Reference books for Napoleanic subjects.

[Rompy]

Hi pF,

I am moving out of my comfort zone to paint Napoleanic subjects. Unfortunately I don't have a clue about the era but am eager to learn more. Specifically on the units, organisation, uniform & tactics.

Appreciate if you fine folks could recommend some books for reference.

Just ordered the 6th Inniskilling Dragoon from Mitches Military Models, hope to get cracking on it once it's here

 

[Wings5797]

Hello Mate,
For British Napolionic Uniforms I found the best one for Me is,
British Napolionic Uniforms by C Franklin. It covers infantry and cavalry and cost is around £25.00 from Amazon.
Cheers,
Keith

 

[John Belcher]

Hi Rompy, Osprey men at arms books. Great books for reference of uniforms. Wellingtons Heavy Cavalry would be a good one seeing you are starting with British heavy Cavalry.
Regards,
John

 

[taff edwards]

Hi mate
Found a couple of pics which you possible use as reference , might save a bit model money lol I tend to do this laminate them and put them in a file cheap ass aren't I lol
Cheers Chris

 

[Rompy]

Thanks guys ! Great help !

@Chris, that's being smart ! More $ for model kits

 

[Edorta]

Hi Rompy, the men at arms series by Osprey is very complete about that era, almost all the countries are represented but if you want a generic reference this book is very complete:
An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Uniforms of the Napoleonic Wars

Military miniatures painted by Eduardo Garcia

 

[Zastrow.cuirassier]

One of the best book, sorry in French is :
Ceux qui bravaient l'aigle, Patrice Courcelle, Edition La belle alliance

You can download from this website :
http://avaxhome.cc/ebooks/history_military/les_planches_de_la_belle_alliance_2.html
use
depositfile
If you need help, do not hesitate to contact me.
More references to follow.

 

[Zastrow.cuirassier]

Sorry the link is no more available.
You have to buy it :
http://www.lelivrechezvous.fr/planches-de-la-belle-alliance-n-2-ceux-qui-bravaient-l-aigle.html

 

[zodiac]

Zastrow was that an illegal download infringing copyright? Or is it a legal ebook? I've never seen this available as ebook.

 

[Zastrow.cuirassier]

Zastrow was that an illegal download infringing copyright? Or is it a legal ebook? I've never seen this available as ebook.

In fact i really don't know.
I'm not a great specialist in books download, i prefer paper!

 

[Mat Lambert]

Hi Rompy here's another image you may find useful - from the Osprey men at arms series which I find very good.
Cheers
Mat

 

[Zastrow.cuirassier]

For me there is also 4 books which are "a must have" :

Napoleonic Uniforms

Elting, John R./ Knotel, Herbert (ILT)

Published by Casemate Pub & Book Dist Llc, 2007
ISBN 10: 1932033750 / ISBN 13: 9781932033755

Napoleonic Uniforms. Volumes III & IV.

Elting, John. Knotel, Herbert (illus).

Published by Emperor's Press, 2000., 2000
ISBN 10: 1883476208 / ISBN 13: 9781883476205
Very expensive, but high quality and you can find them :
http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/SearchResults?kn=Napoleonic+Uniforms+knotel&sortby=1&x=65&y=5
The list of book for napoleonic period is very long, if you find from Quatuor Edition, les uniformes des guerres napoleoniennes (also very expensive, and sometimes available on ebay.fr), from the same editdor, l'encyclopédie des uniformes napoléonniens 1800-1815
Don't forget also the Bucquoy books

Not yet published, but you can try to find them on Ebay.fr
More titles to follow.....
The list is very long

 

[Colin_Fraser]

The published book version of the Rousselot plates is a key resource if you want to do French troops. Still irks me that I bought the plates. But they are nicer than the book I guess.

Reenactor suppliers sites are very good for specialist and officer uniforms but confirm their work with additional research. http://en.empirecostume.com/uniform-of-officier-d-ordonnance-de-l-empereur-colonel-a1652.htm

Other sites where folk post their fave Napoleonic pictures and uniforms are good - e.g. Armchair general
http://www.armchairgeneral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=140

If you are near a major research library, check out the collection. I was shocked to find that the Toronto reference library has a superb military plate collection including Rigo, Rousselot, Bucquoy etc....plus all the major books like Pigeard's, Elting etc. For free. You can't take them out but a few years ago you could still do selective colour photocopies.

If you are just starting out, I would focus on the net as there are a lot of online resources. Buying books, you could drop a bundle and spend years and just scratch the surface.

Colin

 

[Rompy]

wow that's a lot of info. thanks everyone

 

[Tonton]

Hi Rompy,

Sorry to be a bit

late with this, but I can thoroughly recommend “Armies of the Napoleonic Wars” by Osprey. 432 pages of really good information on uniforms, tactics and organisation. I think it’s a distillation of many Osprey titles so it gives really broad coverage and lots of inspiration. Probably the most useful book to date in my Napoleonic library.

Good luck with your new modelling direction.

Jeff

 

[Rompy]

Thanks Jeff ! It's never too late