As I've previously mentioned, my partner is German and a native of Leipzig (or Markkleeberg to be precise), and her mother has just sent us this new novel about the 1813 campaign. It was written to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Nations. Unfortunately it is only available in German as far as I am aware. My partner has promised to tell me anything she thinks I might be interested in, but I really hope an English translation will be made! You can read more about it and the author Sabine Ebert at her website, using google translate if you don't read German.
Even if I can't read the novel, I can still understand the interesting maps it comes with, as I'm sure learned readers of this blog will also! Here's the map from the inside front cover...
...and here's the map from the inside back cover. Nice huh!
The dust jacket has this period painting on one side...
...and opens out into this map of Europe in the time of Napoleon, with significant battles indicated:
With all those maps provided, I REALLY wish I could read this! I should have paid more attention in German classes at school!
One of the problems of being in an English language country is that there are thousands of books about Waterloo and very few about the more interesting (in my opinion) earlier continental campaigns. I've just picked up a copy of David Chandlers "Campaigns of Napoleon" so that will have to do in the meantime.
Of course on the subject of the Battle of Leipzig, if you haven't already had a look then check the New Zealand wargaming refight that we put on earlier this year, and this post of useful links about the Battle of Leipzig.
It looks very interesting...
ReplyDeleteBest regards and thanks for the Leipzig links!!!!
Rafa
We had a great time re-fighting part of the Battle Leipzig last summer, it is one of those battles where you get to use a lot of interesting units.
ReplyDeleteYou could do worse than Davis Chandler's book. It is certainly very readable. But you might want to look at Charles Esdaile's 'Napoleon's Wars' (2007). It has no high opinion of Napoleon, and I'm not sure I agree with all its conclusions, but it deals with some of the more obscure campaigns - in particular the Russian-Turkish-Serbian conflicts in the years following 1807. These were substantial campaigns, the Russians were bent on conquest, but found the going slow against tough and determined resistance.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I find this a fine and readable book, as i say, some of its conclusions strike me as a little odd. For example evidences are produced to demonstrate Napoleon's duplicitous treatment of his Russian ally. That Russia not only short-changed Napoleon in respect of the 1809 war with Austria, but made Austria aware of its lack of commitment to the French Emperor, evokes no similar censure.
Book looks interesting indeed, and the maps are drool worthy. I read some German, but probably not good enough to tackle a novel like this.
ReplyDeleteThanks guys, and for that book reference too Ion, I'll see if I can pick up a copy sometime.
ReplyDeleteLooks very interesting, and well illustrated!
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