Touted as 'The battle for Italy's freedom', the events around Solferino in northern Italy did not 'set Italy free', but were important in a growing nationalist movement that eventually led to the conjugation of the many fractured Italian states into one under Victor Emanuelle. Basically, this was a campaign of the French and Corsicans on one side and the Austrians on the other. The deal was that the Corsicans (who were not really from Corsica, but the Piedmont area between modern day France and Italy), and the French under Napoleon III, strove to gain territory from the Austrians, led by Emperor Franz-Joseph. The battles were horrendous for the time, leaving tens of thousands of dead. Often called the Second Italian War or part of the Franco-Austrian War, these events were so savage as to inspire the formation of the Red Cross and the first Geneva Convention.

In reality, it was an campaign that highlighted the ineptness of the Austrians, who had overwhelming numbers and the fighting capabilities of the French and Corsicans. It also introduced rifled cannon into battle. This French development of the normal smooth bore cannon of the time, was devastatingly accurate. Also of interest to American Civil War buffs is that many of the weapons, uniform styles and tactics used during this time would be used during that conflict. 

This book by Richard Brooks covers the various battles fought during this campaign that let up to the final battle at Solferino. We get a good look at the opposing commanders through the eyes of those who wrote about them during this time and how their armies performed. The rest of the book is on the preface battles and the results of the various engagements.

Throughout the book are the illustrations of Peter Dennis as well as a considerable number of period drawings and those of actual locations of the battle field as they are today. This all melds together to make a superb book on the subject. One that I found both interesting and entertaining. I'm sure you will as well and I can easily recommend it to you.

September 2009

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