian as well as French primary sources and the author uses them to tell a complex story with great clarity. The book should be owned by anyone interested in Napoleonic military history.

Definitely worth reading, but let down by abysmal editing, 15 Jan 2008
This is certainly not a bad book, but a little effort (and I really mean a little) could have made it a lot better. Alexander Mikaberidze, a native of Georgia (the one in the Caucasus) has decided, with good reason, that accounts of the battle of Borodino have tended to fall into two unsatisfactory categories: those skewed to a French point of view and those influenced by the Russian, especially Soviet-era, myths. The effect in both cases, ironically, has been to cause important Russian-language sources to be deliberately discarded. Since the latter have tended not to be translated out of Russian, the French angle has come to predominate in English-speaking countries. Mikaberidze points out that another early casualty of this bias was the German role in the fighting, which was very significant, with substantial German forces playing a leading role in French operations, while numerous "Russian" commanders were, in fact, Germans. Post-Waterloo, the French painted the Germans out of their picture of the Grande Armee. For their part, Russian writers belittled the role played by "German" officers in the Tsar's army, some of whom were openly dismissed as traitors, for no good reason. Many of the contradictions in the eye-witnesses' accounts, though, must come down to the fact that, on a Napoleonic battlefield, it was impossible to see very far, or very clearly. Men genuinely participated in the same events, but left contradictory recollections. Mikaberidze largely does a very good job of constructing a coherent account out of individual sources that are reluctant to cohere. His list of sources is impressive: many memoirs in Russian, inaccessible to those unfamiliar with the language; French and German sources that also may never before have been cited in an English-language publication. The presentation of quotations from these sources, though, is one of the prime weaknesses of the book, because the translations are often jaw-droppingly inept. Why this is so isn't clear. Mikaberidze has apparently written the book in English and the main text is reasonably well written, if poorly edited. He is clearly familiar at first hand with the range of sources, since that is the whole point of the book. It does appear, though, as if someone with a greatly inferior grasp of English was trusted to provide the translations, some of which are so bad that they seem almost to be the work of not very sophisticated software. They certainly betray further failings in the publisher's approach to editing. Unfortunately, those are not hard to find elsewhere, either. If you believe the caption under his picture, Russian General Dochturov commanded the 6th Corps at the tender age of twenty-two and could look forward to another forty-one years of life. In reality, he was just under fifty-three at Borodino and lived a mere four years more. Bennigsen was born in 1745, not 1735, as claimed. "Voltigeur" is spelled incorrectly under another plate. The topographical name, Semeyonovskoye, is treated to numerous misprints, with inconsistent versions within the same paragraph (there's even a Polish version, at one point). Arguably, the plates don't add a great deal in the way of information, but they are generous. The maps are usually clear, although a map of the manoeuvres preceding Shevardino/Borodino would be useful, as would a map of the early stages of Borodino itself. If you are interested in the battle, or the Napoleonic Wars in general, you should read this, but be prepared to grit your teeth from time to time.

A magnificent account of Napoleon's most terrible battle, 01 Oct 2007
Napoleon described Borodino as `the most terrible of all my battles', yet it has been curiously neglected by military historians. Until the dreadful carnage of the First World War, Borodino was perhaps the most savage land battle since Cannae in 216 BC (although there have been battles with higher casualties, the hourly casualty rate at Borodino - 6,500 per hour or 108 men per minute - is truly staggering) . Napoleon claimed it as a victory, yet it was a victory on paper only: all he really gained was a few hundred metres of Russian earth. In spite of terrible losses on both sides, Napoleon failed to destroy the Russian army, which arguably emerged the moral victor. It was at Borodino that the Grande Armee was dealt a mortal blow; it was here that its long death agony began, not to end until the sad remnants of this once mighty force straggled across the Berezina several months later.
Most Western accounts of Borodino have tended - perhaps understandably - to write from the Allied point of view, which gives a rather one-sided picture. Alexander Mikaberidze's account, while doing justice to the Allied side, provides the first truly convincing account of the battle from the Russian viewpoint. As always, Dr Mikaberidze's meticulous research is evident throughout the book; he has made extensive use, not only of published Russian primary sources, but also of Russian archive materials. He paints an objective yet moving and absorbing picture of this most terrible of Napoleon's battles, in the process setting the record straight with regard to many of the myths and misconceptions that have arisen regarding that awful day in September 1812.
Dr Mikaberidze's reputation as a Napoleonic scholar of note will be further enhanced by this magnificent book.

