Free Downloads Three Napoleonic Battles (Duke Press Paperbacks)
This narrative account of three Napoleonic battles adheres rather closely to the Aristotelian configuration of evolving tragedy. The historian succeeds in presenting herein events and character not only in historical reality but also in unities employed by the artist or tragedian. For a beginning of this lively, military story, Harold T. Parker chooses a portrayal of Napoleon at the height of his power, the battle of Friedland. The middle episode is concerned with Napoleon in his first serious personal check, the battle of Aspern-Essling. To complete the unity and to conclude the tragic progression, the author resurveys the episode of Napoleon's final defeat at the battle of Waterloo.
Series: Duke Press Paperbacks
Paperback: 258 pages
Publisher: Duke University Press Books; 2nd ed. edition (June 6, 1983)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 082230547X
ISBN-13: 978-0822305477
Product Dimensions: 4.9 x 0.6 x 8.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #509,444 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #96 in Books > History > Military > Napoleonic Wars #1035 in Books > History > Europe > France #1279 in Books > Textbooks > Humanities > History > Military
While this is an older book, the perspective is quite clear and new. The author has decided to study three distinct Napoleonic battles in order to shed light on how the great Corsican waged war. The three battles in question are Friedland (1807, Aspern-Essling (1809) and of course Waterloo (1815). The author has singled these particular battles out as a means of surveying Napolean's generalship over the years. At Friedland we see him at his best against the Russians. Here he wins a crushing victory as the Russians are pinned against a river and destroyed. His generalship is almost flawless on this occasion, and stolic Russian valor can do little to stem the Napoleonic tidal wave. Aspern-Essling finds him in a difficult position with a large Austrian army under the capable Archduke Charles now almost forcing the French back into the Danube. While the Emperor is not perhaps as sharpe as he was just a few years earlier, his abilities still remain impressive. The beginnings of careless over-confidence in his character might perhaps be seen here as he accepts battle on less than advantageous terms. And finally we have Waterloo where in the opinion of the author Napoleon's skills have become greatly dulled. Here the master of deception has deceived himself. Napolean has become less imaginative, and slower in his actions. He believes his own propaganda, so convinved is he that his past successes shall continue in the present. At Waterloo Napolean was not only less capable as a commander then he had been eight years before at Friedland, but in the trio of Wellington, Bluecher and Gneisenau he was facing a formidable combination. These fators combined give us the debacle at Waterloo.
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