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Miniatures Adventure => Age of the Big Battalions => Topic started by: Legion on 08 September 2020, 12:54:27 AM

Title: Best single-volume history of the Peninsular War?
Post by: Legion on 08 September 2020, 12:54:27 AM

Hi All,

Can anyone please recommend one?

Thanks much,

L

Title: Re: Best single-volume history of the Peninsular War?
Post by: Mad Gadgeteer on 08 September 2020, 01:56:05 AM

The only single volume history I can think of is 'The Spanish Ulcer: A History of the Peninsular War' by David Gates.

Title: Re: Best single-volume history of the Peninsular War?
Post by: Harry Faversham on 08 September 2020, 08:09:37 AM

An old 'un, but a good 'un!

(https://www.monkshillbooks.co.uk/images/prod/wellington_in_the_peninsula1_400.jpg)

 :)

Title: Re: Best single-volume history of the Peninsular War?
Post by: Legion on 08 September 2020, 09:28:18 AM

Thanks Gents!

I've recently started watching the Sharpe's flicks for the first time and thought I'd learn as I do.

L

Title: Re: Best single-volume history of the Peninsular War?
Post by: vtsaogames on 08 September 2020, 02:18:43 PM

Spanish Ulcer gives you the whole thing, not just Wellington's part. The Spanish needed Wellington's help to evict thr French, but the Duke's army would have had to pack up and leave if the Spanish folded. The Spanish Ulcer notes when Wellington was spot on, and when he wasn't. There is a bit more back and forth than just reading the battles might indicate. Wellington had two hard retreats, one in 1810 and another in 1812.

Just finished re-reading it this morning, a fine book.

Title: Re: Best single-volume history of the Peninsular War?
Post by: has.been on 08 September 2020, 07:03:53 PM

May I recommend
Napoleon's War in Spain, (The French Peninsular Campaigns, 1807-1814)
 by Commandant Henry Lachouque, Jean Tranie & J-C. Carmigniani.
ISBN 1-85409-219-7

It has it all:- History, maps, colour uniform plates, flags
& masses of contemporary illustrations.

Title: Re: Best single-volume history of the Peninsular War?
Post by: Warboss Nick on 08 September 2020, 09:22:29 PM

Another vote for Gates - The Spanish Ulcer is an excellent read and resource.

Title: Re: Best single-volume history of the Peninsular War?
Post by: SteveBurt on 09 September 2020, 09:59:40 AM

Jac Weller's book is a great read, but it is a bit of a hagiography of Wellington. He could do no wrong in Weller's eyes. I suspect the Gates book is more balanced.

Title: Re: Best single-volume history of the Peninsular War?
Post by: Red Sveta on 09 September 2020, 12:02:13 PM

 The Spanish Ulcer is the one to get, especially for wargamers. Its full of small battles between French and Spanish forces as well as British. In general the war  is very Anglo centeric in most books but  The Spanish Ulcer gives the reason why Wellington would have to have been a total incompetent not to have won in the Peninsular  Campaign.  :o

Title: Re: Best single-volume history of the Peninsular War?
Post by: SJWi on 09 September 2020, 12:51:19 PM

Hi, I can recommend Charles Esdaile’s “The Peninsular War” . I actually met the author at the hotel now built into Royal Fortress of the Concepcion when he was leading a British army officer trip to some of the battlefields. A very nice gentleman.

Title: Re: Best single-volume history of the Peninsular War?
Post by: Warren Abox on 11 September 2020, 03:54:41 AM

Quote from: Mad Gadgeteer on 08 September 2020, 01:56:05 AM

The only single volume history I can think of is 'The Spanish Ulcer: A History of the Peninsular War' by David Gates.

A great starting point, but be warned.  This campaign is fascinating and once you start down the rabbit hole, you'll want to go deeper and deeper.  I like both this and Edaile's book, but eventually started working through Charles Oman's series on the subject.  He's got a seven book series that is great, and while the hard copies are expensive you can get digital copies from Amazon for like three bucks a book.  Great reading.

Here is a link to the series on Amazon. (https://www.amazon.com/History-Peninsular-War-Book/dp/B06Y478VP6/ref=sr_1_10?dchild=1&qid=1599792834&refinements=p_27%3ASir+Charles+William+Chadwick+Oman+KBE&s=digital-text&sr=1-10&text=Sir+Charles+William+Chadwick+Oman+KBE)

Title: Re: Best single-volume history of the Peninsular War?
Post by: Mad Gadgeteer on 11 September 2020, 05:07:53 AM

Quote from: Warren Abox on 11 September 2020, 03:54:41 AM

A great starting point, but be warned.  This campaign is fascinating and once you start down the rabbit hole, you'll want to go deeper and deeper.  I like both this and Edaile's book, but eventually started working through Charles Oman's series on the subject.  He's got a seven book series that is great, and while the hard copies are expensive you can get digital copies from Amazon for like three bucks a book.  Great reading.

