You don't usually find Osprey books on a school reading list and I've never seen them in a university library, but anyone who's ever visited a museum or specialist model shop will be familiar with this titan of historical publishing. For many years Osprey publications were identified with modeling and re-enactment rather than so-called 'serious' history, but this divide is crumbling, thanks partly to an impressive new range of material and the longstanding quality of their books.

A Strong Specialism
Osprey focuses entirely on one aspect of history - the military - but without any limit on era or location; from early Greeks to modern snipers, there is (or soon will be) a relevant Osprey volume. Of course, if you're a reader in social change or religious interaction you won't find any volumes of explicit relevance, but there may still be something of interest; after all, the effects of war permeate every aspect of society.

An Overwhelming Range
Unless you already have a specific book in mind, the Osprey range can be intimidating: it's huge! Over 500 volumes are currently available and even narrowing your interest to one conflict still produces a multitude of relevant books. The benefits are clear: a vast - unparalleled - body of information on conflict and combatants; the downside is quantity, as even highly specialised readers will need several texts and purchasing these smart books can become addictive!

Style
Most of Osprey's books are produced to a set format, incorporating text with a range of pictures, original artwork, diagrams and maps, some of which contain 3-D effects. The result is a compact, but beautifully designed, work that is easy to read and a wonder to view. There is much less text than in traditional historical books but the dedicated nature of each volume alleviates any lack of detail, leaving the Osprey range as perfect for anyone who hates slogging through mammoth tomes (and that's a lot of people).

Artwork
Osprey's real strength is in the artwork. You can read twenty volumes on World War 1 and still have only a vague idea of the equipment, clothing and lifestyle of the combatants, a problem which the Osprey range solves perfectly, as each book's specially created illustrations - and explanatory descriptions - vividly recreate the sights in front of you. Of course, such is the range and detail that you'll inevitably need at least two books for every conflict, but they are visually unbeatable.

Enjoyment
History is often characterised, or is that criticised, for being boring and even keen readers pall at the thought of 1200 pages of detailed troop movements (with no diagrams); in contrast, Osprey is never boring. The full colour artwork helps, and the 3D maps of the Campaign series should grab anyone's attention, but the well-written text presents information clearly and succinctly in easy-to-digest parcels without being patronising. In short, these stylish and interesting books might not sate an expert's interest, but they always engage, educate and make history enjoyable; not many volumes can say that.

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