Customer Reviews

The Mycenaeans c.1650-1100 BC (Elite)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

There is more to this book than the illustrations and I hope that most readers also have a substantial interest in the text. The text is very readable and sufficiently detailed (considering the Osprey format) to satisfy the interest of most wargamers and military history enthusiasts.

I nearly didn't buy this work due to the other reviews of the art. Fortunately, I gambled on this one. While I agree that the illustrations are somewhat *different* stylistically than Angus McBride's normal work, I've also noticed quite a bit of variation in his style in other works. If one wants a lot of color and sharp delineation and detail, then this will not be one of your favorites. On the other hand, if you are weary of boyish faces and stocky statures of the characters in some other McBride works then you might appreciate the change of pace in these plates. Regardless of the artistic impression, the plates serve well their functional purpose of illustrating the Mycenaean soldiers in action.

I have had a great interest in the Mycenaean Age for some time.
Where this book is of value is that it painstakingly pieces together from limited pieces of disparate complicated evidence a reasonable picture (as far as can be ascertained) of Mycenaean warriers, weapons and armies. I have not seen this in any other work.

I have to echo many of the same complaints noted in the previous review. The quality of the colour plates was lackluster - a definate step down in terms of Angus McBride's usual work. I was also disappointed with some (though not all) of the B/W photos, in particular those that were scanned from previously published references. This book would have been much more valuable had new photos been taken, preferably from different angles.

The text, on the other hand, contained an awful lot of information and insights into Mycenaean warfare that were wholly new to me; in this respect I rate the book quite highly. This is especially important in light of how little information exists on this subject.

Overall, I am glad I bought the book, but still find the graphics were a big letdown. If you are interested in this subject, by all means get this book. The information contained herein is very useful indeed. Through Amazon the price is good, as well. Just be prepared for some disappointment.

The Achaean warriors reconstrutions are very generic and simplified. The books laks in several important findigs and art representations (pottery, fresco, sculpture) of armour/corselets elements, weapons, shields, helmets etc... coming from the Late Helladic time.
No accurate and detailed research has been made for this book.

For an avid collector of Osprey books like myself, the name of Angus McBride is usually one to conjure with. That is why I am so surprised at the poor quality of Mr. McBride's illustrations in this book. Gone are the brilliant colors, heroically proportioned human forms, and attention to fine detail that so characterizes Mr. McBride's other work; the color plates in this book appear dull and unfinished, as if the artist was rushing to meet a deadline, and so was unable to properly complete his work.

The text, however, and the black-and-white illustrations are up to Osprey's usual fine standards. A brief historical section is followed by sections detailing army weapons, tactics, and organization, of great benefit to the wargamer and the casual military historian. Mr. Grguric does an especially fine job explaining the role of the light infantry swordsman on the battlefield, showing the effective role he played in countering the shield-armed heavy infantry, a revelation to those whose thinking is dominated by the image of the hoplite armies of Classical and Hellenistic Greece.

The book minus the color plates would definitely rate five stars; the plates, however, are so poor that they are a detriment to the overall appeal of the book. Possibly a future edition could include plates that are more in keeping with Angus McBride's normal high standard, making them a better fit for the quality of the book as a whole.

This book tackles a tough topic-contemporaries of the ancient Egyptians, Hittites, and Israelites who left little written evidence of their own history behind. Nonetheless, from a combination of archaeology and pictoral evidence from the Mycenaeans themselves, the author and Angus McBride both paint a convincing picture of these obviously formidable warriors, forefathers of the Greeks.

I teach Ancient History and Ancient Literature. I find the book to be of great help in bringing students to an understanding of Mycenaean warfare. I was a bit disappointed in the art depicting the later Mycenaean Age, but all in all, very helpful.

I have this volume, and while possibly not quite McBride's top effort, on his worst day he is eons ahead of Christa Hook, the "illustrator" for Macedonian Warrior. Folks, if you want an example of shoddy artistic effort, compare Macedonian Warrior to The Mycenaeans. Those here critical of Angus McBride will quickly change their minds. As a professional illustrator I don't enjoy flaying the work of other artists, but her work is dreadful.

On the other hand, I found The Mycenaeans illustrations to be good, and find no problem with the technique or color. The work complements what I had in mind of the period.

Based on the price and title, I thought there would be a lot more from this book. Unfortunately, I didn't read the description. If all you want is to know about warfare in this culture in this time, then this is your book. If you thought, like me, that it would be about the culture in a wider range, it's not.

You can find probably 20 books with more info on this same material, cheaper, if you keep looking.