Hardback, dust jacket in fairly good condition, binding as sound as the day it was printed, no inscriptions and now - MINE! (it was also relatively inexpensive!)
I was absolutely thrilled and delighted to finally secure the hardback version you see above - it is a book that has inspired and sustained my enjoyment of the hobby since I first clapped eyes on it in Sheerness library around 1971. I could not begin to quantify the lasting impact this book has had on me but suffice it to say that ‘immense’ may partially cover it!
I have a softback version of the book but as it is a facsimile edition the pictures are a little on the dark side - which is not helpful when looking at black and white images. I had coveted a hardback edition for many, many years but the only time I ever saw any copies invariably they were too expensive for my budget. Three figure price tags for this are not uncommon.
Now here is the thing. The likelihood of me painting or even owning similarly organised armies is absolutely zero - lottery win notwithstanding - and I have nothing but admiration for those that do. I have fought both the actions featured in the book - Blasthof Bridge and Sittangbad - using 18th century collections and indeed, even using early WW1 figures for the latter but now would be more likely to do so using the Portable Wargame and my block armies.
Using the block armies would be viable but, as the good Brigadier and Lieutenant Colonel sternly pointed out:
“You will not, we suppose, be so lost to all feeling, as to represent your units and formations by counters, blocks of wood or cards.” (Page 114)
Block armies and Charge! - I hope in the wargames Valhalla that these two worthies are no doubt residing that they do not look too disapprovingly at the heresy I shall be undertaking!
As a wise man once said: “Back of the net!”
12 comments:
Very nice!
Sadly I just have a reprint, marvellous though it is.
David,
Congratulations on acquiring a hardback copy! Mine lost its dust jacket years ago, but the sheer quality of the book stands o7t to this day.
All the best,
Bob
PS. Don’t forget that the scenarios from the book are reproduced for PW in one of the PW Compendia!
I well remember it in the library in Reading around the same time. One of the all-time great books and one of the bedrocks of wargaming in our country. What a great buy!
Steve
Great find I have a hardbacked copy - but no dust cover : (
David -
'Charge!' (in hardback, of course) is the first wargames book I ever owned - bought in 1975. I still have it, but the dust jacket - very fragile it was - was gradually torn into shreds years ago.
I congratulate you upon your acquisition.
Cheers,
Ion
Congratulations on your purchase.
As soon as I saw your post I had an irresistible urge, to which I succumbed, to get out of my armchair and go upstairs to find my own copy and start on a re-read. “Charge” didn’t have quite the same impact on me as Don Featherstone’s first two books, simply because I read them first, but it was still inspirational (even though, like you, there was no chance of me painting an army of the size the rules called for – anymore than there was a chance of raising a Charles Grant style 18th century army).
Back in the day I was covering the dust jackets of my books in clear plastic which has served me well and kept it in pristine condition, so I’m doing better than Bob in this case.
I’m actually surprised that I could afford it in 1967 as 55/- price was a lot of money in those days – equivalent to about £70 today, which is more than I am now willing to pay for a book (unless it is something very special, like Parkes “British Battleships),
Mike
Hi Steve,
Really pleased to have gotten this piece of gaming history in my library - especially this edition! I think I had it almost on permanent loan when I was a callow youth.
All the best,
DC
Hi Good Soldier Svjek,
I really wanted to get a copy with the dust jacket and whilst it has a few dings it is not too bad for a book that is nearly as old as I am!
All the best,
DC
Hi Archduke,
Thank you kindly old chap! The DJ is in pretty good order considering - just a a couple of minor dings on the reverse side. There is a small chunk missing from the ‘A’ on the rear cover but not too bad though.
All the best,
DC
Hi Mike,
That is exactly what I did when it arrived - and it cheered me enormously! It was not my first wargame book either - that honour went to Discovering Wargames by John Tunstill.
I have a copy of Parkes - it was a present from David Manley for which I am immeasurably appreciative of!
All the best,
DC
Back of the net. The boy Crook has gone and won it for the home team. Great acquisition David.
Hi Nundanket,
It arrived at a timely moment - I have been rather off my game for a while for a variety of dull and tedious reasons - and has served to give me a most welcome and timely lift. Absolutely delighted to have it in my library!
All the best,
DC
Post a Comment