tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252044750302177123.post2962630397973220754..comments2023-10-16T03:27:54.653-07:00Comments on Blake's Gaming Adventures: Review of The War of Spanish Succession by James FalknerBlake Wood Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16413316669540063188noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252044750302177123.post-4274253297529087342016-12-09T01:36:49.547-08:002016-12-09T01:36:49.547-08:00I concur with your assessment Paul. Falkner may kn...I concur with your assessment Paul. Falkner may know his stuff, but the way he conveys it on the page is...difficult to follow, shall we say? It could also have done with an editor and a proof reader.<br /><br />I got 'Marlborough's War Machine' by the same author this week. I haven't started to read it yet. We shall see.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15701974129482217079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252044750302177123.post-31157442006365099632016-12-08T23:32:58.005-08:002016-12-08T23:32:58.005-08:00I thought the book was poorly presented. A lot of...I thought the book was poorly presented. A lot of information but nothing to link it together. The total absence of relevant maps was a real problem for me - the ones that are included give no information and the fact that Faulkner relies on long lists of dates and places doesn't help in understanding how the armies were being moved around. <br />I don't agree with your assessment of the French generals either. Many of their faults were due to the fact that they were receiving instructions on how to conduct the war from Louis who was several hundred miles removed from the theatre and several days behind in information. There were some poor generals without a doubt, Louis duc de Bourgogne is a prime example - his involvement at Oudenaarde would have been decisive. However, the French by and large knew their stuff and were capable - Eugen had his hands full in defeating them in Italy for certain.<br />I do agree though that Faulkner makes several excellent points about the war being able to be resolved much earlier than it was. Greed and amibition by the Maritime Powers overshadowed their original intentions. Faulkner though does fail to make the British the bad guys when they finally ended their involvement and left the Dutch high and dry.<br />Not a great book. Plenty of information but not presented in the best manner. Still think Chandlers "Art of Warfare in the Age of Marlborough" is the standard that all other works should be judged against.marinergrimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01393687295535460527noreply@blogger.com