A mine of information, 30 Mar 2007
I wondered whether this book would be worth the money. If you are considering buying it, then don't wait any longer. I have had a great deal of pleasure reading this as a reference book, dipping into the book as and when I have had the time. There are gems of information on nearly every page and it is so plainly written - scholarly but very accessible.

There is enough here to satisfy a variety of tastes - everything from the life of a sailor to how the ships were built.

Excellent

Stunning, 10 Nov 2006
This is a comprehensive, well written, and visually beautiful guide to the trafalgar campaign, the characters, the navies, and the final battle. Nelson's navy is described in a way that is so clear that it would be easy for someone who had no previous knowledge of the period to follow, and yet the book is never patronising or trivial.

The illustrations alone are so beautiful that it is almost worth picking up the book to admire them, but if you do so be warned that you may find yourself reading it for longer than you intended.

There are a lot of excellent works on Trafalgar so there is strong competition for this description, but I think that if I could only keep one book about the campaign and the battle it would be this one.

A GREAT book on Nelson's Navy, 06 Feb 2006
The Trafalgar Companion is probably the best reference book on the Royal Navy in the time of the Napoleonic Wars. It has about 550 pages of small type and is jam packed with information. However, it is much more than its title suggests.

This book could probably be divided into three main parts: the life of Nelson, the Trafalgar campaign, and the background of the Royal Navy. There are nine sections, each with subsections and most with an epilogue. The epilogues comprise the first part, as they describe some aspect of Nelson's life or career. If one wanted to read only about Nelson, one could jump to the end of each chapter and read a very good biography of Nelson. The epilogues include his early life and career, the battles of St Vincent, the Nile, Copenhagen; his stay at Naples, Emma, and a few others. The reader really comes to know a great deal about Nelson. The second section, the background of the Royal Navy, gives the reader about 150 pages on topics such as ship construction and classification, seamanship, navigation, officers, seamen, marines, uniforms, gunnery, tactics, and many others. This section alone is invaluable to understanding the Royal Navy. The third section is about the Trafalgar campaign. The subsections include British and French naval strategy, the fleets, command, opening moves, the battle itself (about 60 pages), and the aftermath of the battle.

So, what makes this such a great book? The topics have all been discussed in tons of other books. Well, first, this book is like an encyclopedia--it brings everything together under one roof. If you want Nelson, you got 'im. If you're reading Hornblower, Ramage, Kydd, or Aubrey and you need some background info on some topic, it's here. However, this book is more than an encyclopedia. If you have several hours to spend on a great story--the battle itself--you've got a great read in front of you. Second, in addition to the text, this book is filled with hundreds of illustrations, diagrams, lists, quotes, maps, paintings, and drawings. For example, the section on fleet comparison devotes a page to each ship from both fleets. The pages include a drawing of a ship, its rating, number and type of guns, number and type of crew (i.e. naval, infantry, marine), a biography of its commander, what the ship did during and after the battle, and, for the British, a list of all its officer--all the way down to the purser! In the section on guns, gunnery, and tactics, there are eight fabulous color illustrations, each covering two pages. The first is a cross section of the Victory with all the rooms labeled. The ship looks like a mini city. Then there are top-view illustrations of each deck. Not only are the guns and other parts of the ship labeled, but also where crew members would have been assigned. I didn't know that a marine was assigned to each gun on the ship. In some cases even known personalities can be placed in certain areas on deck. There is even a page showing the number and arrangement of lanterns to indicate signals in the presence of the enemy! I particularly like the 19 maps in the battle section. The reader can follow the movements and firing of the ships throughout the battle. There are so many topics and all are treated exhaustively.

