Blundering to Glory: Napoleon's Military CampaignsRenowned for its accuracy, brevity, and readability, this book has long been the gold standard of concise histories of the Napoleonic Wars. Now in an updated and revised edition, it is unique in its portrayal of one of the world's great generals as a scrambler who never had a plan, strategic or tactical, that did not break down or change of necessity in the field. Distinguished historian Owen Connelly argues that Napoleon was the master of the broken play, so confident of his ability to improvise, cover his own mistakes, and capitalize on those of the enemy that he repeatedly plunged his armies into uncertain, seemingly desperate situations, only to emerge victorious as he "blundered" to glory. Beginning with a sketch of Napoleon's early life, the book progresses to his command of artillery at Toulon and the "whiff of grapeshot" in Paris that netted him control of the Army of Italy, where his incredible performance catapulted him to fame. The author vividly traces Napoleon's campaigns as a general of the French Revolution and emperor of the French, knowledgeably analyzing each battle's successes and failures. The author depicts Napoleon's "art of war" as a system of engaging the enemy, waiting for him to make a mistake, improvising a plan on the spot-and winning. Far from detracting from Bonaparte's reputation, his blunders rather made him a great general, a "natural" who depended on his intuition and ability to read battlefields and his enemy to win. Exploring this neglected aspect of Napoleon's battlefield genius, Connelly at the same time offers stirring and complete accounts of all the Napoleonic campaigns. |
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Adige Adige River Allies Alvinczy Archduke Charles Arcola Armée Army of Italy arrived artillery attack Auerstädt Augereau Austerlitz Austrian Austrian army battalions battle began Bennigsen Bernadotte Berthier Blücher Bonaparte Borodino bridges British campaign casualties cavalry command corps Cossacks crossed czar d'Erlon Danube Davout defeated Desaix division east enemy Eugene Europe Eylau fight flank forces fought France French army French emperor gave Genoa Germany Grande Armée Grouchy guns horses Imperial Guard infantry Italian Jena Joseph June killed king Kutuzov Lake Garda Lannes Legnago Lobau Macdonald Mack Madrid major Mantua Marengo Marmont Marshal Masséna Meanwhile miles military Moscow moved Murat Naples Napo Napoleon Napoleon ordered nobles November numbers October officers Oudinot Paris Poniatowski Prince Prussian army rear regiments reinforced retreat River Ronco route Russian Schwarzenberg sent Smolensk Soult Spain Spanish took Toulon troops Verona victory Vienna Wagram Waterloo Wellington Wurmser