Featured battle : Crossing the Medway

Part of Roman Occupation of Britain

Date : 43

The Britons had taken up a defensive position north of the river Medway. They expected the natural barrier to stop the Romans for a time while British reinforcements came up. The river was crossed, swum. by mounted auxillaries almost as soon as they reached it. The Britons were taken by surprise and reacted by swinging their whole force towards the threat. A legion then crossed the river at a different point, established a bridgehead which they were able to hold long enough for the whole of the Roman force to cross. Once the Romans were established in significant numbers the Britons fled.

1812 Napoleon in Moscow

Paul Britten Austin
It is difficult to evaluate this book which has a confusing conflict between style and content. As a style the author has adopted the appalling affectation of the use of the present tense to describe the past. This in parts makes gaining a clear understanding more difficult than it needs to be. The content is well researched and appropriately selected giving real insights into the French in Moscow. The real quality of the book is that we get to see the big event from many personal perspectives. In the introduction the author apologizes, and so he should, for his 'syntactic and grammatical deviations' for these in part make difficult reading of what otherwise would be a very good book.
Frontline Books, Pen & Sword Books Ltd., 2012