Here is a link to the series on Amazon. (https://www.amazon.com/History-Peninsular-War-Book/dp/B06Y478VP6/ref=sr_1_10?dchild=1&qid=1599792834&refinements=p_27%3ASir+Charles+William+Chadwick+Oman+KBE&s=digital-text&sr=1-10&text=Sir+Charles+William+Chadwick+Oman+KBE)

There's a stand alone volume that goes with the Oman books that brings it up to 8 volumes - 'A History of the Peninsular War: The Biographical Dictionary of British Officers Killed and Wounded, 1808-1814'.  It is typically printed with a green cover.  A lot of people skip this volume, but for a collection one does need it.  Highly recommend this set as well.

Title: Re: Best single-volume history of the Peninsular War?
Post by: olicana on 11 September 2020, 11:53:31 AM

Go Gates.

Another single volume history is by M. Glover (Penguin, ISBN 0-141-39041-7), more anglocentric than Glover, but it's published by Penguin so it's well written at least.

Oman is the way to go for the 'full history' as much as there is one by one author. He's not an easy read though, at least I find him quite hard work because he's as dry as the Sahara. He's also very much an 'establishment man' of his time, IMHO.

If you start buying books on specifics, try the three 'one battle' books by Peter Edwards. You can read those books, by the pool, simply for the enjoyment of them. They cover Albuera, Salamanca and Telavera.

My full book list is here, if I have them they must be easy to get hold of. Most I bought in the last five years.

http://olicanalad.blogspot.com/search/label/Book%20List%20-%20Napoleonic (http://olicanalad.blogspot.com/search/label/Book%20List%20-%20Napoleonic)

Title: Re: Best single-volume history of the Peninsular War?
Post by: vtsaogames on 11 September 2020, 03:11:08 PM

As I recall (haven't read it recently) Glover is Anglo-centric and for example, blames things that went wrong at Albuera on the Spanish. While Blake was no live wire, I feel the stand by Zayas saved the Allies from early defeat and that Beresford had his share of blame for the near-run bloodbath against a smaller army. The Duke seemed to agree since Beresford did not get another independent command.

Title: Re: Best single-volume history of the Peninsular War?
Post by: Mad Gadgeteer on 11 September 2020, 04:12:27 PM

Quote from: olicana on 11 September 2020, 11:53:31 AM

Go Gates.

Another single volume history is by M. Glover (Penguin, ISBN 0-141-39041-7), more anglocentric than Glover, but it's published by Penguin so it's well written at least.

Oman is the way to go for the 'full history' as much as there is one by one author. He's not an easy read though, at least I find him quite hard work because he's as dry as the Sahara. He's also very much an 'establishment man' of his time, IMHO.

If you start buying books on specifics, try the three 'one battle' books by Peter Edwards. You can read those books, by the pool, simply for the enjoyment of them. They cover Albuera, Salamanca and Telavera.

My full book list is here, if I have them they must be easy to get hold of. Most I bought in the last five years.

http://olicanalad.blogspot.com/search/label/Book%20List%20-%20Napoleonic (http://olicanalad.blogspot.com/search/label/Book%20List%20-%20Napoleonic)

With very few exceptions our libraries are almost identical.  I do have several additional volumes covering the Russian Campaign though.  If you you are at all interested I'd highly recommend Paul Britten Austin's trilogy on the 1812 campain as well as Nafziger's book on 'Napoleon's Invasion of Russian.

Looking at your list, a couple volums came to mind you might be interested in - 'Tactics and Grand Tactics of the Napoleonic Wars' by George Jeffrey  and '1815 The Armies at Waterloo by Ugo Pericoli.

Title: Re: Best single-volume history of the Peninsular War?
Post by: olicana on 11 September 2020, 09:34:52 PM

Quote

With very few exceptions our libraries are almost identical.  I do have several additional volumes covering the Russian Campaign though.  If you you are at all interested I'd highly recommend Paul Britten Austin's trilogy on the 1812 campain as well as Nafziger's book on 'Napoleon's Invasion of Russian.

Looking at your list, a couple volums came to mind you might be interested in - 'Tactics and Grand Tactics of the Napoleonic Wars' by George Jeffrey  and '1815 The Armies at Waterloo by Ugo Pericoli.

Gratifying to know I haven't missed much that's commonly available. Contrary to the popular belief of the uninitiated, there are only so many 'Napoleonic books' on specific theatres, generally available, at affordable prices.

I only have a few books on the Russian campaign because I visited Borodino and wanted to read up before I went. My brother-in-law, who was living in central Moscow (just round the corner from the Kremlin) for a time, lent me his chauffeur / interpreter for a day so I could visit that famous Russian battlefield. Well worth it - the Russians look after it very well.

Thanks for heads up on the book dealing with tactics. I'll keep a weather eye out when funds become available. The Nosworthy book, with its sister on SYW tactics, are the best books on unit tactics, and their effect in battle, that I've come across. Always on the lookout for more books dealing specifically with that kind of thing.

Thanks again,

James

Title: Re: Best single-volume history of the Peninsular War?
Post by: vtsaogames on 13 September 2020, 12:46:54 AM

Would that be the George Jeffrey of the variable bound?