The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard [Paperback]

Arthur Conan Doyle (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1426448244 | ISBN-13: 978-1426448249 | Publication Date: November 8, 2006

You do very well, my friends, to treat me with some little reverence, for in honouring me you are honouring both France and yourselves. It is not merely an old, grey-moustached officer whom you see eating his omelette or draining his glass, but it is a fragment of history.

Editorial Reviews

From AudioFile

Conan Doyle originally published the humorous stories in this 1896 anthology in "Strand" magazine, where Sherlock Holmes had long comfortably dwelled. These are the first-person war stories of Etienne Gerard, a dandyish, opinionated, conceited, randy, dull-witted, and fearless officer in Napoleon's army. In the canon of satirical military figures Gerard stands (at attention, of course) squarely between Baron Munchausen and the Good Soldier Schweik. Militarism, English boorishness, and French arrogance get the worst from Conan Doyle here. His humor seems to escape narrator Rupert Degas, who exhibits plenty of vigor but little comic finesse. He plays Gerard with a French accent and fully voices the other characters, playing the various accents convincingly while skimping on characterization. A handsome and informative pamphlet accompanies the CD edition. Y.R. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 188 pages
• Publisher: BiblioBazaar (November 8, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1426448244
• ISBN-13: 978-1426448249
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,352,847 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny and vivid, June 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard (Classic Books on Cassettes Collection) (Audio Cassette)

It is surprising how funny Conan Doyle could be sometimes. Brigadier Gerard is a wonderfully conceited, rather dim-witted but brave and generous-hearted cavalry officer in Napoleon's Army. His adventures are a delight to read.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Storytelling Gems, February 14, 2008

By 

Chris Ward (Costa Rica) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard (Paperback)

Doyle Fans who've read and reread all the Sherlocks should give these fun stories a go. Brig. Gerard is kind of a French Flashman: the hero of every battle (at least by his own lights) when he's not winning the hearts and charms of any beautiful woman in range. Gerard is the ultimate egoist, and we love him for it-- listening to him relating these exploits over a flagon of wine, we can forgive him for perhaps exaggerating a bit here and there....

Thanks to Doyle for creating another memorable character.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Miss This One!, September 4, 2011

By 

blumoon (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard (Kindle Edition)

My only acquaintance with Arthur Conan Doyle up until now has been through Sherlock Holmes, so I didn't know what to expect from this book. In it, an aged Etienne Gerard recalls certain exploits from his years as a young horse soldier in Napoleon's army, including several stories in which he was directly involved with "The Little Emperor" himself.

These tales are charming, exciting, clever, fascinating, funny, and delightful. I couldn't stop reading. Highly recommend.