Steampunk Soldiers: Uniforms & Weapons from the Age of Steam

Philip Smith · Joseph A. McCullough

Nov 2014 · Bloomsbury Publishing

About this ebook

Between 1887 and 1895, the British art student Miles Vandercroft travelled around the world, sketching and painting the soldiers of the countries through which he passed. In this age of dramatic technological advancement, Vandercroft was fascinated by how the rise of steam technology at the start of the American Civil War had transformed warfare and the role of the fighting man. This volume collects all of Vandercroft's surviving paintings, along with his associated commentary on the specific military units he encountered. It is a unique pictorial guide to the last great era of bright and colourful uniforms, as well as an important historical study of the variety of steam-powered weaponry and equipment that abounded in the days before the Great War of the Worlds.

Ratings and reviews

The book offers up great detail and imagination, and it is an asset to the steampunk genre. However it is limited by its length and I would love to see further sketches of artillery and vehicles to accompany what is here. However, if the authors worked by the montage, "Leave them wanting more," then they definitely succeeded. I already purchased the companion book.

About the author

Philip Smith is a lifelong historical enthusiast, and has carried his interest through an undergraduate degree at Lincoln College, Oxford, and into his career as an editor, where he specializes in military history and tabletop wargaming.

Joseph A McCullough is the author of several non-fiction books including A Pocket History of Ireland and Osprey's Zombies: A Hunter's Guide. In addition, his fantasy short stories have appeared in various books and magazines such as Black Gate, Lords of Swords, and Adventure Mystery Tales. He also co-wrote The Grey Mountains, a supplement for the Middle-Earth Role-Playing game.