A really stunning book. A vast book which covers the Wars of the Three Kingdoms (a much more accurate term for what we used to call the English Civil War combined with the various other conflicts of the time). This volume collates an enormous quantity of information, previously available in a number of other books, and handily puts it all in one place. Some superb maps (as one would hope from a book that describes itself as an atlas), and the occasional map which makes you wonder if a layer of printing has been missed off - map 91, the area around Oxford early 1645, being just one example. Although, judging by the high production values, I can't see Osprey slipping up in such a way.
A few battlefields are very much hotly debated - who, what and most importantly where? There are no alternative suggestions made by Colonel Lipscombe, which is to the slight detriment of the book. For example, Roundway Down, judging by the metal detecting finds should be further north than that indicated on the map.
There are a few omissions, e.g. no mention of Booth's Uprising (the title dates the content 1639-1651, but the contents cover through to the Restoration in 1660), and Rupert's march to relieve York has been over simplified missing out some very important details which could easily have been accommodated. Plus, inevitably, there are a few minor errors e.g. the Storming of Stockport is incorrectly described.
But these are just minor quibbles with what is a very handsome book. My only real criticism is the absence of an index. There is so much information in this very weighty tome that it is almost unwieldy; an index would help tame this beast of a book.
Overall an excellent book, which could have earned full 5 stars if it had had an index.
Despite my criticism this is a very handsome volume, which does deserve a place upon the shelf. Shop around though as prices vary wildly!
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