Good books about certain battles

Hello my fellow community members,
I want to learn more about the battles of Ulm-Austerlitz, Aspern Essling-Wagram or Leipzig. I am not interested in a light read, the more extensive the better. So, do any of you guys have any tips or recommendations?

These are a few of the ones I have been looking at:

Napoleon at Leipzig: The Battle of Nations 1813 by George F. Nafziger

Napoleon and Austerlitz: An Unprecedentedly Detailed Combat Study of Napoleon's Epic Ulm-Austerlitz Campaigns of 1805 (Armies of the Napoleonic Wars Research Series) by Scott Bowden

The 1809 THUNDER ON THE DANUBE series by John Gill

For Ulm-Austerlitz campaign : F.G. Hourtelle's "Austerlitz 1805"; Scotty Bowden's "Napoleon & Austerlitz 1805"; Ian Castle's "Austerlitz & The Eagles of Europe"; Chris Duffy's "Austerlitz"; Robert Goetz's "1805: Austerlitz: Napoleon and the Destruction of the Third Coalition'; F N Maude's "The Ulm Campaign" downloadable at http://www.archive.org/details/ulmca...180500mauduoft .

For Aspern-Essling & Wagram: F.G. Hourtelle's "Wagram 1809: The Apogee of Glory"; Scotty Bowden's "Armies on the Danube 1809"; F L Petre's "Napoleon & the Archduke Charles" downloadable at http://books.google.com/books?id=wiI...page&q&f=false; James R Arnold "Napoleon Conquers Austria"; John H Gill's "Thunder on the Danube"

Leipzig: George Nafziger's "Napoleon at Leipzig"; F L Petre's "Napoleon's Last camapaign in Germany" downloadable athttp://www.archive.org/details/napoleonslastcam00petr ; Digby Swift's "Leipzig 1813: Napoleon & the Battle of Nations"; F N Maude's "The Leipzig Campaign: 1813-Napoleon and the Battle of the Nations" downlaodable at http://www.archive.org/stream/cu3192...ge/n0/mode/2up

Thank you, Sir

Although about Borodino I am also looking at this one right now:
BATTLE OF BORODINO, THE: Napoleon Against Kutuzov (Campaign Chonicles) by Alexander Mikaberidze

Anyone have any experience of this one?

Originally Posted by MrT

Although about Borodino I am also looking at this one right now:
BATTLE OF BORODINO, THE: Napoleon Against Kutuzov (Campaign Chonicles) by Alexander Mikaberidze

Anyone have any experience of this one?

Although I haven't read it, most reviews seem to praise this work and the balance as most works appear from either the French or Russian side; only downside comment I have seen concerns some of the translations of the quotes.

Other books on Borodino & Russian campaign: George Nafziger's "Napoleon's Invasion of Russia"; Chris Duffy's "Borodino"; F G Hourtelle's "The Moskva, Borodino"; Edward Foord's "Napoleon's Russian Campaign"; Carl von Clausewitz's "The Russian Campaign 1812"; General Count Philip De Segur "History of the Expedition to Russia 1812";

Also of those books you mentioned do you have any personal reference and why? From what I´ve read you seem to have a good grasp of this period of time so your opinion is highly valued

Originally Posted by MrT

Also of those books you mentioned do you have any personal reference and why? From what I´ve read you seem to have a good grasp of this period of time so your opinion is highly valued

1809 - While Petre gives an excellent overview, but for real detail I would have to go for Gill's trilogy. Each volume contains excellent accounts of battles covering the main and minor but equally important actions. Contains a wealth of maps and Orders of Battle. You will become engrossed in the detailed narrative as the actions unfold. In my view one of the best works that every Napoleonic enthusiast and wargamer should have in their possession. This series will be extremely hard to beat.

I think I will follow your advice and go for Gill, should fit my bill perfectly. Thanks a lot for your help, Prince of Essling, appreciate it

For Leipzig - there is not much to choose between Swift's & Nafziger's books. Swift's is excellent with plenty of quotes, highly readable, good maps & well set out. But for me, Nafziger is the winner by a very short-head. His book covers the entire period from September to December 1813. He deals with the battles leading up to Leipzig, the French retreat after the battle including the battle of Hanau, the sieges of the fortresses including Danzig, Dresden, Magdeburg and numerous others, plus the allies adavnace on the Danes. The book includes Marshal Davout's actions in northern Germany, and the fate of the besieged French fortresses. Numerous maps & good orders of battle, notes, index etc. Petre's provides an excellent overview of the campaign.

