Solid brief discussion of one of Napoleon's masterpieces

books:


	• Austerlitz 1805: The fate of empires (Campaign) Ian Castle Osprey Publishing, 2002 - 96 pages average customer review:based on 9 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

Solid brief discussion of one of Napoleon's masterpieces

Now, conjure this image. A commander looks into the future and guesses at his enemies' moves. He leaves high ground for the enemy to move onto and hold. He places a weak force on his right flank to lure the enemy off the heights to attack this enticing sacrificial lamb. Then, with his forces hidden behind another rise, he attacks the heights abandoned by the enemy to pierce their center and "roll up" both flanks. Key question: How could anyone be so stupid as to do what this prescient commander foresaw? The Allied forces at Austerlitz, lured into a pretty transparent trap by Napoleon, the commander who "foresaw."

Austerlitz was one of Napoleon's masterpieces. This Osprey Publishing volume provides a nice, brief, well illustrated view of this battle. Want more detail? Consider something like Robert Goetz' "1805: Austerlitz."

This battle marks the sad end of a Coalition designed to defeat Napoleon. Through a series of bad choices, such as appointing the flawed Field Marshal Mack as head of the allied forces, there was already a record of defeat (at Ulm) before Austerlitz. However, the allies--primarily the Russians and the Austrians--did not wish to give up and regrouped for battled.

This book, using information from both the allied side and from French sources, addresses how Napoleon's vision of the battle came about and how it unfolded. There are a series of key points in the battle: the dramatic and timely arrival of a portion of Davout's corps; Bagratian's stern defense of the Allied right flank; the perhaps undermanned assault on the Pratzen Plateau by the French (they had additional forces available); etc.

There are many quite helpful maps, to show the movement of forces by both sides. There are attractive paintings of the battle and a few photographs of key features of the landscape (e.g., the Pratzen Plateau).

At any rate, if you want a brief overview of Austerlitz, this does nicely. If you want a detailed analysis, this is not the place to go. Consider other works such as Goetz' (already mentioned).

for more information click here

Good Beginning

Austerlitz 1805: Battle of the Three Emperors (Osprey Military Campaign Series, No. 2)by David G. Chandler is a good start for anyone who wants to learn more about the Austerlitz campaign and Napoleon's rise to European ascendency. The author, David Chandler, is one of the recognized experts on Napoleon and for that reason alone the book is worthwhile.
It is written in the traditional Ospery style and is very readable. The weakest part of the book is the discussion of the effect of the battle and the historical place that it holds. However, that might be a structural fault of the Ospery format.

There are numerous holes in the battle description which can be explained by the limited space avaliable. However, if one wants an overview in order to put more extensive histories into context, this is a good place to start.

for more information click here

for more information click here

Excellent reworking

A classic example of how beating an opponent too easily breeds hatred, Austerlitz stands out in history as a masterpiece of strategy and tactics by Napoleon at his peak. This book is an excellent study and introduction to one of the most famous battles in history. 4 of 5 stars, only for want of length.

Good Start

It is written in the traditional Ospery style and is very readable. The weakest part of the book is the discussion of the effect of the battle and the historical place that it holds. However, that might be a structural fault of the Ospery format.

There are numerous holes in the battle description which can be explained by the limited space avaliable. However, if one wants an overview in order to put more extensive histories into context, this is a good place to start.

for more information click here

reviews: page 1, 2

This all-new volume chronicles the events that climaxed on the field of Austerlitz in one of the most famous battles of history. Not only was it the first campaign Napoleon waged as Emperor of France, but also the first great test for his Grande Armée. The Emperor himself regarded it as his greatest victory and it undoubtedly won him a mastery of Europe that would remain unbroken for almost a decade. Most accounts of the campaign have until now been based almost exclusively on French sources, but following extensive research in the Austrian archives Ian Castle is now able to provide a far more balanced account of Austerlitz.

for more information click here

hot or not? What's your opinion? Write a review and share your thoughts!

recommendations

The Best of the Osprey Campaign Series
Osprey Campaign series, Vols.101-125
Greatest military battles

campaign

A Bridge Too Far (Hodder Great Reads)
Stopped at Stalingrad: The Luftwaffe and Hitler's Defeat in the East, ...
Forgotten Soldier : The Classic WWII Autobiography (Brassey's ...
Downfall: The End of the Imperial Japanese Empire
No True Glory: A Frontline Account of the Battle for Fallujah

empires

The Second World: Empires and Influence in the New Global Order
The Great Derangement: A Terrifying True Story of War, Politics, and ...
Gandhi & Churchill: The Epic Rivalry that Destroyed an Empire and ...
The Enchantress of Florence: A Novel
A People's History of American Empire

fate

Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies
Cloud Atlas: A Novel
The Last Fish Tale: The Fate of the Atlantic and Survival in ...
Winner Take All: How Competitiveness Shapes the Fate of Nations
Who Killed the Constitution?: The Fate of American Liberty from World ...

search for books
the fate of, 1805, austerlitz, campaign, empires, fate

Impressum / about us