Artillery of the Napoleonic Wars [Hardcover]

Kevin Kiley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 19, 2006

Napoleon was an artilleryman before he was an emperor. He understood the power and effectiveness of cannon and their ability to pulverise defences, reduce fortresses and destroy attacks. And, in return, the guns won Napoleon battles. In this detailed study Kevin Kiley looks at artillery in use throughout the Napoleonic period. He examines Napoleon's own artillery as well as that employed by his enemies, and he evaluates the gunners' contribution to warfare in the period. By looking at particular battles in detail, Kevin Kiley shows just how the effective employment of artillery could tip the scales of victory. Artillery of the Napoleonic Wars reveals much of the technical aspects of gunnery during the period v how guns were placed, their range, what calibres were preferred, how artillery operated v he also looks at many of the personalities involved and the difference between gun gunnery and mediocre artillery. He examines French artillery, including that of the Imperial Guard, and compares it to that of Britain, Russia and Austria. Illustrated with beautiful line drawings and rare contemporary plates this unique book reveals a whole new dimension to the Napoleonic period. Based on years of research into regulations of the period, eyewitness accounts of artillerymen and material culled from official reports this is a definitive account.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kevin Kiley, a lifelong student of the Napoleonic period, served for many years as an artillery officer and is currently a teacher.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Greenhill Books; First edition (February 19, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1853675830
• ISBN-13: 978-1853675836
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,709,311 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an impressive first salvo, August 14, 2004

By 

D. Brown (brisbane, australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Artillery of the Napoleonic Wars (Hardcover)

Kevin Kiley's first book is a handsome volume that examines Napoleonic artillery, its theories and practices during the time when artillery began to become an equal partner in the business of battle. Its 290 pages are liberally filled with fascinating period engravings, clear maps and sixteen pages of black and white plates. Although it leans towards the French experience it also contains an abundance of material on Austrian, British, Prussian and Russian usage & mentions many more countries including the Americans at New Orleans in 1815.
Napoleon himself began as a gunner. You would expect a plethora of works focusing on the artillery of the Napoleonic Wars, but Mr Kiley's book, "Artllery of the Napoleonic Wars 1792-1815" is the first of its kind written in English.
I think it will be a landmark volume and an important part of anyone's Napoleonic library.
The book contains a panoramic view of the artillery of the period & the men who used it to such deadly effect & a detailed analysis of the science & art of gunnery of the era.
It encompasses a breadth of knowledge that pays heed to developments of the seventeenth century as well as a depth that explains how primers were made, for example. It ends with eponymous chapters on some of the great artillerists of the Age such as Smola, Senarmont, Eble, Ramsay & Drouot.
The book is peppered with primary source quotes that support the authors' views. Indeed, the work is well-supported with a cornucopia of diverse sources.
I must emphasize that the book is extremely readable. It marries a passion for the subject with a the cool technical eye of a former gunner who certainly knows the business. It will bear several readings and serve as a source of information indefinitely.
It does deal with some controversial issues. The author acknowledges such, clearly makes his case and, I daresay, the reader will make up their own mind. I found it credible.
I would recommend this book. I believe the recent rash of Osprey books on various national artilleries may prove to be a useful supplement but nowhere else will you get one volume that covers so much, so clearly, so well.

18 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Needs an editor, July 12, 2005

By 

Rod Glenn' (Edmonton, AB Canada) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Artillery of the Napoleonic Wars (Hardcover)

This is a book that I really wanted to like. The author knows his subject backwards and forwards, and the contemporary drawings that are included are extremely rare. Unfortunately, too often I found myself reading material in one chapter that had previously appeared in another chapter (sometimes peviously on the same page). Although his narrative passages were excellent (albeit borrowing heavily from Elting et al), when repeated ad nauseum, they lost some of their potency. Hopefully this very able author will soon be able to match his impressive knowledge with the writing skills that it requires.

14 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everthing you could want to know........, October 29, 2004

By 

Stuart Gardner "www.sdgardner.com" (Fair Lawn, NJ) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Artillery of the Napoleonic Wars (Hardcover)

This is the most comprehensive account of artillery during the Napoleonic wars I think you could hope to read (if anyone has an alternate please do review and add reference). It is a lucid and at times exciting account of the use of artillery. I think it has covered every major action of the period including some I hadn't heard of.

Not only does the book cover the engagements well, it also provides great technical details - even down to sample artillery tables from the period. Lavish illustrations are provided with descriptions of contemporary tools.

There are plenty of books on Cavalry and Infantry for this period, but their scope is far less ambitious than this work. Often by battle, country, tactical and strategic etc. The scope of this work is very ambitious, every aspect of an entire combat arm for multiple countries during a key period of history - the author has produced a great book.