18th Century Wars Recomended Reading List (Part 1)

too keep this from being a complete wall of text here is an updated pictures of my Hobby nook.

Duffy, Christopher: Military Experience in the Age of Reason.  If you can only read one book on this subject this is the one to read. it touches on every subject of importance, Tactics, equipment, logistics, personal and leadership.

Duffy, Christopher: Friedrick the Great a Military Life an excellent military biography of one of the centuries most influential generals and kings. If you can also read Duffy's books on the Prussian and Austrian Armies.

Duffy, Christopher: Fire and Stone: The Science of Fortress Warfare 1660-1860 Battles are not the only aspect of war in the 18th Century often Sieges were as or more important. 

OK before you think I am getting Paid by the Duffy fellow... (he can make me an offer if he likes)

Browning, Reed: The War of the Austrian Succession This is without question the definitive English language work on this War.  Browning captures the scope of the war and you can really see the competing grand strategies of the waring powers. Battle descriptions are a bit spare unfortunately but its a great book to get you thinking about a campaign rather than an battle. 

Lynn, John: The Wars of Louis XIV  Give a good perspective on the early wars of late 17th and early 18th century. The section on the War of the Spanish Succession provides a good counter point to the Anglo-centric coverage of this war.

Chandler, David: Warfare in the Age of Marlboro   An excellent look at war in the early 18th century. While somewhat Anglo centric it provides a good place to start with understanding the composition of armies in this period.  

Wilson, Peter H. German Armies War and German Politics 1648 to 1806  A must read for the image-Nation crowed and the pure historical gamer a like. The book covers the little aremies of the Holy Roman Empire.  No details on uniforms but a lot of details about numbers of troops, organization and how a decentralized group of states tries to organize collective defense.  It show the Reich as a living political organism not a doomed and dead feudal hold over as its detractors would classify it. 

Simms, Brendan, Three Victories and a defeat: The rise and fall of the first British Empire  A very large and involved book but one that sheds a lot of light on the continental side of British politics.  While I don't fully agree with the author on all points he fully demonstrates how Britain viewed itself as a European Nation and was deeply concerned with the balance of power in Europe. 

Dull, Jonathan R. The French Navy and the Seven Years War One of the best single volume histories of the seven years war available in English.  Dull does a great job of showing the connection between European and colonial conflict and how one supported the other for both France and Britain.  Dull also partly redeems Louis XV who is so often maligned by historians.