'Aussie Rick'’s Comments (group member since Jun 13, 2009)

'Aussie Rick'’s comments from the THE NAPOLEONIC WARS group.

It's afternoon on Good Friday over here and I've stuffed in a few chocolate Easter eggs while starting my theme book;

Tactics and the Experience of Battle in the Age of Napoleon by Rory Muir

He sounds like a real rogue, 13 wives and living for 94 years, pretty amazing fellow by all accounts!

Betsy wrote: "Redcoats deals with the common soldier of the British Army. Haythornwaite makes a point that Wellington's famous quote about 'the scum of the earth' is incomplete as he goes on to say that the Brit..."

It sounds like he had a pretty amazing career!

I agree with MR9 in regards to Howarth's book, a pretty good account all up and Michael Howard's book on the Franco-Prussian War is excellent.

I try to do the same but sometime my heart wins over my head :)

The one book that I've read on Napoleon's Polish campaign was this classic accoutn which I really enjoyed:

Napoleon's Campaign In Poland 1806-1807 by F. Loraine Petre

Fair call Betsy :)

The April 2021 theme read page is now open and ready for comment/discussion. The theme is any book or books of your choice that covers aspects of the Art of Warfare in the Napoleonic Period or life in the Army during this period:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

The April 2021 theme read is any book or books of your choice that covers the Art of Warfare in the Napoleonic Period or life in the army during the Napoleonic Wars.

Betsy wrote: "Have found a book I thought I might use for next month. Is this okay? BRITAIN AGAINST NAPOLEON: THE ORGANIZATION OF VICTORY 1793-1815 by Roger Knight"

Sounds fair enough to me Betsy :)

Betsy wrote: "There is something about this portrait that has always bothered me. I think it's the eyes. I didn't realize Goya had updated it. Anyway I'm glad you were able to see it."

Haunted eyes; "Nothing except a battle lost can be half so melancholy as a battle won."

I finally got to see Goya's famous portrait of Wellington at the National Gallery of Australia. A new exhibition from the National Gallery of London was open for display and my wife and I attended yesterday to see; "Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London".

Wellington by Goya:
https://www.sartle.com/artwork/portra...

Interesting article, thanks for posting the link MR9.

Good to hear that Napoleon has made a comeback! :)

I managed to scratch my cornea yesterday in the garden (I hate gardening and this is another reason why!). I had to go to the hospital this morning for treatment. They fixed me up and gave me some cream for the eye to help it heal. No lasting damage (thank God) and it seems I won't be able to read for about a week but after that everything should return to normal. I can't even read my computer screen very well so I may not be online as often as usual but I will try and check in at least once a day.

Scott wrote: "Thanks for the update AR, I just so happen to have the perfect book for the theme read:)

[book:The Art of Warfare in the Age of Napoleo..."

Well that worked well then :)

Betsy wrote: "That's great. Will look at these, and see if I can find others too."

The Osprey series have quite a few titles covering this subject as well.

I can expand the theme to cover life in the army:

Redcoats: The British Soldiers of the Napoleonic Wars by Philip J. Haythornthwaite

All for the King's Shilling: The British Soldier under Wellington, 1808–1814 by Edward J. Coss

Napoleon's Army by H.C.B. Rogers

There are quite a few more books like this on the subject.

Betsy wrote: "I know you mentioned some possible books for next month, but could you mention them again? Thanks"

Here are a few of the more well-known titles on the subject:

Tactics and the Experience of Battle in the Age of Napoleon by Rory Muir

The Art of Warfare in the Age of Napoleon by Gunther E. Rothenberg

With Musket, Canon And Sword: Battle Tactics Of Napoleon And His Enemies by Brent Nosworthy

Fighting Techniques of the Napoleonic Age 1792 ~ 1815 by Robert B. Bruce

I've enjoyed reading everyone's posts about their theme books which included some great titles.

Don't forget the next theme is in April and it's on the subject; "The Art of Warfare in the Napoleonic Period"