Kalka River 1223

David Nicolle was born in 1944, the son of the illustrator Pat Nicolle. He worked in the BBC Arabic service for a number of years, before going 'back to school', gaining an MA from the School of Oriental and African Studies, London, and a doctorate from Edinburgh University. His numerous books for Osprey include MAA 337 French Armies of the Hundred Years War and Campaign 71 Crécy 1346. Viacheslv Shpakovsky was born in 1954. He teaches in the History Department of Penza University in Penza, Russia, where he is a Candidate of Historical Research (Doctorate) and currently holds the position of Assistant Professor and Chief Historical Scientist. This is his first book for Osprey.