Extra reading for Space 1889

I thought that I might spend a post discussing some of my recent reads that might be useful and entertaining for people interested in Space 1889.

First up, I have How to Make Friends and Oppress People by Vic Darkwood. A satirical look at nineteenth-century travel guidebooks. It covers topics such as;
Fireplaces in boats.
The practical theory of tea-making.
Insects, vermin and other troublesome creatures.
Modes of salutation.
How to treat banditti.
Engaging in gun battles.
Ballooning as a sport.
Pig sticking.
Revolting food that may save the lives of starving men.
Learning to ride a camel.
Employing a burly henchman.

If that doesn't sell you on it, I give up. A hilarious read and the advise is almost all authentic.

For more everyday advice, there's, Barkham Burrough's Encycolopedia of Astounding Facts and Useful Information, 1889. This immensely useful tome contains 20,000 things worth knowing. What's more, it's an interesting look into the life of the American middle class during the late nineteenth-century. Lots of recipes too. I have a print copy but you can always read it here, http://www.gutenberg.org/files/14091/14091-h/14091-h.htm .

Mostly of interest for you wargaming types is, L'Armée Française; An Illustrated History of the French Army, 1790-1885 by Edouard Detaille. Published in 1885, this is the best book of its type I've read. The detail is exhaustive and the illustrations are great. If you're playing a member of the French military, this ought to give you everything you need to fake the part.

Not to neglect the science fiction/alternate history aspect there's, The Tale of the Next Great War, 1871-1914 edited by I.F. Clarke. This is a collection of fiction written as a response to the Franco Prussian War. There's a lot of anxiety shown over the rise of German power not only by the British or French but by Germans themselves. Inside you find short works and excerpts such as The Battle of Dorking and La Guerre au Vingtième Siècle (War in the Twentieth-century) by Albert Robida. Other authors include George Griffith, Jack London and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Plus a video in memory of Andyman;