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Osprey
Fortresses of the Peninsular War 1808-14
By Ian Fletcher Illustrated by Chris Taylor.
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You know when you pick up a book on the subject of the Peninsular War bearing the author's name Ian Fletcher, you can be pretty certain that it will be a good and authoratitive read. After all Ian has developed a cottage industry in publication on this subject. This latest volume in the new Fortress series lives up to expectation, being packed with excellent illustrations, contemporary prints and recent photographs.
The text details the actions around three main sieges, Cuidad Rodrigo, Badajoz and San
Sebastian. And herein lies the problem, these three actions have received the attention of numerous writers over the last few years, indeed Ian has produced a number of such works himself.
So does this work add anything new to our knowledge of the subject? And I am afraid the answer is no, not in my opinion. True there are some new photographs, and the section covering the Allied siegeworks outside Cuidad Rodrigo is interesting, in cannot really be termed new information.
Having said that I would not with to detract from the excellence of this
volume when looked at in isolation, and if I was looking for a book to recommend to someone new to the subject, this would be the one.
I just wish though that the British publications on the Peninsular War would widen their scope to include the actions that took place without the benefit of Wellesley's presence. The Spanish fought the majority of the actions of this war and receive damn little recognition in the UK. Also the war was fought on more than one from, and the campaigns of Suchet, and the British on the East coast deserve more coverage that they receive.
Perhaps their will be a second volume of this book covering the lesser known strongholds of the war, those that saw action and equally as important those that because of their position or strength
diverted the military effort to another region meaning that they were not seriously tested!
ISBN 1-84176-577-5
Softback 64 pages
Price
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