1800 l'ultime année d’un siècle de sang

 The third in the trilogy is available as a pre-order, due for publication in May!

Visit the page dedicated to the book on the Éditions Heimdal website to pre-order, or put it in your 'pocket' to consider once published.

Book quickview: 1799, l'année la plus longue

Pre-purchased in September, printed in May, released in June, arrived in our PO box yesterday. The speed with which it reached me after publication was the first of many aspects of this book that have impressed. I have titled this post a book 'quickview', rather than a review, as I have not read it, but flicked through it extensively, over several hours of last night, enjoying each turn back and forth through the pages.

Marquis' earlier work, 1798, Bonaparte et la campagne d'Egypte, joined my collection soon after it was published in early 2020. That book, covering 1798, with particular focus on the Egyptian Campaign (a little over half of its 192 pages) is effectively part one, the current tome being the second part. I was so impressed with the 1798 book, that this one was an immediate purchased. There has been no buyers' regret.

The table of contents

1799, l'année la plus longue is a visual delight. There are images of people, battles, events, troops, uniforms and maps. Many, many are contemporary prints, others are classical paintings (some known and many that are new to me) and quite a number of the cartoons (pen and ink drawings) by Job (Jacques Onfroy de Breville) from George Montorgueil's Bonaparte, first published in 1910—a real treat. All of the images are reproduced clearly and most of them are in colour. Each image has a caption clearly describing it as well as noting the creator and source.

The book is a visual delight, with loads of reproductions of contemporary paintings.

Along with numerous, classic paintings from the late 19th C.

The inclusion of several cartoons from Job are a real treat.

My 'gooey-ness' for this book so far comes from the visual, but even a skim of the book's five chapters reveals the excellent content. They cover France at the start of 1799 (nation, politics and internal divisions), the states bordering France and their armies, the campaign in Syria, the campaigns in Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Holland and, lastly, 18 brumaire. Five appendices round out the book with information about the members of the commission of sciences and arts who accompanied Bonaparte's army to Egypt, the formation and activities of the Egyptology Institute, the full text of the new constitution that was proclaimed in Paris on 15th December and a chronology of the year 1799.

Several double-page and near double-page spread paintings of battles are presented.

The book is not a uniform book, but loads of lovely images of troops of all nations adorn its pages

In various chapters there is information about the armies, strength, organisation and make-up down to the unit level. This is complemented by orders of battle that are dotted throughout; in appropriate locations related to the battles under discussion. The third and fourth chapters covering the vast number of battles that occurred in 1799 includes information about the leaders, movements and numbers of troops, with some actions described in great detail (e.g. the Siege of St John d'Acre, Battle of Mount Thabor, Battle of Aboukir, Battle of Ostrach, Battle of Stockach, Capture of Alessandria, Battle of St Gothard and first and second battles of Zurich).

A real bonus in the book are the 77 pages of biographies of the main people associated with the events of the year. These are divided into the key actors (political and military); non-military people; Austrian, Russian, British and Egyptian-Ottoman generals and French generals. These biographies are inserted, a group at a time, between the chapters. For each person we are given their place and date of birth, date of death and biography up to 1800 (or sometimes a little later).

The 77 pages of biographies were an unexpected inclusion and a real bonus to me.

Several tables of orders of battle are included.

Maps are probably the book weakest point, but there are several showing regions, places, specific events and battles

 

I'll read this gorgeous, hefty and beautifully printed book properly and in its entirety in time, as my chronological approach dictates. For now it is a joy to leaf through, looking at the plethora of piccies, reading the captions and dipping into the text. A delight to have on the shelves.

I thought that I'd conclude with this photo of a full-page reproduction of a Maurice Orange painting of French soldiers sampling the delights of the Orient!

Rating

References

Marquis, L (2021) 1799, l'année la plus longue. Éditions Heimdal, St Martin-des-Entrées, Bayeux, France. 304 pp.

