The arts and crafts of Napoleonic and American prisoners of war, 1756-1816 / Clive L. Lloyd
2007, 1st edition. Woodbridge: Antique Collectors' Club. Fine cloth copy in an equally fine dust-wrapper. Particularly and surprisingly well-preserved; tight, bright, clean and especially sharp-cornered. Literally as new. Item #237308
Physical description; 334 p.: ill. (chiefly col.); 30 cm. Notes; Illustrated endpapers. Includes bibliographical references and index. Contents; Introduction and authenticity -- The depot markets -- The inner markets -- The straw workers, plaiters, and marquetry artists -- The prisoner bone-workers -- Rolled paper work and paper sculpture -- Automata and mechanical toys -- Games, games-boxes and pastime trivia -- Artists -- The Freemason prisoner of war -- An English/American officer in France -- The gamblers and the brokers -- The entertainers -- The forgers and the coiners. Summary; Whilst many books have been published about war, the role of the prisoner of war has been largely ignored or paid scant attention. This book, along with the author's other title - "A History of Napoleonic and American Prisoners of War 1756-1816: Hulk, Depot and Parole" - aims to correct this imbalance, and is the result of the author's quest over thirty years into this almost-forgotten field of history. Part One tells of the various wars that saw the men, from many different countries, become prisoners. Tales of individuals and their voyages, mutinies, fortunes and failures also feature, adding more personal touches to the history and, as with the author's other title, all the accounts are written in a highly evocative style. Part Two is largely devoted to the prison hulks, describing the vessels and the conditions on board that the prisoners would have had to endure. Many of these hulks were former warships. Now stripped of all their equipment, and with their masts, sails and rigging removed, they sat disabled offshore, filled with their human cargo. Part Three concerns itself primarily with the depots and prisons on land, beginning with a general overview, and going on to explore in greater detail individual establishments and the conditions within. The final three chapters in this section deal with the terms and conditions of various types of parole - many officers granted parole were able to live almost as free men, as long as they did not take up arms against their captors - as well as the punishments to be expected should parole be broken. Written with numerous personal accounts, and drawing upon many years of painstaking and dedicated research, this important book fills a significant gap in the literature of military history. Subjects; Decorative arts - Great Britain - History - 18th century. Decorative arts - Great Britain - History - 19th century. Prisoners of war as artists - Great Britain - History. Prisoners of war as artists - France - History. Prisoners of war as artists - United States - History. Arts - Great Britain - History. Art - Great Britain - History. Bone carving - Great Britain. Theory of art; Prisoners of war. England; France; USA; c 1700 to c 1800; c 1800 to c 1900. HISTORY / General. ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Reference.
Price: €50.00