Napoleon’s Heavy Cavalry: Uniforms and Equipment of the Cuirassiers and Carabiniers, 1805-1815

This is the second volume on the subject of French Napoleonic cavalry uniforms from this author - and I hope that he finishes teh 'series' with a third on Dragoons and Lancers.The book is the product of years of archival research at Vincennes and its text is based on what the Regiments bought and had in their returns of stores (a Napoleonic stocktake if you will). The result will shatter a great many preconceptions about the appearance of the French Heavy Cavalry Regiments - the Cuirassiers and Carabiniers, and often about their uniformity, or lack of it.There will inevitably be a few quibbles with the author's conclusions around some stocks/issues but this is always going to be so what isn't arguable is what the Regiments have and also, at times, the strength that they are putting in the field. This latter is not strictly part of teh subject of teh book but can be inferred from the returns and it is sometimes surprising.The text is complemented with numerous colour photographs of surviving items of equipment and uniform as well as a large number of contemporary uniform plates, plus a few modern ones to illustrate the author's conclusions.For anyone who has an interest in the French uniforms of the Napoleonic Wars this book, and its companion volume(s?), is an absolute must. Many of the comments about regulations compared to what was actually worn will apply to armies of every other nation as well and will suggest a certain caution when examining their uniforms.Not a lot more I can say except BUY IT!

I have several of Pauls Books. His work is extensively researche from Primary and secondary sources and not regurgitated from authors from the 1960 who regurgitated from 1950s authors. A must read.