You may already know that Simon Leys was the nom de plume of Pierre Ryckmans, a China specialist of Belgian origin who emigrated to Australia. He did not return to China after the 1970s but wrote widely about the country, especially its culture and history for well over half a century. Some readers see the novel as a meditation of Ryckmans' own life, as someone who studied a country and people who he never encountered for decades prior to his death, and used the figure of Napoleon as something of the same: an accidental traveler and dumbfounded observer of things he did not quite understand. As with all of Ryckmans' works, it's a controversial book, and it's very good of you to include it here in the larger context of portrayals of the Napoleonic era in wargames.
There’s a movie from 2002 called “The Emperor’s New Clothes” based on this book, I really liked the movie and I was curious about the original work when I found this.
Columbia's Napoleon game is very good. War and Peace is a great book. You can read it, twice, while waiting for AP players in some games. The Henry Fonda film was a good retelling of the book. The Borodino part of the film was amazing photography.
Very entertaining book, I found it funny at some points, it remind me Terry Pratchett but set in an alternative future, now I am looking for other of his books, probably will go for the hall of uselessness.
Have you ever played the Thin Red Line or the Great Redoubt by Yaquinto Games.? 2 of my most favorite Napoleonic games ever. I have the first edition War and Peace from Avalon Hill and remember playing it with my friends during the Blizzard of 78 while the schools were closed for a couple of weeks. Fantastic memories.
War and Peace is a classic. Its about medium complexity. Definitely captures the grand operational feel of Napoleonics
You may already know that Simon Leys was the nom de plume of Pierre Ryckmans, a China specialist of Belgian origin who emigrated to Australia. He did not return to China after the 1970s but wrote widely about the country, especially its culture and history for well over half a century. Some readers see the novel as a meditation of Ryckmans' own life, as someone who studied a country and people who he never encountered for decades prior to his death, and used the figure of Napoleon as something of the same: an accidental traveler and dumbfounded observer of things he did not quite understand. As with all of Ryckmans' works, it's a controversial book, and it's very good of you to include it here in the larger context of portrayals of the Napoleonic era in wargames.
There’s a movie from 2002 called “The Emperor’s New Clothes” based on this book, I really liked the movie and I was curious about the original work when I found this.
Columbia's Napoleon game is very good. War and Peace is a great book. You can read it, twice, while waiting for AP players in some games. The Henry Fonda film was a good retelling of the book. The Borodino part of the film was amazing photography.
Just ordered my first Napoleonic game “Triomphe à Marengo”. True, it’s quite a departure from the classical wargame, but still excited about it.
I, Napoleon from GMT popped in my head first as you talked about the book.
GMTs Fadding Glory is the "collected" (multi-pack ['multi-card']) 20-20 so that is a great pick up.
Great video! Thank you!
theory is Napoleon was given arsenic over a long period by his Doctor
Very entertaining book, I found it funny at some points, it remind me Terry Pratchett but set in an alternative future, now I am looking for other of his books, probably will go for the hall of uselessness.
Have you ever played the Thin Red Line or the Great Redoubt by Yaquinto Games.? 2 of my most favorite Napoleonic games ever. I have the first edition War and Peace from Avalon Hill and remember playing it with my friends during the Blizzard of 78 while the schools were closed for a couple of weeks. Fantastic memories.
I haven’t played either of those. Will have a look, for sure
Have you read Andrew Robert's biography of Boney?
I have not, recommend?
He's sympathetic to Boney but a fine writer.