Marquis, L (2020) 1798, Bonaparte et la campagne d'Egypte. Éditions Heimdal, St Martin-des-Entrées, Bayeux, France. 192 pp.

Book review: La Campagne de France, 1814

When I ordered this book back in February, I thought that it was a history of the campaign of 1814, chiefly from the French side. How mistaken I was. It is quite different and far, far more delightful, useful and insightful for the fact!

Author Gilles Boué describes each arm/formation of the French army in 1814 against the backdrop of the campaign and battles. He provides details of formations, events and actions, interspersed with anecdotes, observations and challenges to myths. The book is 'lusciously' illustrated with some of the well-known paintings of the mid-18th and early 19th centuries, along with some more recent examples, drawings and loads of uniform prints. These are all beautifully, crisply reproduced—the vast majority in colour.

The first two chapters describe, respectively, the lead-up to the campaign (a sort of ‘story so far’) and brief description of its course from February to April 1814. The bulk of the book is dedicated to the troops who made up the French army of 1814, answering Boué’s own question posed in the opening chapter; “Qui étaient-ils?” (Who were they?).

Two examples of the beautifully reproduced paintings that adorn the book. The last halt of the Cossacks before the invasion of France (above) and Charge of the Guard Cossacks at Fère Champenoise (below).
[Note: I didn't twig until adding this caption that I just happened to choose these two, both involving Cossacks!]

Above and below: examples of pictures related to troops and uniforms.

There are chapters about the levée and conscripts, the Imperial Guard, the cavalry, the infantry, the national guard and the free corps (local peasant ‘units’ and those made up of stragglers and other ‘lost’ soldiers). For each of these Boué describes the formation, establishment, regulations, arms and equipment (that there were, particularly for the conscripts and National Guard) as well as examples of their performance in key actions with specific numbers, dates, and names, losses, successes and failures. The specific structure of each chapter is slightly different, but for each the text is rich in detail, examples and anecdotes.

One of the numerous tables in the book. This one the only example that fills two pages!

The numerous ‘sidebars’ and tables presented include a list of the main battles, maps of fifteen of the key ones and detailed orders of battle (for the French). These are complimented by additional information such as a list of revenues, effectives in garrisons, units in reserve camps, table of levees 1804–1814, pay for troops of different ranks and units, along with the cavalry regiments and numbers of men in each joining the army over the course of dates in February—to list about half of it—making for a book packed with excellent content.

Map of the Battle of Champaubert, one of fifteen presented.

The French text is quite easy to read, even for someone like me with only an intermediate grasp of the language. My French vocabulary is quite limited, but I hardly needed to go to the dictionary. I have been reading a bit of French lately, so perhaps have my ‘eye in’ a little, but would certainly not claim any fluency. If you have no knowledge of French I’d still recommend the book as the images need no translation (a picture tells…) and the tables can be comprehended largely without translation, so you’d still get value from the book.

Highly recommended. A most useful, unique, detailed, comprehensive and beautifully produced addition to books about this campaign.

Rating

Reference

Boué, G (2021) La Campagne de France, 1814. Editions Soixante, Paris. 176 pp.

Men want to be him, women want to be with him

No, not James Bond, but Antoine-Charles-Louis Lasalle!

 

Second-hand delights, newly arrived from Librarie Le Vieux Livre: biography of Lasalle, Tranie's first and second Italian campaigns and two, bonus, issues of Soldats Napoléoniens.

Since late 2019, my purchases have been directed (in the main) at 'resource gathering' for a structured approach to my self-paced reading-wargaming 'study' of the Napoleonic wars (and some other, specific conflicts). My planning moves to implementation this year with the quasquibicentennial—a made-up, latin-derived word for the 225th anniversary—of the 1796 Italian campaign. The long-term plan being to move through 1797–1815 over the next 14 years, switching to the 'vigbicentennial' (220th) from 1805. (So, a clear gamble on longevity!).

