Both the inspiration and the sourcebook for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Brigadier Gerard stories, this hugely entertaining account of the Napoleonic Wars was written by a young officer about the action he saw, the adventures he experienced, the battles he fought, and the escapes he engineered in the campaigns that brought Napoleon and his armies to Waterloo. A vital and vibrant tale packed with bravado, duels, deceptions, and no lack of derring-do, it recounts in authentic detail and with compelling immediacy the careers that Napoleonic soldiers made of military perils, personal risks, and tactical maneuvers in the service of an imperial France. Originally published in France as a two-volume set under the title The Adventures of Baron de Marbot, the exploits of the man who was promoted to the rank of general on the eve of Waterloo appear here for the first time in a one-volume English edition. Not only has this classic soldier's memoir been discreetly edited to heighten the narrative of de Marbot's colorfully picaresque and anecdotal tale, but also expert commentary and essential background materials have been added to make the book's lively history more accessible, and the fascinating biography more illuminative for contemporary readers. "The first of all soldier books in the world - which gives us the best picture by far of the Napoleonic soldiers." - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Review

Why read fictional tales of Napoleonic adventure, the Sharpes and Patrick O'Brians of this world, when the actual participants left behind so many and such entertaining memoirs? CJ Summerville has now excerpted and edited the best bits from the autobiography of French General, the Baron de Marbot; memoirs the publishers consider "the most vivid and most evocative picture of the Napoleonic Wars ever written". They may well be right; Marbot has a novelist's eye for the telling detail, and he recounts adventures many of which would be too outlandish to be believed in a work of fiction. He tells of astonishing hardships and extraordinary bravery in battle. At one point Marbot sees a hallucination of his mother on the battlefield begging him to spare a Russian cossack's life. At another he returns a defeated German soldier's sabre to him: "the combat over, I was generous enough to hand back his weapon, as is the practice in such cases. He thanked me warmly." A few moments later, though, the defeated hussar thinks better of it and tries to kill de Marbot. "He laid open my horse's shoulder and was on the point of sabreing me when I threw myself weaponless upon him." In the struggle the German "pulled me hard enough by my epaulette. My saddle spun round and there I was with one leg in the air and my head pointing downwards while my prisoner bolted back to his comrades." You couldn't, as they say, make it up.

As the story goes on, the tragic inevitability of impending French defeat adds gravitas to de Marbot's perky tales. The retreat from Moscow, through the Russian winter, is brilliantly told: "the way was strewn with dead and dying; our march slow and silent. We had often to halt and clear away from the horse's bits the icicles formed by their frozen breath." By the time we get to Waterloo the reader's sympathies are very much with de Marbot. "I cannot get over our defeat," he says of that last battle, with a metaphor both baffling and strangely expressive: "we manoeuvred like so many pumpkins." Summerville's selections, linked with brisk historical summaries, are excellent; he picks out the best and most thrilling material, and contextualises it neatly amongst the amazing events of the war. You finish reading the book having been--that dream of historical writers--both entertained and educated. --Adam Roberts

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

Most books shipped within 24 hours!

Visit Seller's Storefront

Association Member

Members of these associations are committed to maintaining the highest standards. They vouch for the authenticity of all items offered for sale. They provide expert and detailed descriptions, disclose all significant defects and/or restorations, provide clear and accurate pricing, and operate with fairness and honesty during the purchase experience.

Seller's business information

D&D Galleries - ABAA
NJ, U.S.A.

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

Prices net to all. Discount offered to the trade on orders over $100 please inquire. Postage $4.25 for the first book, $1 for each additional book. ALL SHIPMENTS SHIPPED USPS MEDIA RATE POST. PRIORITY EXTRA. Most books shipped within 24 hours; Deferred billing to institutions. NY and NJ state residents will be charged applicable sales tax. VISA/MC accepted, personal checks/money orders as well as PayPal.

Right of cancellation

If you are a consumer you can cancel the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.

INFORMATION REGARDING THE RIGHT OF CANCELLATION

Statutory Right to cancel

You have the right to cancel this contract within 14 days for any reason.

The cancellation period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the the last good or the last lot or piece.

To exercise the right to cancel, you must inform us, D&D Galleries - ABAA, Box 8413, 08876, Somerville, New Jersey, U.S.A., of your decision to cancel this contract by a clear statement (e.g. a letter sent by post, fax or e-mail). You may use the attached model cancellation form, but it is not obligatory. You can also electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". If you use this option, we will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a cancellation on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.

To meet the cancellation deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right to cancel before the cancellation period has expired.

Effects of cancellation

If you cancel this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).

We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.

We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to cancel with contract.

We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.

We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.

You shall send back the goods or hand them over to us or D&D Galleries - ABAA, Somerville, New Jersey, U.S.A., without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your cancellation from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.

Exceptions to the right of cancellation

The right of cancellation does not apply to:

the delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
the supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not cancel it once delivery had started.

Model withdrawal form

(complete and return this form only if you wish to withdraw from the contract)

To: (D&D Galleries - ABAA, Box 8413, 08876, Somerville, New Jersey, U.S.A.)

I/We (*) hereby give notice that I/We (*) withdraw from my/our (*) contract of sale of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following service (*),

Ordered on (*)/received on (*)

Name of consumer(s)

Address of consumer(s)

Signature of consumer(s) (only if this form is notified on paper)

Date

* Delete as appropriate.

Shipping Terms

Most books shipped within 24 hours! EU customers - items shipped via EXPRESS international freight and delivered through the Royal Mail postal system.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.
Order quantity	7 to 15 business days	3 to 7 business days
First item	� 3.36	� 7.09

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.