dukeofcornwall Posted 20 August , 2008 Share Posted 20 August , 2008 I have just bought The Devil's Chariots after finishing the excellent Band of Brigands. The former receives rather high praise by Richard Holmes but the latter hasn't even a review on Amazon where it is only now available from 'a.n.other booksellers'...such a shame for a brilliant book. Can I ask has anyone read The Devil's Chariots and if so their opinions? Thanks Zac Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 20 August , 2008 Share Posted 20 August , 2008 Zac It's certainly readable and, if nothing else, tells us that excessive bureaucracy as well as rivalry between different committees/working groups are not phenomena of the modern age. Cheers Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 20 August , 2008 Share Posted 20 August , 2008 Very readable and thoroughly enjoyable as well as a detailed and informative book. Despite the committees and individuals involved it was still some feat to get an entirely new weapon built and in to action. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delta Posted 20 August , 2008 Share Posted 20 August , 2008 Useful book Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanA Posted 20 August , 2008 Share Posted 20 August , 2008 Well, I hope it's good. I've just bought a copy.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gibbo Posted 20 August , 2008 Share Posted 20 August , 2008 The Devil's Chariots looks very good but has yet to reach the top of my 'to read' pile. Although Amazon doesn't have the hardback of Band of Brigands in stock it is taking orders for the forthcoming paperback, which it says is due out on 1 September 2008. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Hansen Posted 20 August , 2008 Share Posted 20 August , 2008 I have just bought The Devil's Chariots after finishing the excellent Band of Brigands. The former receives rather high praise by Richard Holmes but the latter hasn't even a review on Amazon where it is only now available from 'a.n.other booksellers'...such a shame for a brilliant book. Can I ask has anyone read The Devil's Chariots and if so their opinions? Thanks Zac A good book with just two minor errors that I know of. In the description of the Mk I tank in Appendix 1, Mk I and II tanks from Fosters are said to be "distinctively close-riveted to boilermakers' pitch, this being the pattern the company's boiler shop was used to." Photo evidence, some of which is in the book, shows this to be incorrect and the only boilermakers' pitch riveted tank was Mother. The description of armament for the Mk II claims that the MG armament (male and female) was the Hotchkiss. Again, photo's show that they were in fact fitted with Lewis guns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanks3 Posted 21 August , 2008 Share Posted 21 August , 2008 Hi All, Just thought I would give all the heads up on the fact that The Friends of the Lincoln Tank Group will have a lecture given by Christy Cambell on his book. Date 1st October 2008 at The Collection museum in Lincoln. I am sure better details will be posted nearer the time Thanks Tanks3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Seymour Posted 21 August , 2008 Share Posted 21 August , 2008 Definitely read The Devil's Chariots - it is very good. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidearm Posted 21 August , 2008 Share Posted 21 August , 2008 I have a few minor quibbles around the serial numbers given to the various types, as described in "The Devil's Chariots". Sometimes certain tanks are described as being "experimental" tanks. Actually they were simply production vehicles retained by the Ministry of Munitions for experimental purposes, which to my mind isn't quite the same thing. One of these experimental numbers is also wrong. Tank 9501 (which is shown to be a Mark V*) should read 9251 (a Mark V). The statement of Mark IV serials isn't as accurate as it might have been, but as I'm researching those I can't complain! The best things about the book are the fact that it includes detailed references but also that sources beyond the usual suspects have been used. I'd add that I've had the pleasure of corresponding with John Glanfield. I've found him a thoroughly pleasant and extremely knowledgeable chap. Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dukeofcornwall Posted 22 August , 2008 Author Share Posted 22 August , 2008 I have a few minor quibbles around the serial numbers given to the various types, as described in "The Devil's Chariots". Sometimes certain tanks are described as being "experimental" tanks. Actually they were simply production vehicles retained by the Ministry of Munitions for experimental purposes, which to my mind isn't quite the same thing. One of these experimental numbers is also wrong. Tank 9501 (which is shown to be a Mark V*) should read 9251 (a Mark V). The statement of Mark IV serials isn't as accurate as it might have been, but as I'm researching those I can't complain! The best things about the book are the fact that it includes detailed references but also that sources beyond the usual suspects have been used. I'd add that I've had the pleasure of corresponding with John Glanfield. I've found him a thoroughly pleasant and extremely knowledgeable chap. Gwyn Thanks to you all. I look forward to reading it. Zac Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobL Posted 12 March , 2009 Share Posted 12 March , 2009 Currently reading it at the minute - not really my thing, i'm more into personal accounts and those that heavily use them such as Peter Hart's books, but a useful and informative book. Can certainly be boring at parts though, a great cure for insomnia, but the writer does the best he can with the subject to make it as interesting as possible, a hard task Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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