I have quite a few books and e-books (pdf files) about Napoleon's first Italian campaign. I was made aware of a book about the campaign by Tranie and Carmigniani by a marvellous write-up of the Battle of Voltri by Michael, aka Wargamerabbit, circa 2012 (along with the resultant game, one of many that he did of battles from the early stages of the Italian campaign). I already have Tranie and Carmigniani's books of the 1805/07 and 1809 campaigns, so was keen to try to find a copy. After a few searches I 'unearthed' a copy at Librarie Le Vieux Livre and got in contact with the proprietor (whom I now know as Luc). In the process I also found that he had Tranie's book about the second Italian campaign. Then I noticed Hourtoulle's biography of Lasalle in his on-line catalogue.

I have been keeping my eye out for a copy of this biography, ever since I saw it mentioned in Hourtoulle, Girbal and Courcelle's "Soldiers and Uniforms of Napoleonic Wars". If you do not have a copy of their book, published by Histoire et Collections and available in English 'from a good book store near you', do yourself a favour! Amongst the glorious illustrations are several of Lasalle (and troops) in Italy, Egypt, Germany, Poland, Spain and, finally, at Wagram. I realise now that these were taken from Hourtoulle and Girbal's biography of the beau sabreur.

I am in a long line of admirers of Lasalle, the 'hussar's hussar'. Famous for his dering-do, bravado, bravery and supposed casual attitude to death. He was, by all accounts a fine, upstanding family man, if one discounts the mistresses. Of course, by the standards of the day, having mistresses did not affect one's association with such an epithet, especially for a military man and extra-especially a light cavalryman.

Hourtoulle begins the book with the famous quote attributed to Lasalle:

Tout hussard qui n'est pas mort à trent ans et un jean-foutre 

Which can be translated as:
"Any hussar who is not dead by the age of 30 is a good-for-nothing"

I have seen the 'jean foutre' in this quote translated as 'malingerer' or 'blackguard', but I am sure that one of our French bloggers will be able to provide a more colourful translation!

This book only arrived today, but on first impressions I am not going to be disappointed. Along with Girbal's beautiful colour plates, there are several black and white drawings, photos of letters, many clear maps and some general orders of battle. The first chapter 'Les origines' is followed by a chapter for each of the campaigns in which Lasalle was involved. I look forward to reading it and to thumbing through it often.

Change in weather brings more opportunities for painting and basing

We had a big change in the weather last week, after many 35ºC+ days in November, December and January, plenty of them 40ºC plus. A cyclone that began off the coast of Broome, threatened but never made land-fall, instead turning into a tropical low. So, while, unfortunately, a large fire was the order of the day just west-north-west of us (which headed close to the north eastern outskirts of Perth, destroying bush, houses and buildings in its wake), the Pilbara coastal areas have been flooded. The low continued down the coast, drawing air from the south which has headed our way, so it has turned freezing. I am talking sub-30ºC, some days barely over 20ºC and minima as low as 11ºC. I threatened to light the fire. This is, of course, all a bit cheeky for northerners in the depths of winter. You can get me back in July. Besides, I thought that the sight of a blue sky in the photo below would cheer you all up.

Pelican's at the permanent pool a little way from us. At this time of year we often walk our dogs along the river bed to this spot. After the rain, the water is looking particularly lovely, not the 'bog of eternal stench' that it can be after hot days. The photo is a bit blurry as I did not want to get any closer and scare them off.

Anyway, while I have done some painting over early summer, the cooler conditions have made it easier to do so. It is especially good not to have to struggle with moths and Rutherglen bugs being attracted by the light! We are forecast to return to mid to high 30s from the weekend, which I love, but it may slow down progress with painting and related activities.

List of books mentioned above

Burgaleta, P (Ed.) (2008) Soldats Napoleoniens: Les troupes françaises, alliées et coalisées: L’Espagne en 1808 (1er partie) Numero 18 - Juin 2008. 'Soldats Napoleoniens' Series (Ed. R Pawly). Éditions de la Revue Napéon, Chaparon, France. 80 pp.

