Larrey: Surgeon to Napoleon's Imperial Guard

Rating:
Summary: Well needed biography
Review: Robert Richardson's biography on Dominique Jean Larrey, one of the foremost pioneers in combat surgery who help paved the way for more effective way of treating wounded soldiers. Larrey created the flying ambulance system that allowed the French army to get their wounded quicker to the field hospitals, thus saving many lives. In other word, Larrey help invent the concept of "medivac" long before the helicopters was invented. Larrey also proves to be one of those rare humanitarians as he cares for the enemies of France equally as he care his own countrymen. Thus, he soon gained esteemable reputation among his nation's enemies as well as among his friends.

The book proves to be well written and quite readable. It should be noted that this is a professional biography of Larrey, mostly concerning his professional life. The author stressed heavily on his relationship with Napoleon, the administrative red tapes and his close relationship with his patients. There are very little of his personal life written here. His wife get mentioned few times and he was a tyrant to his kids but outside of few things, we never get to know Larrey if he wasn't on the campaign trail.

But this is a well needed biography about one of the more important but lesser known individuals of the Napoleonic France. I mean, if you mentioned "Dr. Larrey of Grande Armee" to most Americans, you might get lucky just to get a blank stare!

Rating:
Summary: Interesting Story of an Amazing Man
Review: Robert Richardson's book, 'Larrey' tells the story of Dominique Jean Larrey, Surgeon-in-Chief to Napoleon's Imperial Guard. The book was first published in 1974 and the current edition was released in 2000. It could not be considered an in-depth or detail biography but in 240 pages the author manages to captivate the reader with amazing accounts of this most interesting man, from Napoleon's campaigns in Egypt to Waterloo.

Larrey was credited with designing a 'flying' ambulance which allowed the French Army to recover its wounded on the field and to administer first aid at the front if required. He also devised a practical and life saving system to evacuate casualties from the field of battle to a base hospital. Larrey himself conducted many amputations and other medical procedures whilst under fire.

"Who is that bold fellow?" asked the Duke of Wellington.
"It's Larrey", someone answered.
"Tell them not to fire in that direction; at least let us give the brave man time to gather up the wounded." And so saying he doffed his hat.
"Who are you saluting?" enquired the Duke of Cambridge.
"I salute the courage and devotion of an age that is no longer ours", said Wellington, pointing at Larrey with his sword.

Larrey was a man who cared for the sick and wounded soldiers of any nation regardless of rank or position. This at times placed him in conflict with the hierarchy of the French administration. He established new procedures and methods of training which were adopted not only by the French but also by many of the nations the French Army fought against.

The book is well written and the narrative moves seamlessly through military campaigns to home life and back to life with the Guard. The accounts of the military campaigns are well told even if brief, the main focus of the book is of course Dominique Larrey. There are a number of line drawings and illustrations throughout the book as well as a few maps to help orientate the reader.

The author shows Larrey warts and all but you still come away with a firm admiration for the man "whose skilled scalpel served his Emperor better than any sword." I enjoyed this book and it offered something new in the field of Napoleonic studies. I am sure that anyone who enjoys this period of history will be delighted in this book.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting Story of an Amazing Man
Review: Robert Richardson's book, `Larrey' tells the story of Dominique Jean Larrey, Surgeon-in-Chief to Napoleon's Imperial Guard. The book was first published in 1974 and the current edition was released in 2000. It could not be considered an in-depth or detail biography but in 240 pages the author manages to captivate the reader with amazing accounts of this most interesting man, from Napoleon's campaigns in Egypt to Waterloo.

Larrey was credited with designing a `flying' ambulance which allowed the French Army to recover its wounded on the field and to administer first aid at the front if required. He also devised a practical and life saving system to evacuate casualties from the field of battle to a base hospital. Larrey himself conducted many amputations and other medical procedures whilst under fire.

"Who is that bold fellow?" asked the Duke of Wellington.
"It's Larrey", someone answered.
"Tell them not to fire in that direction; at least let us give the brave man time to gather up the wounded." And so saying he doffed his hat.
"Who are you saluting?" enquired the Duke of Cambridge.
"I salute the courage and devotion of an age that is no longer ours", said Wellington, pointing at Larrey with his sword.

Larrey was a man who cared for the sick and wounded soldiers of any nation regardless of rank or position. This at times placed him in conflict with the hierarchy of the French administration. He established new procedures and methods of training which were adopted not only by the French but also by many of the nations the French Army fought against.

The book is well written and the narrative moves seamlessly through military campaigns to home life and back to life with the Guard. The accounts of the military campaigns are well told even if brief, the main focus of the book is of course Dominique Larrey. There are a number of line drawings and illustrations throughout the book as well as a few maps to help orientate the reader.

The author shows Larrey warts and all but you still come away with a firm admiration for the man "whose skilled scalpel served his Emperor better than any sword." I enjoyed this book and it offered something new in the field of Napoleonic studies. I am sure that anyone who enjoys this period of history will be delighted in this book.