Have one to sell? Sell yours here
Military Memoirs: The Recollections of Rifleman Harris
 
See larger image 
Share your own customer images
Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book.
Tell the Publisher!
I’d like to read this book on Kindle

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

Military Memoirs: The Recollections of Rifleman Harris [Paperback]

Christopher Hibbert (Editor)
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

Available from these sellers.


Formats

 Amazon Price New from Used from
Hardcover --   -- --
Paperback --   -- --
Paperback, 14 Mar 1996 --   -- --
Unknown Binding --   -- --
Video Games Trade-In
Amazon.co.uk Trade-In Store
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Amazon.co.uk Trade-In Store for more details.

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Product details

  • Paperback: 144 pages
  • Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson; New edition edition (14 Mar 1996)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0900075643
  • ISBN-13: 978-0900075643
  • Product Dimensions: 21.1 x 13.7 x 1 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 130,516 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

More About the Authors

Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Christopher Hibbert
Christopher Hibbert
Benjamin Harris
Benjamin Harris

Product Description

Product Description

Deservedly one of the most popular of all military books, These recollections paint a colourful picture of life as an ordinary soldier during the Peninsular War.

About the Author

Christopher Hibbert was educated at Radley and Oxford. He served as an infantry officer during the war, was twice wounded and was awarded the Military Cross in 1945. Described by Professor J.H. Plumb as 'a writer of the hishest ability', he is, in the words of The Times Educational Supplement. 'perhaps the most gifted popular historian we have.' He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and an Hon. D. Litt of Leicester University.

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
 
(3)
(3)
(1)
(1)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more
 

Customer Reviews

2 Reviews
5 star:    (0)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A great account of a rifleman in Wellington's army., 18 Dec 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Military Memoirs: The Recollections of Rifleman Harris (Paperback)
Rifleman Harris' recollections of life in Wellington's peninsular army offers a deep insight into the affairs of the common soldier during the Napoleonic wars.

The commentary is not that of a well to do officer, telling of dances and fine dinners, but focuses on the far from romantic realities of campaigning. We hear of personal incidents and some amusing stories are recounted but the strength of the narrative lies in its immediacy and it is easy to see that the subjects want nothing more than an end to the continuing campaign.

Told to an officer some years later who transcribed Harris' story, there is a refreshingly gritty reality to the narrative which at times seems to have more in common with the Sharpe novels than with an historic account. Indeed the rifleman Harris of Cornwell's novels may owe much of his character to this hard fighting soldier.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Military Memoirs: The Recollections of Rifleman Harris, 8 Jun 2009
This review is from: Military Memoirs: The Recollections of Rifleman Harris (Cassell Military Paperbacks) (Paperback)
Fascinating reminiscences of an ordinary rifleman's role in campaigns as far afield as Montevideo in South America and also the Iberian wars.

Particularly poignant were his accounts of the retreat from Corunna and the unbelievably harsh conditions of the rank and file, all told without any trace of rancour.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com: 4.5 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Harris is the inspiration for Sharpe, 19 Jan 2001
By Roger Kennedy - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Military Memoirs: The Recollections of Rifleman Harris (Paperback)
This book is one of the classic Peninsular War recollections of the period. Harris was a devil-me-care lad of the English shires, who was first chosen by lot to join the English militia in 1806. Once in Ireland he becomes enamored of the green-jacketed 95th Rifles, Britian's new experimental Rifle corps, and decides to join them as a volunteer. The memoirs of Harris and many others like him were no doubt the inspiration for Bernard Cornwall's now famous "Sharpe" series. But Harris's work is certainly worth reading for its own merit, as it provides a vivid impression of what it was like to be a British soldier in the Napoleanic period. Unlike many of the memoirs of his compatriots, Harris only served for a brief time. He experinced Britian's initial efforts to support Spain in her rebellion against napolanic France's domination. As part of that early expedition, harris sees action at Rolica and Vimero (1808), and partakes in the grim retreat to Coruna (1809). He is thus privy only to the initial stages of what would become the Peninsular War in Spain (1808-1814) Harris's recolllections are vivid, but at times confused and lack chronology. This is reflective of the fact that he was a common ranker, and his level of education was somewhat less than many officiers. This does not detract from the value of his work; for Harris is in fact an amusing writer with an adroit sense of humor. He recollects his experinces as they come to mind, and the reader often feels as though he is seated right next to him relaying his stories as they come to mind. At times this can be confusing, and some knowledge of the period certainly helps in understanding the merits of this work. Christopher Hibbert has provided some valuable notes both in the introduction and within the body of the work, which adds greatly to it. Modern readers will certainly find Harris worthwhile, and with the recent interest sparked by the "Sharpe series", will see how the real thing compares to the fictionalized character. Sharpe is most certainly part Harris, and the reader also gets an understaning of the 95th regiment as well. Worth having.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars a few more notes, 3 July 2001
By A Customer - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Military Memoirs: The Recollections of Rifleman Harris (Paperback)
I agree almost entirely with the fine review written by Roger Kennedy. Just a few more points to add: (1) I think what sticks in my mind more than anything else are the horrific marches and the lack of medical care - the authors descriptions are all the more memorable for their off-handed understatement. (2) It's also an interesting recording of the social mores of the time - the author feels that the Lash is a necessity, and deplores the idea of having promotions done by merit rather than by noble birth. Not what you might expect to hear from a commoner serving in the ranks!
› Go to Amazon U.S. to see both reviews  4.5 out of 5 stars 
Were these reviews helpful?   Let us know
 
 
Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   
Related forums

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Look for similar items by subject





















i.e., each product must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...

Feedback