Burgaleta, P (Ed.) (2008) Soldats Napoleoniens: Les troupes françaises, alliées et coalisées: L’Espagne en 1808 (2e partie) Numero 20 - Décembre 2008. 'Soldats Napoleoniens' Series (Ed. R Pawly). Éditions de la Revue Napéon, Chaparon, France. 80 pp.

Hourtoulle, F-G and Girbal, J (1979) Le Général Comte Charles Lasalle, 1775-1809. Copernic, Paris, France. 260 pp.

Hourtoulle, F-G, Girbal, J and Courcelle, P (2004) Soldiers and Uniforms of Napoleonic Wars. Translated by A McKay. Histoire & Collections, Paris, France. 208 pp.

Tranie, J and Carmigniani, JC (1990) Napoléon Bonaparte, 1ère Campagne d'Italie. Éditions Pygmalion, Paris. 265 pp.

Tranie, J and Carmigniani, JC (1991) Napoléon Bonaparte : la deuxième campagne d'Italie, 1800. Éditions Pygmalion, Paris. 266 pp.

It would be rude not to

Just when I am gearing back my wargaming spending, along comes a temptation like this one!

I was alerted by an email from VaeVictis magazine about this coming publication from Éditions Soixante with its pre-publication, discount price. It does not take much for me to buy a good looking book about a Napoleonic campaign, especially one that promises:

- authorship by Gilles Boué with assistance from Natalia Griffon de Pleineville and Jean-Marie Mongin,

- coverage of every battle between February and April 1814,

- illustrated by period paintings and uniforms plates,

- maps of the battles,

- orders of battle,

in a hard cover publication of 176 pages.

The preview pages, some of which are reproduced below, show examples.

 Do I buy it? To quote Blitzen in Robbie the Reindeer (out of context), "It would be rude not to"!

It will be on its way following its expected publication on 11th March. No doubt it will feature in a review on this blog not long afterwards.

A thank you to our suppliers

I was inspired to do this post by one at the end of last year along similar lines on 'lorenzosenventh's', The Wargaming Erratic blog in which he thanked all of his hobby suppliers.
 

The post on The Wargaming Erratic blog that inspired this one.

2020 was my biggest year of 'resource gathering' to date. This is one of the largest single purchases of the year, a heap of (chiefly) Hat figures from Tactics. Lots of Napoleonic loveliness!

Like many (most) in our hobby 2020 was one of serious 'resource gathering', i.e. it was my biggest spending year on record! I know that I am not alone as I have spoken or been in email correspondence with people from several of the companies listed below and the common theme was that "...it was like Christmas from February (2020)...". This was, no doubt, marvellous for business, but we need to remember that it was done under difficult circumstances, changing conditions and rules, under the shadow of a pandemic and with a level of exposure of each of them to the risk of infection.

So, following lorenzosenventh's lead, I would like to thank the many people who support my habit... I mean hobby, especially in the past 12 months, or so.

A 'haul' from the Lucky Toy Soldier.

Just one example of a retailer who has kept on keeping on during the pandemic; no mean feat since he is in Italy and I made this order in April 2020. It took over three months to arrive, but did nonetheless.

Potemkin Russians from Hagen Miniatures.

Another example of a vendor going above and beyond. I knew nothing of this amazing little period of Russian military uniforms until this year. I wondered how I might represent them in 1/72, only to find that Hagen manufacture these beauties. With postage through the roof I thought that I'd be waiting until sometime this year or beyond to get them, but a clever and accommodating idea from Uwe and Andy saw them sent in a combined package.

Thank you to all of the people involved with the companies and businesses below!

Figure manufacturers

Strelets*R

Over the past three to four years Strelets have become the premier manufacture of 1/72 scale figures in terms of range, quality and quantity. Throughout 2020 they managed to maintain a prolific rate of output of quality figures (including a completely new range of figures for the War of Spanish Succession).

