BOOK REVIEW
1. Title - Napoleon as a General
2. Author - Count Yorck Von Wartenburg
3. Pages - 373
4. Year - 1902
5. Price - Rs 150.00
6. Published by - Regan Paul, Trench, Trubner and Co Ltd
About the Author
7. Colonel Count Yorck Von Wartenburg of the Prussian General
Staff was well known in his own country as the most promising officer in the
German Army. His unfortunate and untimely death deprived his nation of making
best use of his acumen. His work for the British Army Proves that he was a
capable military historian, an able and penetrating critic and above all an
excellent writer. He has presented his work very comprehensively in a
comparatively smaller space. It was the first attempt made by him in English.
8. Colonel Count York Von Wartenburg has made an endeavor to
produce Napoleonic literature from a scientific and literary point of view. In
compiling the account of the strategy of
Napoleon, the author has tried to confine himself only to those points which
influence the main decisions of the General. He has neither written the
complete history of his wars not has tried to trace in detail all the campaigns
attempted by the General. The work as presented by the author shows his
interest in the life of Napoleon.
About
the Book
9. The book is of a normal size and its cover is good to save it
from being torn. The writing is small and it seems as if the publisher has
tried to adjust enough material in a small space and one has to take pains to
read it. The author has not been able to produce any map and has tried to do a
big job without much aid. Therefore, it is difficult for the reader to
understand the deployment of forces on ground and the plans of different
commanders. It requires absolute attention to keep the whole story in mind
while going ahead in the book without maps. The writer has not used any sort of
sketches either to show the supply routes or explain the chain of command. This
again has made the understanding of issues difficult.
10. According to Count Yorck Von Wartenburg “war, far from being an
exact science, is a terrible and passionate drama”. What is of value to the
student is to see how things have come to pass and the ways to deduce the
reasons for he results. While attempting such a job the author says “where
could we find a richer source of grand thoughts than in the mighty deeds of the
man upon whose shoulders the whole of modern strategy rests. To study Napoleon
as a General will be the most valuable and instructive work for a soldier and
it is our purpose the make the attempt”.
11. It is the First Volume
of the Book. The author has divided the first volume of the book into
thirteen chapters. In the first chapter he describes the youth and early career
of the General. In the 2nd chapter he talks about the beginning of the campaign
of Italy. He describes various important campaigns of the General which include
“ ___mser’s attempts to relieve Mantua, the campaign of 1787, followed by
campaigns in Egypt, Syria, Marengo, Ulm, Austeritiz, Jena, Eylau and finally
about Friedland. After studying these it is clear that the author has tried to
project certain important qualities of Napoleon which include:-
a.
The General motivated his soldiers by promising
to lead them to the fertile plains on earth (campaigns of Italy).
b.
The General recognizes no authority other than
power and success with a character attained by experience, hard work and self
will.
c.
The General was of the opinion of having
independent command. (The General’s comments at mantua).
d.
Egoism was apparently a marked characteristic of
the general.
e.
He knew when to run risks and this quality is
necessary in the accomplishment of great deeds. Though he risked much yet he
risked at the right moment.
f.
As a general he did not alter his manner of
waging war but instead adhered to it.
Conclusion
12. Although the author has tried to cover many campaigns with
details yet it is not so simple to understand Napoleon’s strategy as a whole.
However while studying a campaigns in isolation it may help a person to
understand his way of fighting a war. Any how the book is very useful and
informative for persons belonging to profession of arms.
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