Polish Cavalry Books

[Marshal Murat]

I am wondering if there are any books you might recommend that deal with Polish cavalry, especially the Winged Hussars. I know something about fire and saber (Origian o miekinci. Butchery of the Polish language)

[cegorach]

You mean 'With Fire and Sword' or 'Ogniem i Mieczem':laugh4:


I can recommend the 2 Osprey Men-at-Arms Polish Armies 1569-1696 - both volumes are in my opinion very good - only small mistakes in few places so it is a good read.


I would be very careful with the latest Warrior series Osprey 'Polish Winged Hussar' - I have heard really bad opinion about that from someone really well informed, so I cannot advise reading this particular one.


Regards Cegorach:book:

[Sarmatian]

"with fire and sword" is actually a novel, not a history book. It is a part of trilogy "Ogniem i mieczem", "Potop" and "Pan Wolodijowski" (I hope my spelling is correct). You won't learn much pf history from this novels but they are very interesting and I would recommend them.

[cegorach]

There are movies too

examples - 'Potop'

http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b356/cegorach/?action=view&current=szarza.flv


'Pan Wolodyjowski'

http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b356/cegorach/?action=view&current=1stassault.flv

http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b356/cegorach/?action=view&current=1stlevelbreached.flv



I didn't extract anything from 'Ogniem i Mieczem', but it is well known and actually in Ukraine it got cult status.


Interesting thing is that these were made starting from the last part of trilogy -( 'Pan Wolodyjowski' in late 1960s), through 'Potop' ( mid-1970s, nominated for Oscar BTW) and finishing with the most sensitive and interesting topic of Polish-Cossack civil war.

There are traces of censorship in first two movies - e.g. in 'Potop' the main hero Kmicic returns from a campaign against Russia, but you will not hear a word about the entire 13 years long war (1654-67) in the whole movie.:book: