1871

[KTravlos]

ok so trying that, I can get the gist of each paragraph, but I cannot get the full. I will try the halycon version

[KTravlos]

And here it is! (the E.P. Robins translation)

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13851

[Leman]

Not really, got lost after about three sentences. Suppose this might be one reason some want out of the EU - bilingualism is not a known British trait, and even where it does exist it usually means Welsh/English or Scots Gaelic/English.

[cameronian]

Tried the Robins but its only marginally better, the kind of English up with which I will not put.

Original - 'Near the canteen, however, behind the stacks of muskets, there were two soldiers pertinaciously endeavoring to elicit a blaze from a small pile of green wood, the trunks of some small trees that they had chopped down with their sword-bayonets, and that were obstinately determined not to burn'.

Intelligible - 'Near the canteen behind the stacks of muskets, two soldiers were stubbornly trying to coax a fire from a small pile of green sticks, the trunks of some saplings they had cut earlier with their sword bayonets, but they were obstinately determined not to burn'.

Yes I know, what was obstinately determined not to burn, the green sticks or the sword bayonets but its a lot better than the original - IMHO.

[d_Guy]

Well...there is always this one:

[Leman]

Into the FPW in your dress shako - I don't think so.

[ronan]

Not really, got lost after about three sentences.

The original writing is supposed to be great litteracy. I mean, he wrote ( a century ago ) with great style.
It is not what's written nowadays, and may be difficult to understand. ( Children in school have to read some of the books from the Rougon-Macquart Cycle.. they don't like it !    But as an adult, I changed my mind.) (1)
So I can understand you were a bit 'disappointed'...

There may be new translation ?

    The Downfall (1892, Tr: E.A. Vizetelly, Chatto & Windus)
    The Downfall or The Smash-up (1898, Tr: E.P. Robins, The Cassell Co.)
    The Downfall (1902, Tr: W.M. Sloane, P.F. Collier & Son)
    The Debacle (1968, Tr: John Hands, Elek Books)
    The Debacle (1972, Tr: Leonard Tancock, Penguin Books)
    La Débâcle (2000, Tr: Elinor Dorday, Oxford Uni. Press)

Into the FPW in your dress shako - I don't think so.

(...)
Intelligible - 'Near the canteen behind the stacks of muskets, two soldiers were stubbornly trying to coax a fire from a small pile of green sticks, the trunks of some saplings they had cut earlier with their sword bayonets, but they were obstinately determined not to burn'.

You should work on it !



(1) Although my daughters often say I'm not an adult !

[d_Guy]

Into the FPW in your dress shako - I don't think so.

Classics Illustrated never liked to confuse young readers by having anyone change costume. IIRC they had all French regulars in the "parade" shako (one of the best pieces of headgear ever!), the National Guard in red kepi's and North African troops in red fez's.

[paulr]

(1) Although my daughters often say I'm not an adult !

Well done that man

[kipt]

Just received my copy and am starting to read. (Thread back on track?)

This weekend we are playing 2 more of the scenarios in "1870", The Hallue and Ladonchamps.  Not a lot of troops using my Sappy Nappy adaptation and we will have 11 players, 5 on one table and 6 on the other.  We will see how it goes.

Pictures and batreps to follow.

[paulr]

Sounds an interesting weekend, looking forward to the batreps

[Leman]

Have just found Bruce Weigle's new website:

www.grandtacticalrules.com

The old one is now defunct and no longer reachable. The good news is that the new website now has downloadable fat play (i.e. 1871) QRSs for 1859, 1864, 1866 as well as a downloadable 1871 sheet. There are also some info sheets on rule adjustments for the other rules, including Austrian formations for 1866. I like his new fast play system, particularly for some of the smaller battles that BBB doesn't deal with. I think I have mentioned previously using the same 1" square basing system as used with my 10mm C19th figures for BBB, but using a reduced size battlefield and measuring stick for 1871 so that I can fit the battles on a 6x4 (and the frontages of my bases are smaller than the 1871 recommendation).

The QRSs can be found in downloads in the menu at the bottom of the page.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Ohh thanks Sir

[mollinary]

Bruce will be at COLOURS. In Newbury again this year, doing San Martino, the Italian part of Solferino 1869.

[Steve J]

That's great news . Now I just have to make sure I'm back from a round trip to Edinburgh (taking daughter to Uni) and recovered to attend the show!