The three commanders-in-chief during the Waterloo campaign rank among the most famous soldiers in history. Rarely have three such remarkable men as Napoleon; Wellington and Blücher confronted each other on a field of battle or had such an impact on the history of their time. Andrew Uffindell; in this readable and meticulously researched three-part biography; gives vivid accounts of their parallel lives and extraordinary careers. The dramatic contrasts that emerge between their backgrounds; personalities and methods of command offer a fascinating insight into the secrets of leadership and into the warfare of the Napoleonic era.
#571715 in Books 2004-08-20 2004-08-20Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 .38 x .11 x 7.20l; .49 #File Name: 184176649664 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Colonial rangers...By HMS WarspiteOnce upon a time; the frontier in North America ran right through what is now upstate New York; Vermont; New Hampshire; and the Massachusetts province of Maine. English settlers and regulars battled the French and Indians in a series of conflicts; some local; some part of larger European wars. Out of dire necessity; the Northern Colonies created ranger units; tough and experienced woodsmen able to fight on equal terms in any weather. This is their story."American Colonial Ranger" is an outstanding Osprey Warrior Series book authored by Gary Zaboley. It focuses on ranger units generated in the period 1724-64; which takes in the Seven Years War/French and Indian War which decided the fate of the English Northern Colonies. In a concise but powerful narrative; the author portrays selected ranger units; including their training; tactics; and campaigns. There is much emphasis on the famed Rogers' Rangers; but other units are mentioned; many of whose survivors went on to play a role in the American Revolution. This is not a story for the faint of heart; the fighting in the wilderness was savage and often without quarter. The text is much enhanced by a nice collection of photographs; maps; and illustrations; including a terrific set of color plates describing uniforms (such as they were) and equipment. Highly recommended as a introduction to the topic. This volume is nicely complemented by another Osprey Warrior Series entry; "British Light Infantryman of the Seven Years War."19 of 19 people found the following review helpful. Outstanding; with a few caveatsBy Pierre a' FusilThere has been occasional grumbling from Osprey series authors about the limits of the format in the various Osprey series ( Men-at-Arms; Warrior; etc.). Within the 64 page limit for the Warrior series this is a fine reference work. However; it is not an exhaustive study of all Ranger units operating in the time period and geographic region indicated. Mr. Zaboly is clearly an expert in the Ranger units associated with Robert Rogers. But there is very little mention of other Ranger units that existed in the same place and time. The activities of Roger's units are illustrative of most aspects of Ranger operations though. Roger's Rangers exploits are generally acknowledged to represent the pinnacle of Ranger achievements at the time. There are stirring tales of struggle in accomplishing epic raids deep into enemy territory here. There is also no shying away from Ranger participation in the grislier aspects of frontier warfare. Overall; Mr. Zaboly's historical text is informative; substantive and fully informed by many first-hand source documents.What sets this study apart from other Osprey Warrior series titles though are the illustrations. Mr. Zaboly is an accomplished artist who has illustrated his own work. The numerous drawings by the author that populate this book are vivid illustrations of the way Rangers dressed; encamped; fought and survived in the Eastern wilderness. These outstanding drawings make the modest price of this publication a real bargain. As long as the reader is not dismayed by a tight focus on Roger's Ranger units; this title will not disappoint.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Picture worth a Thousand WordsBy SilverfoxMy 6th level grandfather fought with Roger's Rangers and lost his life returning from the scout at St Francois. After reading some detailed book from Roger's diaries; I have a good understanding of what primary life was like in those dense wooded mountain regions of NY; and NH. None of those books contained some of the detailed pictures that are found in this book. Since I am a visual person; perusing this book was like adding color to the words found in the associated writings.