Hät (Pacific Coast Company)

Hät were the premier manufacturer of 1/72 scale figures (with a smaller range of 28 mm and 1/32). They have 'hiccoughed' a bit lately, following a change of ownership and a move to a new production process based on computer design and production of masters. There are signs that this is beginning to bear fruit with a release of new sets late in the year, and more in the pipeline.

Linear a

A smaller manufacturer of 1/72 plastic figures that has been producing a range of novel, character-filled sets, particularly for early ancients (classical to early imperial Roman). The development and release of new sets seemed to have increased throughout 2020.

Mars

Another smaller manufacturer who focusses on figures (1/72 and increasingly 1/32 as well) for periods or ranges not covered by others. This past year I purchased some great additions from them for my increasing interest in 'things Ottoman'.

Redbox/Orion

Yet another manufacturer of 1/72 scale plastic figures who fills some of the many gaps. The focus is on 'doing a range 'completely', so numerous sets are released around a specific campaign or range of troops. Their Russians for 1805–07, released in 2019, are a good example. I purchased some of their figures for my developing Ottoman army this year.

Hagen Miniatures

Manufacturers of specialised, metal figures in a range of scales, including 1/72. I have purchased a few, specific Napoleonic figures from them in the past, but this year picked up the wonderful Potemkin Russians pictured above.

Newline Designs

A good range of 20 mm figures in metal that blend in well with 1/72, as well as other scales that I don't use/collect.

Irregular Miniatures

Manufacturers of a wide range of figures in 'every scale known to man'! I have bought only figures from their 2 mm and 20 mm ranges. Ian always provides fast, efficient and friendly service.

Black Watch Miniatures

A new venture in which Uwe from Hagen has combined with figure sculptor Massimo to produce yet more specialised figures in 1/72 aimed at diorama makers and wargamers.

 Hinds Figures (Hinchliffe)

Not figures that I purchase often, but I have sought a few Hinchliffe figures, particularly the original molds/scale and Ian provides excellent service.

 

Retailers

Tactics

The best known, best and much loved miniatures store in Perth. My main hobby supplier. The shop is literally bursting at the seams with stock but they are still always happy to get in special orders. Even pre-Covid-19 I was increasingly buying from them via email requests and posted packages.

Military Hobbies

Base in Adelaide, Andrew is my 'go to' vendor for Strelets figures. It's great to deal directly with him. He sells a wide range of figures, many of them rare and second hand types, through his two shops (Military Hobbies and The Toy Soldier Experience).

Drum and Flag 

Rupert from Drum and Flag is friendly, efficient and helpful. He has a great range of new and second hand products to boot. Little wonder that he is one of the most respected vendors in the hobby (from the many positive comments that I see about him).

Transport Models & Kit Lady

I came late to Mark and Liz's shop when I was directed to them by Armies in Plastic. Based in Preston, England I dealt with them entirely via their excellent online store and email. Unfortunately (for us) they retired last year, although both of them have an eBay store in which they are selling their remaining stock.

'Cronwallis' (eBay seller)

While an eBay seller, Bruce gets a special mention as I have purchased from him several times. He has an excellent range of sets of 1/72 figures at reasonable prices, many of which are no longer available from retailers. He is situated in Adelaide, so postage is reasonable and simple, which is a bonus.

Ace Radio Controlled Models

Another local hobby shop in Perth (Midland). As the name states, they mainly stock radio controlled models but do have some plastic kits and figures, including quite a range of Pegasus and Emhar.

The Luck Toy Soldier

Fausto's online store based in Italy stocks new and rare plastic figures.

Bold Frontiers

Australian vendor of Armies in Plastic. Friendly and helpful, but do not carry the range that Transport Models did.

Various vendors that I have purchased from infrequently, including last year

Hannants

Hearn Hobbies

Metro Hobbies

Hobbyland

Models2U

Kingkit

Wargame Vault

Various eBay sellers

Subts

Weekyness

Australia Games

Book and magazine publishers

Pen & Sword

The largest publisher of military books in English with a huge 'back catalogue' (including books of imprints such as Frontline and Greenhill) but also prolific new releases.

