A Chunky Tome from Partizan Press.
Some few weeks ago I ordered a new book from Partizan Press.
When it arrived a week or so later the 'Thunk' as it hit the doormat was audible two rooms away.... well actually that is a bit of artisic licence as it would not fit through the letterbox but the postie was glad to get it out of his bag .
Yes Gentle readers it is a meaty tome. all 440 pages of it with a hardcover binding so what is this beast?
A Battle Lost and Won- Marston Moor 1644 by Patrick Ray.
Now for the unitiated Marston Moor - just outside York was the largest battle of the English Civil Wars of the mid 17th Century. The battle involved five armies, two Royalist, two Parliamentarian and one Scottish. Three of thecommanderrs on the Parlimentarian /Scottish side fled the field but the battle was won by the next 'layer' of command for Parliament and the Royalist under Price Rupert and Newcastle were defeated thus York and the North of England was lost to the King as was - eventually the Civil Wars.
For ECW enthusiasts like me this is a well worn tale but it has never previously been told in such detail or in such sumptuous form. Brigadier Youngs 1970 book ce close but now seriously dated and technology has moved on significanttly in the last half century to produce a book that is physically very fine indeed. Yes Cjaps I like this one.
The author takes the reader throught the lead up to the battle beginning with a 'macro' overview of the First Civil War the narrowing the focus to the war in the north and sloowly but precisely narrowing the focus down to the campaign detailing the siege of York and Prince Rupert of the Rhine's efforts to relieve the city and thee subsequent battle of Marston Moor.
The five armies involed in the battle - 2 English Parliamentarian 1 Scots Covenant (hese three on the samwe side of course) facing 2 Royalist Armies - that of Prince Rupert and that of the Marquis of Newcastle are examined in deatial. The core of the book for me is the detailed list of regiments of these 5 armies which I have never before seen so conveniently tabulated.
Yet there is more obviously a detailed account of the battle - drawing on contempoary sources is there in considerable detail wsith authors photographs of surivng sites both of iege of York and thbatteffield of Marston Moor all in colour. In addition there are almost a doze pages of Foot Colours Cavalry Crnets and a couple of Dragoon Guidons again all in colour.
As an aside I have had this volumes since February but it is a serious read and deserves more that a brief speed read. To be honest I still have not finished it completely haveing barely looked at some of the 7 appendices which add yest more infornation including the articles of surrender for the city of York as well as brief resumes of the after battle careers of the main and some of the minor protagonists. In addition there is 'The battle in diagrams' which for those new to the period might well simplyfy some of the complexities and an exxamination of he contemporary sources.
If you only want one book an the battle of Marston Moor -get this one yes it is almost forty quid so not cheap but the pricetag is all there for you to see on the page and in the depth of the research.
I could only find one tiny jarring note which I only mention because some other fella might shout 'Hey you missed this!' - In the oveiew of the war the author tells us the victor of the battle of Roudway Down wa Sir Ralf Hopton. In turth the battle was won by Harry Wilmot for the Royalists Hopton being besieged in Devvizes and only appearing on the battlefield late in the day, Of course Devizes is a long way from York - so this does not in the slightest impinge upon the overall quality of this excellent volume.
Highy Reccomended
