British Rifleman 1797-1815 (Warrior) [Paperback]

Philip Haythornthwaite (Author), Christa Hook (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Warrior | Publication Date: April 25, 2002

The rifle corps of the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars (1799-1815) are among the most recognisable of all the soldiers of that era: their distinctive dark green uniforms are as familiar as some of their exploits. They have achieved considerable fame through the large numbers of memoirs written by members of the rifle corps as well as through modern fiction, most notably the Sharpe series. Apart from their reputation as a corps d'elite, the riflemen were, in their time, at the very cutting edge of military technology and tactical theory. Philip Haythornwaite here uses fascinating first hand accounts and detailed research to give a 'soldier's-eye view' of the British Rifleman, his life and work.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Insights into the real lives of history's fighting men, packed with full colour illustrations, highly detailed cutaways, exploded artwork of weaponry and armour, and action-packed battle scenes.

About the Author

Philip Haythornthwaite is an author and historical consultant specialising in the military history, uniforms and equipment of the 18th and 19th centuries. His main area of research covers the Napoleonic Wars. He has written some 40 books, including more than 20 Osprey titles, and innumerable articles and papers on military history, but still finds time to indulge in his other great passion: cricket.

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (April 25, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 184176177X
• ISBN-13: 978-1841761770
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 0.2 x 9.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,134,837 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent overlook of Sharpe's contemporaries, August 1, 2010

By 

lordhoot "lordhoot" (Anchorage, Alaska USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: British Rifleman 1797-1815 (Warrior) (Paperback)

I am bit surprise to see that no one has written a review on this book. It been out since 2002. Overall, I found British Rifleman to be an excellent basic study of how the riflemen came to be in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars. The roots lies during the American Revolution and the development of light infantry tactics by the British army (even although it was gaining favors else where in Europe). However the book traces the fact that without an adequate rifle for military use, you can't developed a light infantry based on rifles. That where the introduction of the Baker rifle came into play, a heavy, bit awkward but sturdy weapon that can hold up to combat situation.

Most of the book after that deals with the creation of the rifle units, most famously the 95th and other scattered units. The uniforms, unit organization, gears and all that is describe fairly well and fairly complete. The only part I still had a problem with was the loading. I wish that the author actually show how the Baker rifle is loaded instead of giving us the narrative.

Otherwise, this is an excellent reference book on the subject matter. Anyone out there who is a fan of Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series will do well to read this book as a good historical background material.