I'm actually reading the Battle of Borodino Campaign Chronicles, and I have to say that I'm a bit disappointed. The information is top-notch, but it is extremely hard to follow. There are maybe four maps at the beginning of the book...and that's it. So when you throw around a bunch of different names, units and locations, its very difficult to picture, let alone remember, all of it.

As for other books, there is a book written by Frekerick W. Kagen called The End of the Old Order that is about Napoleon and Europe between 1801 and 1805, culminating with the campaigns of Ulm and Austerlitz. Its supposed to become a four volume series, but its been about four years since this first book, so he probably wont get it out too soon.

I read 'The Battle' a novel about Aspern-Essling. I thought it was quite good
http://www.amazon.com/Battle-Novel-P.../dp/0802138101

And I read again recently 'Grossbeeren' F.Bauer for a wargame with figures. Probably not available in English unfortunately
http://cgi.ebay.de/Gro-beeren-1813-F...-/270637301260

For 1805 the Ulm-Austerlitz campaign, Maude's coverage of the Ulm campaign, is some what sympathetic to “the unfortunate Mack”. Bowden’s work while exhaustive is a difficult read as it doesn’t flow – it took me several goes to get into it, the maps are most disappointing! Castle’s & Duffy’s books are about equal – though the former has a bit more on the Ulm campaign and is the more recent book. Goetz's tome is much larger and is very focused on the battle of Austerlitz itself – about 180 pages compared with Castles’ 60 pages and Duffy’s 70 pages on the battle. Castle’s book is an easier read compared with Goetz. If your cash can run to it I would recommend Castle & Goetz combined for 1805; I would also download the free version of Maude link above; plus Karl Stutterheim’s detailed account on Austerlitz (from the Austrian angle) http://books.google.com/books?id=KlNEAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false.

Prince of Essling: Thanks, I just ordered the thunder on the danube books. This is all I can currently afford but the other suggestions I will definitly consider for the future.

Jihada: By novel you mean it is fictious but based in the period of time?

Oafe101: Thank you for that, I was considering that one but I really am one of those people who needs a good map of everything to keep track of what is happening. Great heads up there

Originally Posted by MrT

Jihada: By novel you mean it is fictious but based in the period of time?

Yes a fictitious novel about a French soldier at the battle of Aspern Essling against the Austrians in the 1809 campaign. Alot of historical characters however and a detailed description of the battle.I thought it was quite good.
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=q...F1s&sig=QDY6Ux-

Various other Napoleonic novels by P.Rambaud mentioned here.The Battle,The Retreat,The Exile are a trilogy.

I like the naval novels personally.Here a pretty comprehensive list
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Losing-Nelso.../dp/0140260919

I really recommend this one (Losing Nelson) set in the modern times about a man obsessed with Nelson and his eventual disillusion. A less than glorious look at Britain's greatest hero and a good description of sea battles
http://www.cleverley.org/navy/navymain.html

Sorry last 2 links wrong way round

I am also considering getting a really good book that explains this eras warfare in a good way. Something that explains the drills, the formations, command, etc. in great detail.

Originally Posted by MrT

I am also considering getting a really good book that explains this eras warfare in a good way. Something that explains the drills, the formations, command, etc. in great detail.

I would recommend the following, though George's book does take a bit of getting into:

George Nafziger's "Imperial Bayonets: Tactics of the Napoleonic Battery, battalion & Brigade as Found in Contemporary Regulations" http://www.amazon.co.uk/Imperial-Bay...6280475&sr=1-1
Brent Nosworthy's "Battle tactics of Napoleon & His Enemies" http://www.amazon.co.uk/Battle-Tacti...6280417&sr=1-1

http://www.librarything.com/work/22240

There are a lot of these sort of books online.I know I read the whole of Age of Warfare etc... somewhere online. Can't find it now. Saves a lot of money. Nafziger is detailed but what a bore !

Detailed and boring, sounds perfect for me

Yes I used to read Nafziger's 'Napoleon at Dresden' if I couldn't sleep. Soon dozed off.
The best insight I ever had into Napoleonic warfare was reading and playing some of the OSG games and reading the studies,4 Lost Battles.Napoleon at Bay and others. I see they are rather expensive now however. Kevin Zucker is very knowledgeable and is always ready to answer correspondence and is on various forums.
http://www.napoleongames.com/
But for a brilliant historically accurate view of the Napoleonic wars 'Age of Napoleon' gives a better understanding than any book. Nafziger (yawn),sorry.
http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/8490/age-of-napoleon