A Couple More Helion Titles

 

Two for the price of one this time as I try to keep on top of my reviewing duties. Two very different books, but both worthy additions to Helion's Reason to Revolution series.

First up is British Regiments and the Men Who Led Them 1793-1815, volume 2, Foot Guards and 1st to 30th Regiments of Foot, by Steve Brown is the second of a planned series of five books which will go on to cover the remainder of the infantry (vols. 3–4) and Ordnance and other regiments (vol.5).

Again, you are presented with an encyclopaedic array of information relating to the lives and service history of well over1,000 officers commanding the regiments in scope for this volume. I want to repeat what I said when reviewing the first volume that it must not be forgotten that these men, for all their privilege, faults and foibles, and often wealth, gave their careers and lives in many cases, for their regiment and their country.

In a nutshell, if data is your ‘thing’ you will not be disappointed. Pretty much anything one might want to know about any particular individual is there;: dates of birth and death, parentage, education, career, awards and places of residence are brought together. As ever, the use of the purchase system to climb the promotion ladder by migrating between regiments (and arms of service) and the idiosyncrasies of the brevet system are also evident in these pen-pictures.

The author continues with the well-presented format used in volume 1 including, by regiment, service histories of each of the regiments of Foot Guards and the 1st to 30th regiments of the line. The author has consulted a vast array of primary, secondary and unpublished sources to produce this invaluable source book.

Is this book as good as the first volume? Absolutely yes as it 'does what it says on the tin'. Military historians, amateur and professional, war gamers and also from my perspective, with my other hobby head on, genealogists will find this publication of great value. I can recommend it unreservedly. A great source book.

ISBN:  978-1-804514-38-2 soft back 376 pages

The second offering is by Yves Martin and is absolutely wonderful. Citizens to Arms! Uniforms of the French Revolutionary Armies, 1792-1799 is a collection of glorious colour plates completed by French artist Henry Boisselier in 1943. Each of the 56 plates is accompanied by a comprehensive description of the uniform and the unit to which it belongs. 

We are introduced to Boisselier, his life and work and more. This is not just a book of admittedly very pretty colour plates. If it were, it would still be an amazing piece of source material for uniforms during the period. There is also an illuminating and charming chapter entitled ‘Forward, children of the fatherland!’ - True Tales of Volunteers. This is a series of accounts of a selection of these citizen soldiers, men and women, and their experiences during those tumultuous years at the start of the Revolution. Only one is remembered in history but the lives of the others are no less interesting. For me, the accounts of these humble soldiers' experiences and fates raise the book above that of just another uniform book.

For anyone like me who has a fascination, or obsession even, for the French Revolutionary Wars, then this book is highly recommended.

ISBN: 978-1-804515-42-6 soft back 150 pages