Armies of the Italian Wars of Unification 1848-70 (2): Papal States, Minor States & Volunteers

This was ok. Osprey seem to be on a run with mediocre publications especially in this series. The colour plates are very nice but content wise the book holds few new secrets. Nevertheless for a basic intro to the topic it is as good a place to start as any, which can’t be a bad thing.

cette periode historique est peu connue en France cet ouvrage fait le lien avec le volume 1

This Osprey Men-at-Arms Series book is the second of two dealing with the armies of the Italian Wars of Unification. Coverage includes a brief summary of the Second and Third Wars of Unifications, and of the armies of the Papal States, several minor Italian states who participated in the fighting, and of course volunteer units, most notably Garibaldi's Red Shirts. Readers are advised to study both books for a better picture of a complicated period. The narrative covers the Papal States, the Army of Tuscany, the Army of Modena, the Army of Parma, and the Revolutionary Armies. The role of each in the Wars is briefly described; readers may need to consult a map of Italy at the beginning of the book. The text includes a nice selection of period illustrations, plus the expected color plates and commentary on uniforms and equipment. Well recommended, alongside part one, as a concise introduction to the combatants of the Italian Wars of Unification.

A typically competent Osprey "cliff notes" for the topic.

While the text appears to be very good, the illustrations aren't so useful. The artist likes to use sunlight and shade on the figures to a degree that can distort the picture. A great example of this is on the first plate. Figure A1 is a chap in grey standing with outstretched arm. The end of his sleeve is white. When you read the description of the figure, he has a white uniform, the grey is because he is supposed to be in the shade. For me, the book would have got 5 stars, but for the illustrations. Of course other people may see this as artistic flair, but I don't, I see it as unhelpful at best, sloppy at worst.