Fields of War: Fifty Key Battlefields in France and Belgium by Robert J. Mueller
Awards:
‘2010 Bronze Medal’ for Graphic / Artistic achievement by the Military Writers Society of America
‘First Place in the Reader Views Literary Awards for 2010 in the travel category’ sponsored by Reader Views Literary Magazine
‘Award-Winning Finalist’ in the Travel category of the National Best Books 2009 Awards, sponsored by USA Book News
‘Finalist’ in ForeWord Reviews 2009 Book of the Year Awards
Excerpts from Reviews:
Mueller’s “Fields of War: Fifty Key Battlefields in France and Belgium” is an important, essential companion to anyone’s attempt to understand and honor the vast array of human suffering, courage and sacrifice to be found in the region’s hundreds of memorials, monuments and cemeteries. …“Fields of War” helps enormously to understand what happened and what a visitor can encounter to appreciate it. … In Mueller’s hands, we can almost understand what soldiers by the tens of millions saw as they looked out from their trenches, across their crossbows or through their tank slits. He directs us to the most effective museums, monuments, vantage points. He sends us through quiet lanes when the tourism maps might channel us along more beaten paths. His maps bring clarity to rolling landscapes once, somehow, full of the rage and pain of battle. – Denis Horgan, Connecticut Watchdog
‘Fields of War is a wonderful book; beautifully produced, comfortable to handle and read, and in a wonderfully friendly format …. [the author] tackled a vast subject and brought it together beautifully.’ – Sir Philip Preston, co-author of The Battle of Crécy, 1346.
‘…impressively researched book…a somber and fascinating guide illustrated with maps and photos.’ – June Sawyers of Chicago Tribune, 8/30/2009
‘No dining or accommodation suggestions are included, but for visiting these historic battlefields, the book is invaluable. It’s a good option for armchair travelers and historians as well.’ – David Lee Poremba, Library Journal 10/1/2009
‘Fields of War gives you not only a wealth of historical information about this part of Western Europe: the political times & countries doing battle, armies & battle movements, key opponents & weaponry, aftermaths & consequences, it also has text boxes explaining how to take the battlefield tours … … Some may want to whet their appetite for the next 500 years of warfare by following the Battle of Crecy, others will zero in on a specific modern battle. Either way, Fields of War is clearly laid out, readable & filled with useful details.’ – D. H. Brown, MWSA Reviewer
‘It is a brave author who attempts to pack more than 600 years of military history into one volume, but Mueller succeeds in this with some skill, and the book is nicely organized in chapters covering periods from the Hundred Years War and WW2. Common sites are described as well as those less familiar, and the historical descriptions are good, and well constructed. The maps are good, and the illustrations well chosen and clear. An excellent, highly recommended companion to the battlefields of France and Belgium, and a good single volume to keep in the car.’ – Paul Reed, First World War historian and author
French battlefield’s initial effort has been the publication of Fields of War: Fifty Key Battlefields in France and Belgium, which provides historical descriptions and tour information on the most famous military engagements in this area focusing upon the locations of the Hundred Years War, the victories of Marlborough, Napoleon’s Defeat, Franco – Prussian War, First World War, and Second World War. Fields of War offers readers the opportunity to revisit the European locations of famous military engagements. Whether the battles are world famous such as Crécy, Sedan, Passchendaele, Dunkirk, and Normandy or lesser know such as Malplaquet, Spicheren, Le Cateau, and Dieppe, our guide provides stimulating descriptions of the military action and of the remaining physical evidence. – usabooknews
Whether your favorite era goes back to Agincourt, Napoleon or up to World War II, you’ll find indispensable help in this book to not only find the sites you are interested in but to understand what you are looking at when you get there. Even if you are not actually traveling to these French and Belgian locations, the book is a perfect reference addition to the library of any history lover. – Toby Grace, Out in Jersey
‘…a guide to peruse before the trip and definitely a must-have book while visiting the sites.’ ‘… a travel book unprecedented by others. [Mr. Mueller’s] organized and detailed attention to creating a memorable and educational tour for the reader is well noted. The sites and historical facts will be engrained in the tourist’s mind forever.’ – Irene Watson of Reader Views
‘Fields of War is across between a book on military history and a travel guide.’ ‘Battle descriptions are concise and well footnoted for the interested reader.’ ‘The battlefield tour part of the book is clearly written to provide easy travel directions…’ ‘ Unique look at battlefields.’ – Muhammed Hassanali, Armchair Interviews
‘Now historian and author Robert Mueller has put together a very thorough visitor’s guide detailing the circumstances of 50 battles that took place in this part of France or nearby Belgium. Covering a time span from the Hundred Years War to Napoleon and through both World Wars, each chapter guides the reader to the actual battlefield and associated landmarks like monuments, museums, ruins and cemeteries. Maps show you where trenches, foxholes and fortifications were (or still are) while Mueller’s text details the strategic moves of each side and the consequences of such. Some of the sites Mueller writes about are on or abut private property, but he offers tips on how to get access without trespassing. All battlefields are within daytrip range of Paris.’ – Kevin Wierzbicki, CampusCircle.com
‘His selection has great value to the history and travel aficionados as he took great care to identify, describe and locate the sites that are visible from public land or private land that has been made open to the public.’ – Senior Beacon
I just want to tell you that I am just newbie to blogs and seriously savored you’re web-site. Almost certainly I’m likely to bookmark your blog . You really have really good articles. Cheers for sharing your web page.