Helion Company

A publisher of titles that tend to be for less-written-about periods/aspects of periods. I purchased a couple of titles in their 'Century of the Soldier' series this last year, which are excellent publications.

Éditions Heimdal

A publisher whose books have featured on this blog quite a lot this year—'cause I love them!

Le Livre Chez Vous

Previously I have purchased back issues of their magazines and also books, simply via the website, but restrictions on postage has seen that suspended temporarily. I wanted to get some more back issues of Gloire & Empire related to the Italian and Egyptian campaigns. It took a few emails to organise, but the staff were really helpful and accommodating of an out of the ordinary request from the antipodes.

Karwansaray Publishers

I am particularly keen on Ancient Warfare magazine, which I buy direct from them on an occasional basis. They continued to publish last year and I picked up two issues of this quality magazine.

Baccus 6 mm

Chiefly a figure manufacturer, but I do not wargame in 6 mm. I have, however, purchased several of their Polemos rules in the past. This year I picked up Polemos SPQR (as a pdf) after reading several reviews and playtests on blogs.

Book vendors

Naval & Military Press

A fabulous supplier of discounted books who regularly has super specials. The books are keenly priced, even with postage from the UK.

Librairie Le Vieux Livre

A vendor from France with a fine catalogue of second hand books, chiefly in French. I only 'discovered' him this year.

Forties Factory

A vendor from France that stocks several military titles, chiefly from French publishers, amongst other militaria and bric a brac.

Fishpond

A large, online warehouse that is an excellent source of many hobby-related books. A great thing for us is that the postage is 'free' (i.e. included in the listed price), so one knows the total price.

Various vendors through AbeBooks

World of Books

Book Depository International

Thrift Books

Irish Booksellers

Salsus Books

La Boisserie

France Champagne

Cadeby Books

Other

A bit 'off topic' but I also want to mention two categories of constant interest and stimulating content related to my hobby.

Little Wars TV

The fellows at the self-styled 'greatest wargames club in the world' produce some excellent, professional content. I suspect that they were originally aiming this at fellow wargamers, but they have now expanded to more of a promotion of the hobby (while still being of great interest to fellow wargamers).

I strongly recommend that you support them with a few dollars via patreon.

All Bloggers

I have a long list of blogs that I follow. Most feature on this blog, all of them are listed on my Solo Slow Wargaming blog.

Thanks to you all for your interesting, stimulating, often thought-provoking and or humorous content.

 

In ending I can do no better than to quote 'lorenzoseventh':

So thanks to them all for allowing me to pursue my hobby even in the midst of a global pandemic.

Books: influential, favourite & a newie, plus back to preparation for the quasquibicentennial

It's great how a theme is picked up and passed from one blogger to another. Things like the painting challenge, the figure advent calendar and this one: influential books.

Back on 11th December, Nundanket at Horse and Musket Gaming made a most interesting post about books that had been influential in his getting into the hobby. Iain of caveadsum1471 followed suit with a post about a splendid tome, 'Military Uniforms: The Splendour of the Past' that had been an early inspiration for him, as well as images of his fantastic looking library. Matt of wargamesinthedungeon went to do the same but, realising that he'd done one already about that for his 500th post, re-publised that, along with some of his library!

Reading, collecting and admiring books is a huge part of the enjoyment of the hobby for me. I have even mused that, if forced to one of those 'choose your favourite pet' kind of choices, I would take the books over the figures. So, here's my little bit of input of influential books, favourites in the library and a quick review of a newie.

Influential books

For me the most influential books have to come down to the duo du Garde Peach's Story of Napoleon and Bruce Quarrie's Napoleonic Wargaming. The former took me down the path of an interest in Napoleon and all things napoleonic and the latter was the first book about wargaming that I owned/read and the first rules that Dad and I played. They have both been eclipsed since, many times over, but they remain special to me and I still remember how I enjoyed reading them and pawing over them as a boy.

