Blundering to Glory: Napoleon's Military Campaigns - Softcover

Connelly, Owen

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0842027807 ISBN 13: 9780842027809

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 1999

Synopsis

'You engage, and then you wait and see'-so Napoleon characterized his art of war. The greatest general of his day was a scrambler who never had a plan, strategic or tactical, that did not break down or change of necessity in the field. He was the master of the broken play, so confident of his ability to improvise, cover his own mistakes, and capitalize on those of the enemies that he repeatedly plunged his armies into uncertain, seemingly desperate situations, only to emerge victorious, 'blundering' to glory.

In this absorbing book, historian Owen Connelly explores for the first time this aspect of Napoleon's battlefield genius. At the same time, he offers a complete account of the Napoleonic campaigns- at once the most concise and most accurate history in print.

Blundering to Glory is an appropriate supplementary text for courses such as French Revolution/Napoleonic Era, Modern European History, European Military History, Modern Warfare, and Military Strategy.

About this title

About the Author

Owen Connelly is McKissick Dial Professor of History at the University of South Carolina. A past president of the Society for French Historical Studies, he was a member of the Institute for Advanced Studies, Princeton University. He served as an infantry officer in the Korean War and as an instructor at the U.S. Army Florida Ranger Camp.

Review

Owen Connelly has written a magnificent book....The text moves right along, does not bog down in favorite emperor stories, and offers the most plausible explanation of Napoleon’s many-sided military character that it has been my pleasure to read....Students at all levels...will sit entwined with the fast-moving text....This is a great book. All historians would do well to read it. (American Historical Review)

Students of all levels, as well as the public at large, will sit entwined within the fast moving texttttt (Modern Europe)

Blundering to Glory is an excellent primer or introduction to Napoleon and his military impact on the era, and it also offers ideas to challenge scholars and students of the perioddddd (Napoleon Journal)

A thoroughly stimulating and enjoyable volume. Connelly examines all the campaigns with exemplary conciseness, and the same is to be said of his treatment of the battles. . . . Whether this book entertains or (occasionally) infuriates, it makes a reader think. (Journal Of The Society For Army Historical Research)

Readers will find this book useful to have in their library. Connelly gently but surely draws the readers into questioning whether or not Napoleon ever had a strategic aim. (Journal Of The Royal Artillery)

This is a concise, clear, authoritative account presented in a felicitous literary style. Of the many works on Napoleon's thirty-year career, this is the best brief account. (Canadian Military History Book Review)

Students of all levels, as well as the public at large, will sit entwined within the fast moving text (Modern Europe)

Blundering to Glory is an excellent primer or introduction to Napoleon and his military impact on the era, and it also offers ideas to challenge scholars and students of the period (Napoleon Journal)

Connelly's summaries of the action are clear and concise; his description of the social and political context in which Napoleon fought is exquisite; his portrayal of the personalities of Napoleon's marshals is lively and insightful; and his portrait of Napoleon's ambition and drive to win is superb. (Military Review)

About this edition

• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0842027807
• ISBN 13: 9780842027809
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 254