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Books > Humanities > History > European history > 1750 to 1900
Carl von Clausewitz (1780-1831) is best known for his masterpiece
of military theory On War, yet that work formed only the first
three of his ten-volume published writings. The others, historical
analyses of the wars that roiled Europe from 1789 through 1815,
informed and shaped Clausewitz's military thought, so they offer
invaluable insight into his dialectical, often difficult
theoretical masterwork. Among these historical works, one of the
most important is Der Feldzug von 1799 in Italien und der Schweiz,
which covers an important phase of the French Revolutionary Wars.
Napoleon Absent, Coalition Ascendant covers the period of
Napoleon's invasion of Egypt and focuses on the Second Coalition's
campaign in Italy and their victories under Suvorov's dynamic
leadership that carried the tide of battle up against the French
frontier. Moving from strategy to battle scene to analysis, this
first English translation of volume 5 of Clausewitz's collected
works nimbly conveys the character of Clausewitz's writing in all
its registers: the brisk, often powerful description of events as
they unfolded and the critical reflections on strategic theory and
its implications. Napoleon Absent, Coalition Ascendant includes the
major battles of Trebbia and Novi and will expand readers'
experience and understanding of not only this critical moment in
European history but also the thought and writings of the modern
master of military philosophy.
This book was written to provide an in-depth study of the Danish
and Norwegian armies of the Napoleonic Wars. The goal was to
provide a working document which is as accurate as possible,
covering the uniforms of these armies, their weapons and their
evolution as well as their colours and a look at their basic
tactics. Although this is principally a uniform book, historical
background is also provided to place the details in their context.
Most of the information contained in this volume is published in
the English language for the first time. This third volume looks in
depth principally at the Norwegian Army including the regular
infantry, cavalry, including their Colours, Guidons and Standards
and field artillery covering all aspects of their organisation,
uniforms, arms and equipment as well as their Jaegers, light
infantry and ski troops. The specifically Norwegian cannon and
limbers are also covered. Another subject covered by this volume is
the numerous Norwegian and Danish volunteer and militias companies,
some of whom were actively engaged on the field of battle. An in
depth study of the Island of Bornholm is also included. This volume
is illustrated with 54 original full colour plates. Unlike the few
other works in English this book has been conducted with the
assistance of respected Norwegian historians, as well as Danish and
German historians.
This, the fourth volume in Andrew Field's highly praised study of
the Waterloo campaign from the French perspective, depicts in vivid
detail the often neglected final phase the rout and retreat of
Napoleon's army. The text is based exclusively on French eyewitness
accounts which give an inside view of the immediate aftermath of
the battle and carry the story through to the army's disbandment in
late 1815\. Many French officers and soldiers wrote more about the
retreat than they did about the catastrophe of Waterloo itself.
Their recollections give a fascinating insight to the psyche of the
French soldier. They also provide a first-hand record of their
experiences and the range of their reactions, from those who
deserted the colours and made their way home, to those who
continued to serve faithfully when all was lost. Napoleon s own
flight from Waterloo is an essential part of the narrative, but the
main emphasis is on the fate of the beaten French army as it was
experienced by eyewitnesses who lived through the last days of the
campaign.
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