I had numerous volumes in Ladybird's Adventure from History series, but none grabbed me quite like the Story of Napoleon. Add to this some sets of Airfix Napoleonic figures and I was on my way. Actually, I considered making dioramas rather than wargames. The idea of wargaming came from a suggestion from my dad and the purchase of Quarrie's guidebook and rules followed.

Quarrie's rules may have had numerous glitches, but his practical guide, suggestions, descriptions and photos were a fabulous source of inspiration to me. I longed to have sufficient figures painted so that we could play our first game. It took about four years to happen, but a life-long hobby/obsession was born.

Favourite books

Fast-forward some 47 years from du Garde Peach, or 40-odd since the first wargame, and the shackles are well and truly off! The home library has steadily increased over those years, particularly the past 20 and especially the last ten or so. I have been taking advantage of the fact that books (like figures) are cheaper than they were back then, in relative terms, plus a greater ability with age to invest in the hobby. In fact so 'crazy' have I gone in recent years that now even I consider that I have enough and am limiting myself to only a few, specific and/or really special additions.

One bookcase for 'periods other than Napoleonic'.

Main bookcase of Napoleonic books, organised from general history/biography then chronologically.

Smaller bookcases carrying on the chronology.

Some small bookcases with assorted periods and most of my wargaming rules.

 

I enjoy all the books that I have but, if forced to choose my favourites, it would come down to The Anatomy of Glory (a reprint of which I reviewed last year) and two series of books about Napoleonic uniforms: those by Eugène-Louis Bucquoy and Guy Devautour and the 'splendeur' series by G. Charmy.

A simple bookcase that I made recently to hold my now most prized books: about uniforms, especially Napoleonic.

Brief review of a newie—L'infanterie de ligne 1814-1845

Having greatly enjoyed the first volume of Jouineau and Mongin's book on French infantry of the line (reviewed here), I immediately pre-ordered the second. I was not disappointed.

The second volume has all the features that I enjoyed in the first: pages and pages of colour plates illustrating different types of infantry (privates, NCOs, musicians, ensigns, officers) and uniforms from several regiments, detailed plates of items of uniform and equipment, descriptive text in easy-to-comprehend French (for my intermediate level) and numerous reprints of uniform plates, photographs of extant items of uniform and other illustrations of troops.

Above and below, examples of the pages illustrating different uniforms of troops types and various non-regulation examples.

A sample of one of the many pages illustrating items of uniform of the Bardin regulations.

Plates showing examples of troops/uniforms or extant uniform items are also dotted throughout the book.

 

The text begins with a description of the uniforms of officers from the mid-empire to the 1812 Bardin regulations. The second chapter describes the Bardin regulations in detail, regarding both uniform and equipment, with copious illustrations of each.

A sample page of uniforms of the second restoration (above) and July monarchy (below)

The book is about half Napoleonic with the rest devoted to infantry of the period of the second restoration through to the July monarchy (Louis Philippe)—the period of Hugo's Les Miserables. I would, of course, have wanted all Napoleonic, but I knew it was across these periods when I ordered it. The post-Napoleonic French army is not one that I intend to collect and paint, although one learns to never say never in the figure collecting and painting caper! My only complaint about the book is that there is no mention of the specific nuances of the French infantry uniforms during the Hundred Days, nor any illustrations specific to that period.

Highly recommended: eight Napoleons

Back to the quasquibicentennial

The quasquibicentennial (a largely made-up latinised term for the 225th anniversary) of 1796 approaches rapidly!

I have not painted Napoleonic (revolutionary) figures for some two weeks or so, having decided, in an about-turn, to finish off First World War French and Germans first. Now, with these completed, it is back to Napoleonic figures.

Vistula legion, Frankfort am Main infantry and assorted others that are ready for the final stages of painting

Not much progress with my French for 1796 to early empire recently, save for some grey blanket rolls. While this is likely incorrect for the Italian campaign, the figures were designed for the Egyptian campaign and I'll use them through to 1805–6.

