When I typed my reply I went on a big rave about there being heroes & cowards, master strokes & missed opportunities aplenty to go around on all sides during all the Napoleonic campaigns. And how it is a shame that Napoleonic literature, discussions etc seem to often descend into a pro or anti French/Napoleon stance with a vengeance. I thought I was getting a little carried away and deleted it. I should, in hindsight, have left it in!!!!
Further, I ranted about considering myself a fan of both the French and the various opposing allies ... though, if pushed, I would declare for the allies! I find nearly all the armies to be of interest to me. A look at my Napoleonic armies and their planned direction may give some indication - Prussians, Russians, Austrians, French, Saxons & Bavarians. And who knows what will be added. If there is an exception it is the Peninsular War which does not hold the same attraction that 'mainland' Europe does for me.
I would find an over the top pro allies book just as 'vomit inducing'. It's just that I wanted a balance for Barry's problem. I remember as a naive youngster getting books out of the library and reading a whole bunch of distorted jingoistic rubbish about the British at Waterloo and the all conquering and infallible French everywhere else. I wish I had read all of them with a little more scepticism at the time!
I look forward to more information being available in English on the non British & French armies. Hopefully this will balance out some of the old ingrained oft repeated stereotypes that are prevalent in some circles.
I have vague memories of reading Hourtoulle's Jena Auerstadt The Triumph of the Eagle and The Moskova, Borodino. I wonder if all Europeans would agree with the French views expounded in these books.colbert wrote:Barry,
I totaly agree about Geoffrey Wootten`s work,it is as Franco-phobic as any book by Mr Ian Fletcher.(the guy who wrote Sharpe? )
As a European , i prefer the works of F.G Hourtoulle & Tranie/Carmigniani
"vomit inducing". Fordi du - aksepterer det engelske vinklingen.
Regards,
Salute
von Peter himself ... a proud Kiwi (New Zealander) carefully bred from various European stock to extract the best from each