I could go on and on giving examples of the breadth and depth of this book. Besides the information, the color illustrations and quality of paper make this book visually pleasing. I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone interested in the Royal Navy in the Napoleonic Wars. It's worth every penny you'll pay for it-you won't need anything else.

The Best To Date, 24 Jan 2006
I always considered I had a reasonable knowledge regarding the battles of the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic era, and Trafalgar in particular, until I read this book.
On almost every page I found something new to me, not least the many extracts taken from the letters written by the sailors, and soldiers, who took part in the battle.
Everything the layman could want to know about Trafalgar, in the lead up, the battle itself, and the aftermath is described in detailed coloured diagrams that are easy to follow and understand.
Also, each individual ship has a section devoted to itself giving its history, specification, and a list of its principal officers and crew members.
It is packed with technical information which because of the way the book is written is as interesting to read as the description of the battle itself.
This book may be expensive but its contents make it worth every penny. If you only ever buy one book about the Battle of Trafalgar, buy this one.

the biggest and best Trafalgar book, 24 Oct 2005
I have read about a dozen books on Trafalgar. This one is different, and a real "must have" for anyone seriously interested in the topic. It combines well-researched and comprehensive text with a massive selection of full colour maps, illustrations and diagrams. At first glance some of this looks a bit childish, but on closer examination the information covered is highly detailed and accurate. I learned a huge amount, and whole heartedly recommend it.

Nice introduction..., 28 Oct 2008
Paddy Griffith is an undoubted authority when it comes to re-evaluating the historical battlefield. Examining the tactical evolutions employed and their impact on combat, he has looked at how wars have been fought over the last two hundred years in previous publications. In this volume, he attempts to describe how French practises developed from the shambolic improvisations of 1792-3 to the "corupt gigantism" of the later Empire.

Using the timeline of the wars as his framework, he progresses through in a readable enough fashion (as always; Griffith's seeming distaste for Bonaparte aside), but says little new.

The plates by Peter Dennis are excellent in conveying the sheer scope of the manoeuvres described, and serve as a useful corrective to TV and film imagery of Napoleonic battles.

The book, as with most Ospreys, suffers from the restrictions of the format - there is simply too much to say for the space available, so becomes simply a "primer" for further reading. A guarded recommendation.


Gruelling Napoleonic soldiering from a Dorsetshire Sheppard., 18 Aug 2008
Numerous editions of this classic memoir exist; mostly all abridged. The publishers have done an excellent job here by provided Recollections of Rifleman Harris completely unabridged and unedited. The only liberty taken with the text is the establishment of chapters for clarity and ease. Also included is a 1928 introduction by Sir John Fortescue which neatly summarises the history of the 95th Rifles.

Rifleman Harris was not long in the Peninsular War and most of his days of soldiering were occupied in lengthy marching and sickness. He was present at only two set-piece battles (Rolica and Vimeiro) and was involved in Moore's Retreat to Corunna and the disastrous Walcheren Expedition. In the final chapter Harris recounts how he ended up convalescing in a veteran's battalion being finally discharged in 1814. Despite his absence from bouts of fighting he seems to have stayed in firm contact with the trials and tribulations of the 'Old 95'; anecdotes of certain solders at later battle are recounted for example.

