The Book of Camouflage: The Art of Disappearing Book Review
By David L. Veres
| Date of Review | November 2013 | Title | The Book of Camouflage: The Art of Disappearing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Tim Newark | Publisher | Osprey Publishing |
| Published | 2013 | ISBN | 9781782008316 |
| Format | 104 pages, hardbound | MSRP (USD) | $9.95 |
Review
The next time someone metaphorically "blows smoke", remember this little book.
And I do mean little. Osprey's enormously entertaining The Book of Camouflage: The Art of Disappearing measures just 5-3/4" (146 mm) square. And it distills the fascinating history of modern military camouflage into just 104 informative pages.
The etymology of "khaki"? It's here. The raison d'etre for World War I "dazzle" ship schemes? Yep. The common characteristic of Polish and Zaïroise combat uniforms? Absolutely. And how about that weird red in Swiss infantry camouflage? That, too.
Tanks. Guns. German. French. Soviet. British. NATO. WarPac. Even décor and fashions!
Oh, yes: the word "camouflage" derives from 17th century French "camouflet" – the act of blowing smoke at another's face to confuse or blind him. The related "camoufler" further means applying makeup for the stage. Clear now?
From disruptive techniques to color choices to artistic influences to natural effects, author Newark ably recaps the whole, terrific tale. And just in time, his tidy tome makes a handy holiday stocking-stuffer!
Recommended.
My sincere thanks to Osprey Publishing for this review sample!