Napoleon in Italy (1 Viewer)

[Jack]

I am just new to collecting and have settled on Napoleonics. It has been years since I read much on the period so have dragged Vincent Cronin's 'Napoleon' off the shelves ten years after having first read it. One of the things I have found really interesting is the success of Napoleon's first campaigns in Italy. You tend to think of his later battles such as Austerlitz, Wagram or Ulm rather than his brilliance when still establishing the 'legend'. Some of the later victories seemd a bit more like slogging matches. To have at one stage fought four major battles in one 96 hour period and to have run rings around the Austrians and Piedmontese with an army in a perilous state was surely one of his greatest achievements. It would seem to a newbie like me that his failure in Russia and at Waterloo, and his vision as a leader in domestic affairs in France, have overshadowed his early success when a few defeats would surely have left him as an historical footnote. I know Waterloo, and now Egypt, will always sell well, but has anyone produced some soldiers from these early campaigns?

Any thoughts on what book I should read next?

 

[Sans Culotte]

I am just new to collecting and have settled on Napoleonics. It has been years since I read much on the period so have dragged Vincent Cronin's 'Napoleon' off the shelves ten years after having first read it. One of the things I have found really interesting is the success of Napoleon's first campaigns in Italy. You tend to think of his later battles such as Austerlitz, Wagram or Ulm rather than his brilliance when still establishing the 'legend'. Some of the later victories seemd a bit more like slogging matches. To have at one stage fought four major battles in one 96 hour period and to have run rings around the Austrians and Piedmontese with an army in a perilous state was surely one of his greatest achievements. It would seem to a newbie like me that his failure in Russia and at Waterloo, and his vision as a leader in domestic affairs in France, have overshadowed his early success when a few defeats would surely have left him as an historical footnote. I know Waterloo, and now Egypt, will always sell well, but has anyone produced some soldiers from these early campaigns?

Any thoughts on what book I should read next?

I'd recommend "Napoleon Bonaparte's First Campaign," by Herbert H. Sargent.

 

[nysoldiers]

Check out Keith Rocco's website and his paintings for this campaign. He was commissioned to do several paintings and murals for the Marengo Museum. There is also a new book of his out on paintings from that period.
Unfortunately there are very few toy soldier offerings from Napoleon's early campaigns. Waterloo gets most of the attention and now Egypt from K&C which is refreshing!
Maybe FL will venture into this period at some point.

 

[Jack]

I'd recommend "Napoleon Bonaparte's First Campaign," by Herbert H. Sargent.

Many thanks - I'll make that the next one! I have really good library access but its a bit like collecting toy soldiers in that once you start there is an almost endless selection!

 

[Jack]

Check out Keith Rocco's website and his paintings for this campaign. He was commissioned to do several paintings and murals for the Marengo Museum. There is also a new book of his out on paintings from that period.
Unfortunately there are very few toy soldier offerings from Napoleon's early campaigns. Waterloo gets most of the attention and now Egypt from K&C which is refreshing!
Maybe FL will venture into this period at some point.

Many thanks for the help! It actually is particularly helpful as my wife is a Visual Arts lecturer at a University. She has stood on many a windy, wet battlefield in exchange for me standing in many art galleries asking questions like 'How much do you reckon that's worth'?

I have not collected any FL yet but will keep my eye out! I have decided to go with the Napoleon in Egypt campaign as well as Waterloo, which means another cabinet purchase!