Prisoners of war

[PMarione]

A neglected field of the history of the Napoleonic wars: the prisoner of war, the conditions under which he was held and how he employed his time during long years of captivity.

A book in 2 vols by Clive Lloyd (2007):
1: A History of Napoleonic and American Prisoners of War 1756-1816: Hulk, Depot and Parole: Historical Background ISBN 978-1851495283
2: The Arts and Crafts of Napoleonic and American Prisoners of War: 1756 -1816: Arts, Crafts and Occupations ISBN 978-1851495290

@+ P

[PMarione]

I just finished those books and they are very good.
The illustrations are numerous and very proffessional.
The first book deals with the organization and contains 2 parts. The first one describe the hulks. The second part describe the various land establishments on land in the UK. A chapter is devoted to the "parole" system.
The second book shows the inner life in the prisons through the various types of artifacts developed by the prisoners (including forging notes). It's far more than a collector's catalogue.

In summary we can say that being a prisoner of war was not a bed of roses (is it today? In Guantanamo?) but the problem arose mainly from the success of the British arms which had to deal with tens ot thousands of prisoners with the logistic problems involved more than with hate and revenge (not like in Guantanamo).

A good (if expensive) gift to put at the bottom of the Christmas tree.

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[Redfish]

Are these books also about life as a prisoner of war in France during the Napoleonic war?

[PMarione]

Nope: they only deal with prisoners in British hands including the hulks in New York, in Spain and Denmark.
I was a little disappointed too but besides the language barrier (most of the sources and documents in French) there is not so much to say about British prisoners in France as they were not many of them: some thousands vs tenths of thousands in GB.
I also have never heard from craftworks done by British prisoners in France.

Roy and Lesley Adkins have chapters on POW on both sides in their (must have - must read) "the War for All the Oceans" (ISBN 978-0349119168).

@+P

[alexlitandem]

"the Naoleontic war?"

Sante.

I'll have what you are having.

(Bet it's that Christmas sherry trifle? )

[Redfish]