The Anatomy of Glory: Napoleon and His Guard [Hardcover]

Henri Lachouque (Author), Anne S.K. Brown (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1853672645 | ISBN-13: 978-1853672644 | Publication Date: February 19, 2006 | Edition: 4th

This is the masterpiece on Napoleon's 'Immortals', the Imperial Guard. A lavish and sumptuous work, it combines vivid narrative with valuable and unique uniform illustrations, including 74 full color plates, to make one of the most magnificent books on military history ever published.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French

Product Details

• Hardcover: 764 pages
• Publisher: Greenhill Books; 4th edition (February 19, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1853672645
• ISBN-13: 978-1853672644
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.5 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,597,604 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Napoleon and His Guard the Mother of All References, December 28, 2000

By 

M. D. Overholser (Coon Rapids, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Anatomy of Glory: Napoleon and His Guard (Hardcover)

I concur with the supportive opinions expressed here that this book, The Anatomy of Glory by Commandant LaChouque, et al, is the ultimate reference material for serious students of the History of the Imperial Guard.

I first came upon this wonderful book as a Senior at the University of Minnesota in 1984. My senior thesis was a study of Anglo-French Diplomacy during the Napoleonic period, and I find this book to be a wonderful source of information, not only information concerning the History of the Guard, but also more generalized history of the period itself.

This book, as stated, has a fabulous collection of artwork from the Anne Brown Collection at Brown U., and also does a wonderful job getting down to the nitty gritty concerning the Marshals, the Campaigns, the Politics of the Period, etc. Commandant LaChouque leaves no stone unturned in this hugely successful documentary on the Era.

The fact that this book centers the majority of its attention on Napoleon's Guard specifically is especially attractive to me since even now with the advent of the Internet it's still a bit of a tooth pull to get so complete an analysis of the history of one of the most courageous, loyal and dedicated organizations of professional soldiers the world has ever seen...La Garde Imperiale! These hardcore heroes richly deserve to be remembered, and this book does their memory ultimate honor.

The day I lost my original copy of this book was a sad one, and I'm very pleased I have now had, thanks to Amazon.Com, the opportunity to get a replacement. I most highly recommend this book for any gung-ho student of Napoleonic History...Vive L'Empereur!

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a work of unquestionable quality, February 26, 2001

By 

Eduardo J. Tellez A (Miami, Florida) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Anatomy of Glory: Napoleon and His Guard (Hardcover)

The glory of the Imperial Guard resounds above all others in the annals of war. Created, built and nurtured as a bodyguard for Napoleon, it grew from a brigade of fewer than two thousand men into a virtual army, and became 'a human fortress which no one but [Napoleon] could dominate and no enemy could penetrate'. And, on such battlefields as Austerlitz, Jena, Friedland, Wagram and Waterloo, it won the laurels of undying fame. Written by France's foremost historian of the Napoleonic Wars, Commandant Henry Lachouque, and translated and adapted by Anne S. K. Brown, this sumptuous work is enhanced by over 180 illustrations, including 86 plates in full colour. This new printing from the second, revised edition of Lachouque's masterwork will be especially welcomed by students of Napoleonic history. The plates alone are uniquely valuable as a source of uniform colours and style, and the text provides the definitive history of an elite body of men. With its vivid narrative and lavish illustrations, The Anatomy of Glory can lay justifiable claim to be one of the most magnificent books on military history ever published. The critical acclaim that greeted it upon its first publication provides ample testimony to its reputation. The Anatomy of Glory is both informative and entertaining: a work of unquestionable quality - termed a masterpiece by Elting - and a monumental contribution to Napoleonic literature.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding History of the Imperial Guard, December 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Anatomy of Glory: Napoleon and His Guard (Hardcover)

The best history of the Imperial Guard that I have read, this book provides the history of the Guard from birth during the Consulate to it's death in 1815. Including details of the formation, leadership and battle history of each regiment and attached formation, and profusely illustrated, this book is the reason that I have become fascinated with this era, the Emperor, and the Guard in particular. Written by Henry Lachouque, the Dean of French Napoleonic historians, translated by Anne S. K. Brown with illustrations from her collection at Brown University, this book should grace the shelf of anyone interested in the Guard.