Buy the Book

Hamish Wilson

As always, at this time ot year, the reviewer's problem is not finding
specialist hooks to review, rather it is selecting which ones to write
about from the plethora of titles which come streaming onto the market
from all manner of publishers. Some titles are more obvious than others
- for instance "Convoy" by Martin Middlebrook. This fine writer who has
already provided intensive study of two major battles in his previous
books "The First Day on the Somme" and "The Nuremburg Raid" has now
turned his attention to "Those in Peril on the Seas". Sub-titled "The
Battle for Convoys S.C.122 and H.X.229" (Players of "Wolfpack" will
understand the coding) the book tells, in the numbers of rivets on the
bulkhead kind of detail we have come to expect from this author, of a
series of attempts to destroy the above-named convoys. On neither side
is it possible to claim absolute victory but, in a carefully unbiased
description of all that occurred we begin to see how this battle became
a turning point in the Battle of the Atlantic.

The text which covers not only the strategic viewpoint but also that of
the matelot whether R.N., K.M. or Mercantile, is supported by good clear
maps and appendices giving total O.O.B.s for both sides and ultimate
fates for most of the vessels involved. Published by Allen Lane at 4.95,
written by Martin Middlebrook and called "Convoy", this book will find a
place on the shelf of anyone who is interested in naval warfare or in
the Second World War.

Also on the high seas, Richard Humble seeks an opportunity to fill a gap
in ready information with "Before the Dreadnought" (published by
Macdonald and Janes at f5.95). When peace finally broke out in 1815 the
Royal Navy was the most powerful force of its kind in the world. Hearts
and ships of oak, the tradition of victory and the band of brothers left
Britannia ruling the waves while the ships were essentially unchanged
from the days of the Armada. Between 1815 and 1914 both the world and
the Navy were to change radically and while showing us the changes and
developments in the senior service, Mr Humble throws into relief some of
the more significant changes in the world. It is a fascinating story
about which little seems to have been written and as a 'nut shell'
account of the fading away of the old ships of Nelson and the developing
of the fighting machines of Fisher, Scott and Jellicoe, this account in
invaluable.

Another 'nutshell' book (though that description applies in one sense
only) is "The Lore of Arms". This belongs to the series of "Lore" coffee
table books which have included "The Lore of Ships" and "The Lore of the
Air" and this latest title deals with arms and armour from Lower
Paleolithic man to yesterday's tanks. The author William Reid, is the
Director of the National Army Museum and brings to his task an intimate
knowledge of the detail and development of arms a lot of which has been
gleaned from his work and time spent amongst the collections of armour
in the Glasgow Museum and art galleries (incidentIy, one of the finest
of its kind outside London) and from thirteen years on the staff of the
Armouries of the Tower of London. As with all these books the text is
there to provide both a springboard and back up for the superb art work
and the work which has gone into the design and layout of this volume is
no less in quality.

The most complex and intricate work is devoted to showing the exquisite
artistry which has been employed on the less functional aspects of the
subject. Apart from, the superb chasing on flint and fire lock pistols
there are beautiful drawings of a rapier hilt made for Maximillian ll
(1527-76) or the complete set of armour made for Sigismund ll (1520-72)
of Poland but the author takes care to place the weaponry in context
with neat descriptions of battles chosen, naturally, to show the use of
the weapons in question. I would take issue with some of the omissions.
However, Mr Reid makes it clear in his preface that this title is a
personal studv.

I still believe that there could have been more than the mine-clearing
version of the Matilda ll as an example of AVRE design and development
and I was considerably irritated by the apparently exclusive use of
American spellings - armor, color and dueling (sic) for instance. I
think that the publishers, Messrs. Mitchell Beazly, could have stayed
with the British usage in this œ13.95 book and considered alterations
for other markets if they intended to go for another of the Queen's
Awards for Industry, but all that is a quibble. If you have a rich old
relation or your coupon's just come up, this one will do well on the
shelf.

Robert Hardy is probably best known as the actor who played Alec in "The
Trouble Shooters" on BBC tv, but like quite a number of his profession
he has an abiding interest in history and his particular speciality is
the Longbow. "Longbow" is the title of his book which is profusely
illustrated and is manifestly the result of a lifetime's interest and
research. Starting with the earliest record of the bow and arrow, we
follow the development of the longbow to the peak of its power and
effectiveness at Crecy and Agincourt and then its gradual descent,
against the will and desire of many, to the fascinating shooting weapon
of club and hunter. There is no discussion of modern composite bows in
this book which is totally devoted to the longbow and therefore, for
students of mediaeval warfare, this book must be invaluable, for here is
no discussion of what might have been - Robert Hardy knows the yew stave
bow and the clothyard haft as well as the leather jerkined men of
Henry's army and, what is more, he is conerned and able to communicate
this know adge. "Longbow - A Social and Military History" is by Robert
Hardy and published by Patrick Stephens at œ7.50.

Crecy is looked at from the other side in ''The Cavalry" edited by James
Lawford, who has gathered an impressive team of contributors for this
book. Amongst others, Brigadier Peter Young, Curt Johnson and David
Chandler have each written an essay on one or more aspects of cavalry
work in the past. Battles mentioned and considered include Cannae,
Crecy, Ramillies, The American Civil War and the American Indian's own
unique contribution are all present in this work. The book is actually a
series of essays from the specialists, joined by linking passages
written by the Editor, who also contributes on the origins of cavalry
and on the Moguls and Mahrattas. The whole is superbly though
romantically illustrated and supported with clear if, at times,
over-simple maps. This is a delightful book for the enthusiast to
refresh an ageing memory or to browse through, while for the novice to
the art of cavalry tactics it opens many doors and gives just enough of
a glimpse of the fascinating country beyond to encourage further reading
and research. "The Cavalry" is published by Sampson Low at the very
reasonable price of œ6.95.