 

I'll complete some of those that have been waiting for final touches since earlier in the year and apply my usual approach of continuing the use of a colour to bring infantry of the Armée d'Italie to completion.

References

Bucquoy, E-L and Devautour, G (1977) La Garde Impérial: Troupes à Pied. Tome 1. Les Uniformes du premier Empire J. Grancher, Paris, France. 

Bucquoy, E-L and Devautour, G (1977) La Garde Impériale Troupes à cheval. Tome 2. Les Uniformes du premier Empire J. Grancher, Paris, France. 210 pp.

Bucquoy, E-L and Devautour, G (1979) Les Cuirassiers. Tome 3. Les Uniformes du premier Empire J. Grancher, Paris, France. 189 pp.

Bucquoy, E-L and Devautour, G (1980) L’Infanterie : L'infanterie de ligne et l'infanterie légère. Tome 4. Les Uniformes du premier Empire J. Grancher, Paris, France. 189 pp.

Bucquoy, En-L and Devautour, G (1980) La Cavalerie légère : les hussards, les chasseurs à cheval. Tome 5. Les Uniformes du premier Empire J. Grancher, Paris, France. 189 pp.

Bucquoy, E-L and Devautour, G (1980) Dragons et Guides. Tome 6. Les Uniformes du premier Empire J. Grancher, Paris, France. 189 pp.

Bucquoy, E-L and Devautour, G (1980) Etat-major et service de santé. Tome 7. Les Uniformes du premier Empire J. Grancher, Paris, France. 134 pp. 

Bucquoy, E-L and Devautour, G (1977) Gardes D’Honneur et Troupes Etrangers. Tome 8. Les Uniformes du premier Empire J. Grancher, Paris, France. 205 pp. 

Bucquoy, E-L and Devautour, G (1977) La Maison de l’Empereur. Tome 9. Les Uniformes du premier Empire J. Grancher, Paris, France. 123 pp. 

Bucquoy, E-L and Devautour, G (1985) Fanfares et Musiques des troups à cheval 1640 - 1940. Tome 10. Les Uniformes du premier Empire J. Grancher, Paris, France. 126 pp. Location: Fisher collection, York.

Charmy, G (2002) Splendeur des Uniformes de Napoleon: Cavalerie. Tome 1. Editions Charles Herissey, Rennes, France. 326 pp.

Charmy, G (2003) Splendeur des Uniformes de Napoleon: La Garde Imperiale à Pied. Tome 2. Éditions Charles Hérissey, Évreux, France. 234 pp.

Charmy, G (2003) Splendeur des Uniformes de Napoleon: La Garde Imperiale à Cheval. Tome 3. Editions Charles Herissey, Rennes, France. 251 pp.

Charmy, G (2004) Splendeur des Uniformes de Napoleon: Infanterie et Regiments Etrangers. Tome 4. Editions Charles Herissey, Rennes, France. 285 pp.

Charmy, G (2004) Splendeur Des Uniformes de Napoleon: Costumes Du Sacre-Armes Drapeaux Et Decorations. Tome 5. Editions Charles Herissey, Rennes, France. 269 pp.

Charmy, G (2005) Splendeur des Uniformes de Napoleon: Marine-Gendarmerie-Artillerie-Génie-Gardes-Ecoles. Tome 6. Editions Charles Herissey, Rennes, France. 288 pp.

du Garde Peach, L and Kenney, J (1968) The Story of Napoleon. Adventure from History Ladybird Books Ltd, Loughborough, England. 51 pp.

Jouineau, A and Mongin, J-M (2020) L'infanterie de ligne 1814-1845. Tome 2. Éditions Heimdal, St Martin-des-Entrées, Bayeux, France. 160 pp.

Lachouque, H and Brown, ASK (1978) The Anatomy of Glory. Arms and Armour Press, London, England. 564 pp.

Quarrie, B (1974) Napoleonic Wargaming. Airfix magazine guide 4 Patrick Stephens Ltd, Cambridge, UK. 64 pp. Location: Fisher collection, York.