Description

Immediate dispatch from Somerset. Nice book in great condition. Pages in excellent unused condition. No notes or highlighting. See images. Fantastic book.

About the book >.>.> According to David Chandler Louis Nicolas Davout was ‘one of the least liked as a man the ablest as a commander and the most feared – and respected as an adversary.’ He was also from 1798 one of the loyalist of Napoleon’s key subordinates. He was born into an old and distinguished military Burgundian family and served as a soldier all his life. He quickly rose to the rank of general of brigade and in 1804 was made a Marshal of the Empire. He fought at many of the great battles of the Napoleonic Wars including Austerlitz Eylau Wagram and Borodino. However he is most famously remembered for the Battle of Auerstedt in 1806 where his single corps encountered and defeated the main Prussian army which was more than twice as numerous and for the Siege of Hamburg which started in 1813. The city was only surrendered by Davout after Napoleon had abdicated in 1814. This classic study also touches upon the personal life of a man who despite commanding great respect had few social skills. We learn of his successful marriage to the beautiful and well-connected Aimee as well as the couple’s struggle with the demands of Parisian social life. First published in 1976 this remains the most detailed and insightful biography of this fascinating Napoleonic commander. (SP)