BOOK OF UNIFORMS - Tapa dura

This follow-on from "Brassey's Book of Camouflage" describes the history of uniforms, from the barbarian armies of the past to the uniforms of today. The author uncovers the secret meaning of uniforms, explains their origin and design, and presents some of the more extraordinary uniforms made. Military uniforms represent the best and worst of mankind. Introduced as an attempt to civilize soldiers and make their presence acceptable to civilians, the very fabric of uniforms contain reference to a darker, barbaric past when warriors wore furs and features to frighten their victims. The Royal Hussars who parade before the Queen today are actually wearing a uniform based on clothes worn by medieval Serbian bandits notorious for their atrocities in the Balkans.