Trying to read about the Napoleonic wars, but the scale and scope is much larger than anything else I've read about and I feel like I have some difficulty understanding everything. Or the dry text makes it boring. Anyone else ktf?
Read 1812 by Zamoyski. It's very accessible and enjoyable and gives a solid background to the Napoleonic period in the first few chapters as well as a study of some of the major personalities.
>>502657
Read the Sharpe novels by Bernard Cromwell. I know reading fiction to understand history is pleb tier but there it is, at least you will have fun, they're good books.
>>502711
>Cromwell
kek.
I mean Bernard Cornwell.
>>502657
what book you reading OP?
>>502711
i don't mind any historical fiction writer who lists in the back of the book the things they changed for the purposes of the novel.
>reading the last kingdom series at the moment
>>502711
Dunno bout the novel, but the serie is full retard
>Sharpe and his three buddies taking down an entire cavalry unit Rambo style
Every fucking time!
>>504504
Watch Hornblower instead.
>>502657
easiest way would be to read about in larger, border books, ie something that covers western military history in general. Books like this will usually do a good job of condensing it down to the most important and influential campaigns/battles will covering the general themes of the war. From there, you should hopefully have enough knowledge and interest to dive into works that specifically cover the campaigns of revolutionary France and Napoleon
a good example (and my proper introduction) was JFC Fuller's The Military History of the Western World Vol 2.
>>503495
Osprey's Essential Histories of the Napoleonic wars. Four books. I just finished their history of the French Revolutionary wars, which makes five. It captures my interest until I get to the battles, which read like math or chess strategy. Very bland. The naval battles are sometimes interesting though.
>>504509
More like read the Aubrey–Maturin series.
>>506108
Master and Commander is the only good film on the Napoleonic wars.
>>502657
Look around and get the Osprey books pdf that you can find online. Great for Battles and background.
>>508017
THE LESSER OF TWO WEEVILS! AHAHAHAHA
>>508017
Waterloo is a more then decent film bro
>>502657
If you are slav, then read Tarle (Tapлe).
>>508037
That's what I'm reading. It doesn't get any simpler than osprey, and yet it still manages to be a slog through the mud. Maybe I just need to force myself to pay attention.
I could not recommend this book enough. You can find it at bookzz.org
Luckily there's some excellent fiction!
>in b4 pleb tier
War and peace
Sharpe
Aubrey maturin
Hornblower series
War and peace is a great start.
>>509001
Here you go.
http://rutracker.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3834735
