Eggmühl 1809: Storm Over Bavaria (Campaign) [Paperback]

Ian Castle (Author), Christa Hook (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 10, 2011 | Series: Campaign (Book 56)

Osprey's Campaign title for the Battle of Eggmuhl of the Napoleonic Wars (1799-1815). In the Spring of 1809, the Austrian army, buoyant and full of new-found patriotic fervour, rolled across the frontier with Bavaria. The time had come to exact revenge for the humiliating defeat suffered at Austerlitz. But ten days later, harassed by ceaseless rain, they were streaming back from the Abens river with Napoleon in hot pursuit. Napoleon had not been in the front line when Austria had launched its campaign - and the French and their German allies had blundered backwards and forwards across the Bavarian countryside. But, with the appearance of Napoleon, Archduke Charles lost the initiative. Based for the first time upon the Austrian primary sources, this title takes the reader through the various clashes of this significant campaign.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Highly visual guides to history's greatest conflicts, detailing the command strategies, tactics, and experiences of the opposing forces throughout each campaign, and concluding with a guide to the battlefields today.

About the Author

Ian Castle is a founder member of the Napoleonic Association, and is still very involved in their activities both in Britain and mainland Europe. Ian began writing over ten years ago and besides having numerous articles published in military magazines and journals, he has written or co-written eight books, four of which are for the Osprey Campaign series. He lives in London, UK.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (May 10, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1855327082
• ISBN-13: 978-1855327085
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 0.2 x 9.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,371,877 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Emperor of Battles, June 21, 2000

By 

Kevin F. Kiley - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Eggmühl 1809: Storm Over Bavaria (Campaign) (Paperback)

Ian Castle has written an excellent history of the first half of the Campaign of 1809. Using both Austrian and French sources, he has produced a totally reliable, well-written account of the Austrian invasion of Bavaria that almost caught the French by surprise. The account is balanced, authoritative, and logically presented. Errors and omissions are few, the most glaring being the often repeated mistake of naming Napoleon's Chief of Staff, Marshal Berthier, as the commander of the French Army of Germany before Napoleon's arrival from Paris, which he was definitely not. Other than that, however, the author has presented one of the best modern narratives of this campaign that can be used as a reliable reference by historians, enthusiasts, and wargamers. The artwork by Christa Hook is excellent, lively, and presents an accurate picture of the uniforms, deployments, and actions of the campaign. The other illustrations in this volume are superb and greatly enhance the excellent narrative. This book is highly recommended and is one of the best of the campaign series yet produced by Osprey.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 1809 - Part 2, August 6, 2002

By 

Craig R Mabon (Carterton New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eggmühl 1809: Storm Over Bavaria (Campaign) (Paperback)

This is best seen as a companion to the earlier volume on Aspern-Essling and Wagram. It is unfortunate that the earlier book has perhaps to large a subject while this one is possibly the ideal size for this format. It is a very accessible account of an engagement usually obscured by or glossed over in favour the larger battles that followed. As always very nicely illustrated, and presented.

5.0 out of 5 stars STORM OVER BAVARIA, January 26, 2012

By 

Vincenzo L. Falcone - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Eggmühl 1809: Storm Over Bavaria (Campaign) (Paperback)

I will not go into great detail as to the accepted excellence of Ian Castle's work, especially with the near god-like credibility of David G. Chandler as his consultant and editor, THE leading authority on Napoleonic Warfare in our lifetime. That has all been covered by far more intelligent people than myself, and in truth, what are we reviewing; the authors or their material? What I will discuss is the book itself.

Osprey Military Books has been putting out an amazing, reliable, and entertaining line of material for more years than I can remember. The books are well-researched and written, with wonderful coloured templates, original etchings, and pictures of relics and historical sites and places of import.

Eggmühl 1809 is one of the CAMPAIGN Series in the Osprey collection, and it is in a word - Amazing! There are 96 pages covering everything from: The Origins of the Campaign, The Opposing Commanders & their forces, their battle plans, and then coverage of the Campaign itself. It goes on to discuss the Aftermath and Reckoning of the battle, as well as what the battlefield looks like today. It provides information for 'Further Reading', and for the die-hards out there, it also furnishes how to Play Eggmühl as a War-Game.

The text is well written, easy and enjoyable to follow. The book is ripe with illustrations, both historical and contemporary, as well as maps, three dimensional diagrams of the battlefields, and illustrations all throughout.
There are contemporary 'battle scenes' by Christa Hook, as well as colored maps and charts with troop movement and battle locales. The only thing the book lacks is the templates of uniforms that we have so come to love and admire from Osprey. That aside, it is an excellent book.

This book is perfect for both the experienced and well-versed, and the interested first timer approaching the subject. Eggmühl 1809: STORM OVER BAVARIA is just one more superior piece of military literature that Osprey can claim as their own - and should - with pride.

A side note: as a Painter of Napoleonic Miniatures, and interested historian, this book is an excellent compliment to: OSPREY's: Napoleon's German Allies (4) Bavaria. Book 106 in the Men-At-Arms collection.