Military Model Scene

Title:  The Imperial Guard of the First Empire 2. Mounted Troops

Author: Andre Jouineau & Jean-Marie Mongin

Publisher:  Heimdal

ISBN:  978-2-84048-496-7

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This is a 176 page hard cover book from Heimdal, which is a new, updated, redrawn and enlarged version (nearly 50% additional coour plates) of one published several years ago, and a translation from the original French.  The cavalry were important to Napoleon and the colours of their various uniforms make for a very attractive book, and where the cover gives a good idea of how colourful the contents are.

After the introductory element we are presented with sections of the fine artwork each with some detailed descriptions of each of the detailed elements of the uniforms, coats, jackets, trousers, hats, swords, belts, helmets, aglets, bearskins, trumpets, drums, saddle cloths, stands and more.  I can't think of any aspect which is missed.  The sections provide details for the Grenadiers a Cheval, their organisation and tactics plus a simple and useful description of the Old, Middle and Young Guard.  Illustrations are for officers, troopers, musicians and so on.  We then get the same coverage of the Dragoons and their quite different uniforms and equipment, then on to the Chasseurs a Cheval, which are different again.  These are then followed by a very different style of uniform as used by the Mamelukes.  Different again are the Polish and Berg Lancers.

The level of detail throughout is first class and this would be a marvellous reference for your bookshelf for figure modellers, Napoleonic Wargames enthusiasts, artists and re-enactors alike.  Highly recommended and a fine partner to the first volume dealing with the Foot Soldiers.

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Distributed by Casemate Books, who kindly provided my review copy.

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Robin