L'Armée
Française, An Illustrated
History of the French Army, 1790-1885 by Edouard Detaille and Jules
Richard
No one can make a serious study of military history
without becoming familiar with the wars fought by the armies of France.
An important source of 19th century military history is the
beautifully illustrated, two-volume work, L'Armée
Française, produced in 1883 by the renowned military artist Edouard
Detaille, with text by Jules Richard. Through his remarkably detailed
and beautiful artwork, Detaille has rendered a compelling look at this
most dramatic era of warfare dominated by the French art of war,
military organisation and uniform styles. This classic work has been
known for over a century in its French edition and is now translated
into English for the first time.
This lavish reprint contains the entire
two-volume translation, and is richly illustrated throughout with
Detaille's original published artwork - over 300 pieces- depicting
accurate portrayals of uniforms and military life. The book has been
further embellished with an additional full-colour section displaying
other works by the artist.
L'Armée Française is the only military
history book of its kind, giving background information on regimental
histories, army organisations, recruitment, training, battle dress and
equipment of the soldiers of France. It is a guide to the French armies
that fought in the Napoleonic Wars, Crimean War, the Mexican Expedition,
the Conquest of North Africa, and the Franco-Austrian and
Franco-Prussian Wars, as well as a contemporary look at peacetime army
in the late 19th century.
L'Armée Française is a valuable reference
work for all those fascinated by Franc's military past.