Harris is indispensable for those wanting to understand the social-history of army-life: recruiting, sickness, desertion, regimental-women etc etc. He is also prone to the amusing battle anecdote. We find Harris, regimental-cobbler, with seemingly the entire 95th's shoes during the opening salvo at the Battle of Vimeiro! He is particularly famous for his eulogies of Robert Craufurd, the firm disciplinarian of the Rifle-Brigade, who maintained their discipline during the infamous retreat. The retreat is usually named after Corunna where Moore fought his fatal battle and allowed the army to disembark for England. In actual fact Craufurd's Brigade split from the main body in order to disembark at Vigo. Nevertheless, their plight was the same as their comrades heading for the former port and Harris is essential for discovering the horrors encountered their. Harris in fact barely made it.

Recollections was first published in 1848, a whole thirty-nine years after Harris arrived back from Walcheren stricken with fever. He was illiterate; his account being transcribed to a half-pay officer, Captain Henry Curling of the 52nd Foot, in a rather un-chronological fashion. In a way this adds to the charm of the piece: his recollections have not turned into a literary masterpiece aka Kincaid and Leech. Despite its ominous birth this is the most honest and authenticated voice of the British Napoleonic foot-soldier. The only memoir which can possibly compete for that accolade is the Letters of Private Wheeler.

Rifleman Costello The adventures of a soldier of the 95th rifles , 13 Aug 2007
Highly informative and entertaining account of the personal experiences of an ordinary soldier of the peninsular wars. A rare personal account of the lower ranks due to a lack of literacy at that time.

Good but flawed, 16 Mar 2008
This book does contain many thought-provoking insights into its subject, many of which could be applied to modern wars. One example I will give is the author's assertion that most people involved in a battle do not actually kill or wound anyone. That sounds a large statement to make, but Mr Muir swiftly explains why it must be true. I much appreciated his coverage of how cowardly officers were handled, and really there is much to commend the book to anyone with an interest in military history. Ultimately though, when I dip into this book I never feel that Mr Muir has really breathed life into it, hence only 4 stars.

age of wellingon., 13 Oct 2006
Tactics and Experience of Battle in the Age of Wellington would be much precise title for the book. As the author is the expert about Wellington, his most examples are from Spanish campaign of his. Sometimes from such kind of battles that are absolutly inferior to other battles in the same age. Apart from that book is brilliant. Deep investigation of all types of troops.

An interesting read, 29 Jul 2004
If you are interested in military history and particularly Napoleonic wars then this book is a very good read. Details all the different troop types used during the period, how they were used and their benefits. Its well written and a worthy addition to any military buffs library

A well researched and captivating book, 11 Jun 2001
Muir uses his extensive research to paint a vivid picture of how the Napoleonic armies fought. The individual accounts are expanded by Muir so that the reader can feel the horror of facing charging calvalry and the tense moments whilst under fire. Overall this is written with extreme clarity and contains a great deal of interesting analysis.

A very interesting and useful look at Napoleonic warfare., 10 Feb 2001
What it was really like to fight in a Napoleonic battle. This book is full of interesting and sometimes amusing anecdotes to help the reader get an understanding of the tactics used, without burdening the reader with too much technical detail.

It is a welcome addition to my collection.

Detailed history of Borodino, 28 Feb 2008
I mainly study early 20th Century European history and specifically WWII but Napoleon's invasion of Russia, and the Napoleonic period as a whole, have always intrigued me. Never could I fully comprehend how men could so easily risk their lives in reckless charges against "squares" of infantry bristling with bayonets! Wondering about it all finally forced me to dive into this period and while my readings of it have been quite limited (perhaps a dozen or so books to date) this is one of the more interesting and certainly detailed works out there today that I have encountered.

The author, as a reviewer has already noted, is fluent in Russian, Georgian, English, French, and possibly even German (his list of sources tell the entire story). I find his appreciation for detail to be inspiring. Here we have an author who looks at a dozen authors and historians who have come before him and analyzes and presents all their points of view in regards to events during this battle, be they contradictory or complementary, and lets the reader decide what to believe. That is something to aspire to. From time to time he will also make his own conclusions known. More so, he simply gives you the information, which if you are interested in, you can easily know where to look and who to consult, something that I rarely find in current historical literature. A few myths are explained and put to rest and I found the narrative interesting enough to keep me wanting to read more especially since here we have both sides of the battle being presented. There were a few grammar mistakes and missing words but that is easily overlooked. I commend the author for his efforts and I'm more than sure that this will be the standard history of the Battle of Borodino for years to come.

