Nick Lipscombe

This is an excellent presentation, with sturdy binding, clear graphics and a reasonable amount of text. With over 150 maps, but priced at $85.00, it is obviously not going to be to be found in many private collections, but it sets an enviable standard for Napoleonic military cartography. There is a problem in that the symbols are by the legend to be found in four different colours, but the printing ink choice has led to little distinction between French (blue), Portuguese(dark Green) and Spanish (black )units. The British red is easily distinguished however. Col. Liscombe's text is usually clear, and he does explain some difficult points.
As a hardcover, this book is very collectible, but reduction in size or in a paperback format will involve considerable difficulty. Pressure your local library to come up with the $85.00. The E-book is available from Osprey for CD$12.99.… (meer)

Maps, maps, maps. 161 beautiful maps that put the few about the Peninsular War in in the USMA Napoleonic Wars atlas to shame. The author, a British officer stationed in Gibraltar and Spain, has condensed the actions in Spain, Portugal and France into a set of crisp graphics whose only major defect is the unfortunate black color choice for the Spanish forces which, to my eyes, makes them difficult to distinguish from the French forces in dark blue at a glance. Another design nitpick is the choice of NATO boxes to represent the linear formations in battlefield situations, thus neglecting different unit sizes and frontage/zones of control. Its strategic maps are the highlights of this atlas.

The Peninsular War is Napoleonic catnip for the British. Deplored by the author in his preface, much of the popular appeal to the British public (similar to D-Day in the US) lies in the mystic tale of a band of brothers conquering the lands of their former arch enemies, assisted by their faithful if incompetent and ignorant side-kick. The public conveniently ignores the fact that much of the success was due to the Russians. The author has done much legwork and reading to include the Spanish and Portuguese aspects of the campaign, removing one major source of bias. In Spain, however, the Bicentennial has been an unfortunate source of much jingoism and led to the creation of new myths. What is still missing in this atlas, is major French input. The bibliography includes but one or two translated French works. It is certainly true that the Peninsular War has not been the main focus of French historians. A fair and balanced view should nevertheless try to incorporate them. As it is, this Anglo-Hispanic point of view is superior to the traditional scholarship but still fails to resolve such puzzles as the battle of Baylen, whose Swiss involvement necessitates German language skills (The "surrender" of the two Swiss regiments was simply their reverting to their prior allegiance as Swiss regiments in Spanish service.). These are minor quibbles, though, as the author says, the book is about the maps not the text. Overall, a worthy addition to any Napoleonic bookshelf.… (meer)