What are you currently reading ?

[Steve J]

'Too Little, Too Late' by Mike Embree, about the 1866 campaign in South Western 'Germany'. Just got to Langensalza now and so far, so good, bar a few typos etc.

[Leman]

'An Invincible Beast - the Hellenistic pike-phalanx at war' - a 500 page tome on how the phalanx actually worked, including a lot of experimental archaeology with reconstructed arms and armour. Incidentally £10 cheaper from Amazon than direct from the publisher.

[kipt]

Finished "The Year of Battles or the Franco-German War of 1870-71" by L.P. Brockett, MD.  It was published in mid 1871, so shortly after the war ended.  Reprint by The Naval and Military Press.

Brockett was an American, evidently a northerner, who had zero good to say about Napoleon III.  (Perhaps because of the Mexican adventure?)

He is pretty good about outlines of battles but it is more of a chronology.

He has an interesting conclusion; "It Germany it has suddenly elevated to the position of arbiter of Europe the most peaceful and domestic of races".  Well, got part of it correct.

[Leman]

Been given 'Blood of Heroes" by James Donovan as a late Christmas present. It's a narrative history of the Alamo and by golly it's a rip-roaring read, so Invincible Beast is down until I've finished it.

[kipt]

Finished a small booklet (50 pages), "The Armament of Cavalry": by Lt G.H. Elliott, adjutant, 3rd Bengal Cavalry, 1875, a Naval and Military Press reprint.  It also has "Historical Memoir of the Dismounted Service of Cavalry" also by LT Elliott.

A historical compilation discussing the use of the lance, sabre, pistol and carbine.  This was written at a time when there was a lot of military theory being done.  He notes, but is careful to say he does not advocate (he is after all only a lieutenant) that the first rank should have the lance and pistol while the second rank should have the sabre and carbine.

The second part discusses the distinction between cavalry and mounted infantry.  This went on up to and beyond the first World War.

Interesting, but nothing I have not seen before.

[kipt]

Finished "Verdun to the Vosges" by Gerald Campbell, who was as he says "Special Correspondent of The Times".

He was sent to the eastern frontier at the start of WWI, and published this book at the beginning of 1916.  So only a little over a year into the war.

It is a propaganda book, berating the Germans for their atrocities and for the war.  Some interesting accounts of localized combats, but in a story mode, since he was not directly involved.  Very much for the French and a bit down on the English for getting in so late (and he doesn't like the labor strife and strikes in England that happened).

It is similar to the 1870 book I finished a bit ago (see above).  It puts a lie to "...a position of arbiter of Europe..."

Reprint published by The Naval and Military Press and the National Army Museum.

[Leman]

A Terrible Glory - Custer and the battle of the Little Bighorn by James Donovan. Rattles along, much k]like his book on the Alamo (see above).

[kipt]

Finished "Journals of Field-Marshall Count von Blumenthal for 1866 and 1870-71".

As it says it is his journal for the two wars noted.  He was COS for the Third Army in the FPW.

Interesting character and as he says, did not suffer fools (or others) lightly.  A thorough soldier.

Liked it.

[d_Guy]

Finally read Emile Zola's The Downfall (La Débâcle) with little or no knowledge of the FPW. Zola's descriptions of terrain and movement of troops on the grade scale are as image envoking as any I have read. He also capably drills down to the highly limited view of events by various individuals. Almost makes me want to do this period.

[Roy]

Spartacus: Swords and Ashes [fiction based on the TV series].

Before that, Flashman and Madison's War [War of 1812 - North America]. Wasn't as good as the previous books about Thomas Flashman, imho.

[Leman]

D Guy - go for FPW - the Pendraken range is second to none.

[d_Guy]

D Guy - go for FPW - the Pendraken range is second to none.

Oh Lordy, maybe just maybe

[kipt]

Finished "The Journal of Military History", Volume 79, No. 3, July 2015.  Some of the articles in this volume are:

"Manifesting Awe: Grand Strategy and Imperial Leadership in the Ming Dynasty"
"The Demise of Stonewall Jackson: A Civil War Medical Case Study"
"Air Power and the Battle of the Atlantic: Very Long Range Aircraft and the Delay in Closing the Atlantic "Air Gap""

Along with 82 pages of recent military book reviews.

It is published 4 times per year and always has something of interest.

[Last Hussar]

The Woman who died a lot, by Jasper Fforde.

[Tawa]

Pathfinder - by David Blakely.