Rating: 
Summary: Loved it
Review: This boom is a treasure trove. The book is full of interesting information that is enjoyably presented and really gives you an understanding of the talents and otherwise of some of the members of the Grand Army. The book is full of gems ( my favourite is the tale of Auguste Demas - Elting manages to tell his story objectively with such an undercurrent of contempt and irony I could have thought he was English! ( no insult Mr Elting ;) ) The author manages to make subjects that would normally have me page flicking into a fascinating read. Unbeleivably refreshing this is a must for your book shelf.
Rating:
Summary: A must for anyone interested in the Napoleonic Period
Review: This is an inciteful and wondefurl narrated study on Napoleon and his tool for conquest and glory. Each chapter has wonderful little stories of events that keep the reader interested and sometimes amused. A truly entertaining but also informative study on all aspects of Napoleon's Armee
Rating:
Summary: Old soldiers never die
Review: Thoroughly enjoyable, funniest army history ever written. Mr Elting shows a remarkable command of the subject, which is crisply presented and brought to life in chapters covering every aspect of army life - from general to private, from uniforms and organization to medals and pay - including information on the Grand Armee's allies and enemies. Napoleon once remarked that, in order to understand soldiers, you first had to love them. Mr Elting, an old soldier himself, totally proves this assertion. If you are a Napoleonic buff, this is your book. If you are not a Napoleonic fan, read it anyway, because it is one of the best histories about common people I know of.
(NOTE: if you read "Swords around the throne" while leafing through the four-volume "Napoleonic uniforms" by the same author, the experience will be truly unforgettable.)
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