French Revolutionary Infantryman 1791-1802 (Warrior) [Paperback]

Terry Crowdy (Author), Christa Hook (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Warrior | Publication Date: January 15, 2003

This title, a prequel to Warrior 57 French Napoleonic Infantryman 1803-15, concentrates on the period from the storming of the Bastille in 1789 until Bonaparte's election as Consul for Life in 1802. The meticulously researched text provides an authentic portrait of military life during the Revolution and beyond, with excellent use of contemporary sources, including many illuminating and vivid quotations from the memoirs and letters of those who served during the 'Wars of Liberty'. It follows typical volunteers of 1791, through the early stages of the war, the Civil War in the west of France and into Bonaparte's second Italian campaign, culminating in the Battle of Marengo in 1800.

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

Terry Crowdy was born in London in 1970. Initially a re-enactor, his interest in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars led to writing for specialist magazines. Having assisted with Campaign 70 Marengo, his first Osprey title was Warrior 57 French Napoleonic Infantryman (1803-1815). He is currently researching several projects for Osprey in addition to studies on espionage during the Marengo Campaign and a history of the ‘Incomparable’ 9è Légère.

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (January 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 184176552X
• ISBN-13: 978-1841765525
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 0.3 x 9.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #221,741 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #43 in Books > History > Military > Life & Institutions

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars French Revolutionary Infantryman, January 31, 2008

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K. Murphy "Fortune favors the Bold" (The thriving metropolis of Masury, OH) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: French Revolutionary Infantryman 1791-1802 (Warrior) (Paperback)

This title is intended as a prequel to French Napoleonic Infantryman 1803-1815, and like it is well-written by Terry Crowdy and finely illustrated by the experienced Osprey artist Christa Hook. It looks at the arms, recruitment, training, and experiences of revolutionary volunteers in the French Army between the storming of Bastille (1789) and Napoleon's election as Consul for Life in 1802.

The plates, plate commentary, and main text all examine the gear and tactical roles of the major infantry troop types of the time, including the light infantry chasseurs, specialized skirmishers who operated in pairs. The plates show a French stanard-bearer, recruitment, departure on campaign, line infantry firing, an infantry column deploying, a battle against Austrian skirmishers in 1792, the army crossing the Alps during the Italian campaign, and a light infantryman.

The text is very useful. Crowdy lets the Revolutionary soldier himself do much of writing for him; much of the text is taken from the accounts given by various young soldiers and military men. He examines the recruitment, schooling in military life, training, preparations for battle, battles, sieges, women, punishments, and daily life of the infantrymen. The book is divided into many small, highly readable sections with specific topics.

Overall, this book is a useful look into the life of the French soldiers of the early stages of the Napoleonic Wars, and their experiences of battle and military life.