1805: Austerlitz: Napoleon and the Destruction of the Third Coalition

Tracing the historical route from Amiens to Pressburg, Robert Goetz gives even non-military historians a clear and measured view of the battle. His bibliography is detailed in French, German- and Russian- language source material (as befits a specialist of the Russian Army). Includes orders of battle, detailed maps, tables and many illustrations. With an explicit concentration on non-French sources, Goetz has attempted to redress the (from his point of view) traditionally franco-centric point of view of other histories. Most interesting is the conclusion, where it is argued that the Russo-Austrian forces were not stuck in the 18th century (tactically speaking) but were as modern a fighting force as their French counterparts. The allies, he tells us, fought well at the column and batallion level but were grievously let down by their high command. Though perhaps a little light in his discussion of political matters, Goetz more than makes up for this in the careful but enthralling telling of the tale.