Customer Reviews

Don Troiani's Soldiers in America 1754-1865

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There is little I can say which hasn't already been articulated by prior reviewers. This is a beautifully produced book, covering two centuries of American military history. The one area in which the book is sorely lacking though is in the absence of footnotes. The information provided, giving the basis for the plates, is wonderful, but the serious researcher will be left wondering where the information came from and whether it is reliable.

This book is a must for anyone with an interest in Ameican Military History. Don Troiani is undoubtedly the best military artist in the United States today, and the only one I am aware of who paints Revolutionary War and War of 1812 subjects.

The art in this volume is superb, and the photos of the origianl artifacts definitely enhance the project. The excellent text by James Kochan and Earl Coates accurately chronicle the periods covered.

This is not a coffee table book, but a carefully researched work of militiary history that is useful for historians, enthusiasts, military modelers and toy soldier collectors, as well as period reenactors. It is one of the books I would run back to save if my house was on fire. It is simply that good and belongs of the book shelf of everyone interested in American military history up to and including the Civil War.

This is the second compilation of military illustrator Don Troiani's work, the first being his visually stunning `Civil War'. While there are 28 illustrations of the Civil War period included here, 43 are concerned with the early period of America's military history and cover the Colonial Period 1754-69, The Revolution 1770-83, and the New Republic and Westward Expansion 1790-1850. Again, Troiani's art repays his exhaustive research into his subjects and their weapons, dress and accoutrements, and his use of live models clothed in the appropriate dress prior to painting. Unlike his earlier title, this book supplements the concise and thorough text descriptions of each plate with black and white photographs and full descriptions of the weapons, clothing, accoutrements and awards of the campaign, and these add another dimension to the subject matter. Single portrait plates of soldiers are intermingled with animated battle views, so the reader not only sees soldiers of various regiments, but also takes part in the Battle of Bushy Run 1763, the Battle of Cowpens 1781, and Hampton's Duel. The application of regulations and when they were ignored are also discussed in narrative and in contemporary correspondence. This is a powerful book, bringing military history to life through impeccable research and skilled artistry. Highly recommended.

This is definitely not a book to be just tasted, but one to be savored - a superb banquet. Don Troiani's Soldiers In America 1754-1865 combines three unique resources to demonstrate exactly how engagingly and vibrantly history can be presented. The first resource is Troiani's unsurpassed art, the work of the man who is now and will, centuries from now, stand alone as the peerless American military artist, ranked only with the very few French masters of the nineteenth century. (For those unfamiliar with with the artist, a gallery tour of his website will resolve any doubt.) In particular, the book's showcase emphasis on many previously unpublished single-figure portrait scenes will delight those familiar only with Troiani's epic masterworks.

The second striking resource is the broad array of carefully selected artifacts from the artist's personal collection of American (and British) military uniforms, equipment and weapons. The excellent photographs of these museum-quality military antiques (all rare; some unique) play the dual role of demonstrating Troiani's absolute commitment to presenting precise reality in his works and further "bringing to life" through these objects the men portrayed.

Thirdly, and integrative of the art and artifacts, is the narrative text written by James Kochan and Earl Coates. Kochan, prior curator and on-site scholar at centers of excellence such as Morristown National Historic Park and Mount Vernon, is widely recognized as a premier authority on the earlier epoch of the military in America. Coates has had no equal in achieving breakthrough and remarkably painstaking research relating to the follow-on period concluding with the Civil War. Perhaps the most beneficial result of this collaboration is that their joint contributions have succeeded in producing a "seamless" text which will satisfy and inform even the most experienced specialist and one which can easily be enjoyed by the general reader.

Don Troiani's Soldiers In America 1754-1865 is one of those very few books which, after having been first read, simply resists being shelved. It's a book to be kept near at hand, not only for reference, but also for the sheer pleasure of savoring it anew and again. As a gift for anyone (including, of course, for oneself) who has even a modest interest in the true image of American military history, Don Troiani's Soldiers In America 1754-1865 is, indeed, an irresistible feast.

Don Troiani has done it again! Following his precursers such as Edouard Detaille, Don has executed another fine book. His artistic talents have been amalgated with the photos from his personal artifact collection and the writings of such master historians such as James L. Kochan. No book has ever came close to this one in artistry and historical accuracy. This book is must have for any student of history or art... get it if you haven't.

Great book to own for all military history/art enthusiasts. However, the black & white photos of the uniforms and equipment STINK, and take away from the beauty of the book. The entire book should DEFINATELY be in color, considering it was published at $55 retail.