Sources and Style, 05 Feb 2008
Any book about military history is ultimately only as good as the sources on which it is based, but the use of good sources alone does not guarantee a successful book. A really good history book must, in addition, present its information in a clear and spirited narrative supported by appropriate source citations, critical analysis of sources, clear maps, quality illustrations and a comprehensive bibliography. Alexander Mikaberidze has written such a book about the Battle of Borodino in 1812. This is the first English-language study of the battle that gives equal weight to Russian as well as French primary sources and the author uses them to tell a complex story with great clarity. The book should be owned by anyone interested in Napoleonic military history.

Definitely worth reading, but let down by abysmal editing, 15 Jan 2008
This is certainly not a bad book, but a little effort (and I really mean a little) could have made it a lot better. Alexander Mikaberidze, a native of Georgia (the one in the Caucasus) has decided, with good reason, that accounts of the battle of Borodino have tended to fall into two unsatisfactory categories: those skewed to a French point of view and those influenced by the Russian, especially Soviet-era, myths. The effect in both cases, ironically, has been to cause important Russian-language sources to be deliberately discarded. Since the latter have tended not to be translated out of Russian, the French angle has come to predominate in English-speaking countries. Mikaberidze points out that another early casualty of this bias was the German role in the fighting, which was very significant, with substantial German forces playing a leading role in French operations, while numerous "Russian" commanders were, in fact, Germans. Post-Waterloo, the French painted the Germans out of their picture of the Grande Armee. For their part, Russian writers belittled the role played by "German" officers in the Tsar's army, some of whom were openly dismissed as traitors, for no good reason. Many of the contradictions in the eye-witnesses' accounts, though, must come down to the fact that, on a Napoleonic battlefield, it was impossible to see very far, or very clearly. Men genuinely participated in the same events, but left contradictory recollections. Mikaberidze largely does a very good job of constructing a coherent account out of individual sources that are reluctant to cohere. His list of sources is impressive: many memoirs in Russian, inaccessible to those unfamiliar with the language; French and German sources that also may never before have been cited in an English-language publication. The presentation of quotations from these sources, though, is one of the prime weaknesses of the book, because the translations are often jaw-droppingly inept. Why this is so isn't clear. Mikaberidze has apparently written the book in English and the main text is reasonably well written, if poorly edited. He is clearly familiar at first hand with the range of sources, since that is the whole point of the book. It does appear, though, as if someone with a greatly inferior grasp of English was trusted to provide the translations, some of which are so bad that they seem almost to be the work of not very sophisticated software. They certainly betray further failings in the publisher's approach to editing. Unfortunately, those are not hard to find elsewhere, either. If you believe the caption under his picture, Russian General Dochturov commanded the 6th Corps at the tender age of twenty-two and could look forward to another forty-one years of life. In reality, he was just under fifty-three at Borodino and lived a mere four years more. Bennigsen was born in 1745, not 1735, as claimed. "Voltigeur" is spelled incorrectly under another plate. The topographical name, Semeyonovskoye, is treated to numerous misprints, with inconsistent versions within the same paragraph (there's even a Polish version, at one point). Arguably, the plates don't add a great deal in the way of information, but they are generous. The maps are usually clear, although a map of the manoeuvres preceding Shevardino/Borodino would be useful, as would a map of the early stages of Borodino itself. If you are interested in the battle, or the Napoleonic Wars in general, you should read this, but be prepared to grit your teeth from time to time.

A magnificent account of Napoleon's most terrible battle, 01 Oc