I’ve always been an avid reader and tend to pick up interesting books even if  I may not read them right away or maybe even for years. They are sitting on the shelves like little gems just waiting their chance to shine. Now finding the time to read some of these gems has always been tough but the current state of world affairs has somewhat changed that. We have all lost plenty of our daily routines but what nearly all of us have gained is “time and solitude” and those are the two main ingredients for an activity called reading!

One of those books that I decided to pull off the shelf and give a read turned out to be a real gem and takes its place on my list of must reads when it comes to Napoleonic military books. The book covers the roles of Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, and how Command and Control was used to tie them all together. There is also a great section on Siege warfare, an often overlooked part of the period. The book ends with nice section on Navel warfare at the height of the Age of Sail.

FIGHTING TECHNIQUES of the NAPOLEONIC AGE 1792-1815 Thomas Dunne Books, St. Martin Press

The book is a very easy read unlike many books of this type, and presents the information in a very clear and understandable way. There are lots of great pictures, maps, and illustrations to augment the text when explaining the how, why, and evolution of warfare and tactics in the Napoleonic Age. The book goes into wonderful explanations as to how the different nations armies fought and why some battles were won or lost based on this. I highly recommend the book to anyone gaming or interested in warfare in the period. It goes a long way in explaining or making sense why rule sets give an edge or penalty to various forces in Napoleonic rule sets.

I love how book uses actual battles to show where and how these fighting techniques were used and the effects they had on the battle. A very nice way to tie it all together.

The wife and I spent a great weekend up in the beach town of Cayucos, California over the 4rth of July weekend to avoid the heat and save the dog from the traditional “fireworks freak-out” most of them go through. The book was a great companion to the ice chest of tall frosty beverages while relaxing on the beach!

The book retails at $35 but it’s routinely found below $20. I got mine at a favorite “old book store” in their military section for $16, in brand new unread condition.

There are loads of these types of illustrations to help the reader visualize and understand the information clearly.