Page 93 - History of War - Issue 30-16

REVIEWS

THE SARATOGA M

UNCOVERING AN EMBAT

Editors: William A Griswold and Donald W Linebaugh
Publisher: University Press of New England Price: £21
GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY WITH A FASCINATING STUDY OF THIS IMPORTANT BATTLE LANDSCAP
Time has not been kind to the battlei elds that historians and archaeologists have w
made up the critical Saratoga campaign of hand in hand to uncover traces of the
1777, the most recognisable ‘turning point’ of is an area that has seen great advan
the American War of Independence. half a century; from the magnetomet
With the land reverting to agricultural soil coring of the 1970s to modern-da
use almost immediately after General Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), subtl
John Burgoyne surrendered his army to the to the layout of defensive works are b
Americans, little visible evidence remains of uncovered all the time.
the i ercely contested battles that helped win Despite the scientii c underpinning
independence for the rebellious colonists. from dry material. It will appeal most t
This collection of essays highlights the students of the campaign, of course,
attempts to bring those battlei elds back remains accessible to the more casua
into focus. It is a synthesis of work that has Illustrated throughout with full colo
been underway since the middle of the last (including some of the beautiful artwo
century and documents the remarkable efforts by American artist Don Troiani), this i
being made to rediscover a lost landscape. surprisingly attractive and fascinatin
Undertaking a multi-disciplinary approach, belies its rather academic-looking co
“THIS IS FAR FROM DRY MATERIAL. IT WILL APPEAL MOST TO

SERIOUS STUDENTS OF THE CAMPAIGN, OF COURSE, BUT IT
REMAINS ACCESSIBLE TO THE MORE CASUAL READER”

ICANEPOCKET

UITOPOCKETMANUAL

uthor: Martin Robson Publisher: Conway Price: £8.99 (each)
ERYTHINGYOUNEEDEDTOKNOWABOUTTWOICONICWORLDWARIIAIRCRAFT
ning the existing Lancaster Bomber and Spitfire Pocket Manuals, these
o little hardback books are veritable treasure troves of data on two
ore legendary British warplanes. Following the trusted format of their
edecessors, each book features a short but illuminating introduction from
Martin Robson, lecturer in Strategic Studies at the University of Exeter,
d continues with a wealth of original documentation on the development,
sting and operational lives of the planes in question.
Robson explains how the Hurricane has been unfairly overshadowed by the
re glamorous Spitire, explaining how it played a vital role in the Battle of
tain. With around 14,500 produced, it proved to be a durable, hardy plane
at started life as an interceptor and morphed into a close air support role
er in the war.
The Mosquito, meanwhile, is rightly hailed as one of the most beautifully
igned aircraft from the period, and its reputation was such that German
ots who downed one in its night-ighter guise could claim two kills.
Some of the technical documents included can make for heavy going for
y but the most dedicated enthusiast, but detailed reports on sorties and
tes from both test pilots and those who lew these planes in anger are
en riveting. Including diagrams and photographs, these are the perfect
ts for military aircraft aicionados.

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