Imperial Glory [Hardcover]

J. David Markham (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 19, 2006

Napoleon's bulletins are of immense historical significance, reporting as they do on all the key battles of Napoleon's campaigns. They contain not only important military information, but fascinating political, social and personal commentaries that are critical to understanding Napoleon the man as well as Napoleon the soldier. Presented complete for the first time in English, and supported by Markham's historical and biographical notes, the bulletins cover the key period between the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805 and the collapse of Napoleon's Empire in 1814. The bulletins describe military operations, pick out distinguished officers and units, and present Napoleon's own interpretation of battles lost and won. Also included are various key reports from marshals and others, including the bulletins of the Army of Italy commanded by Massena in 1805. Most of this additional material has never been published in English until now. Imperial Glory is an invaluable contribution to literature on the Napoleonic Wars and a key book for anyone who would like to learn more about one of history's most remarkable and colorful leaders.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

Imperial Glory was awarded the 2003 "President's Choice" Award for Napoleonic Literature by the International Napoleonic Society.

About the Author

An award-winning author and internationally respected scholar, Markham lives in Olympia, Washington. Author of two books, he has received awards and recognitions from governments in Italy and France, the International Napoleonic Society, the Napoleonic Alliance and the Napoleonic Society of America. Markham has spoken at conferences in the US, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Russia. He has appeared on the History, Discovery and Learning channels, served as an historical consultant for the National Geographic Society and is published in several academic journals and web sites. He also has numerous teaching awards and recognitions. Markham currently serves as President of the Napoleonic Alliance and Executive Vice-President and Editor-in-Chief of the International Napoleonic Society. His noted collection of Napoleonic literature and decorative arts has been featured in various exhibitions and museums.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Greenhill Books; 1st edition (February 19, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1853675423
• ISBN-13: 978-1853675423
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 5.9 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #216,749 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #79 in Books > History > Military > Napoleonic Wars

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Buy!, March 28, 2003

By 

Robert Burnham "Editor, The Napoleon Series" (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Imperial Glory (Hardcover)

Occasionally a new book is released that is so important to the study of the Napoleonic era that it immediately falls into the "must have" category for both Napoleonic scholars and enthusiasts. Imperial Glory is such a book. David Markham has assembled for the first time, all of the bulletins written by Napoleon between 1805 and 1812. Many of them have never been translated into English before, while others were only available to the serious scholar. Additionally, Mr. Markham also checked the translations of those bulletins that had been translated in the 19th Century and found many errors in them.

Napoleon used his bulletins for a variety of reasons: to inform the public and his soldiers of the progress of his campaigns, to praise his soldiers and their officers for the actions, and to ensure his enemies heard of his triumphs. They were published in the government's official newspaper, Le Moniteur, and often hung on doors and posted in public squares throughout the Empire. The veracity of the bulletins has always been open to question, with one of the most frequently used expressions from the Napoleonic era being, "To lie like a bulletin."

Although many of these bulletins were published for propaganda purposes, Mr. Markham does point out most are "reasonably accurate." Furthermore, he writes "[Napoleon's] losses were sometimes described as 'considerable', and he would list specific officers that were lost, along with the numbers of men killed, wounded or taken prisoners."

In addition to all 183 bulletins written from 1805 and 1812, Imperial Glory contains 170 other documents, many of which have never been published in English before. Broken down by year, the book includes:

1805

37 Bulletins of the Grande Armée (complete)
9 Bulletins of Masséna's Army of Italy (complete)
9 Proclamations
3 Decrees
2 Orders of the Day
3 Letters
1 Armistice
1 Treaty of Peace

1806-1807

87 Bulletins (complete)
4 Proclamations
1 Letter
1 Armistice between France and Prussia
1 Armistice between France and Russia
1 Treaty between France and Prussia
1 Treaty between France and Russia

1809

30 Bulletins (complete)
4 Proclamations
2 Proclamations of the King of Saxony
2 Orders of the Day
2 Reports by the Viceroy (Eugène)
3 Letters
1 Treaty between France and Austria

1812

29 Bulletins (Complete)
1 Final dispatch from Paris
1 Order of the Day
1 Letter
21 Field Reports, including:
5 Reports from Marshal Ney
4 Reports from Marshal Murat
2 Reports from Marshal Davout
2 Reports from Eugène
2 Reports from Marshal St Cyr
1 Report of Marshal Macdonald
1 Report from Marshal Oudinot
1 Report from Prince Poniatowski
1 Report from Prince Schwarzenberg
1 Report of Russian General Wittgenstein to Tsar Alexander
1 Report from General Wrede

1813

51 Reports from Le Moniteur, which often include reports from multiple days
2 Proclamations
2 Reports from Marshal Berthier
1 Report from General Vandamme
1 Report from Marshal Ney
1 Report from General Milhaud
6 Letters
1 Armistice

1814

23 Reports from Le Moniteur, including two "bulletins" at the end of the campaign
2 Proclamations
1 Decree
1 Order of the Day
2 Speeches
1 Act of Abdication

The collection of material is by campaign, with a separate chapter covering the different campaigns fought in that year or years. Within each chapter, the material is also arranged chronologically. This is an ideal arrangement, for not only does it permit the reader to follow the campaigns as seen through the official press releases, but it also provides great insight into how Napoleon managed his propaganda campaign.

The supplementary material is fascinating. I found particularly interesting the after-action reports on various battles written by the unit commander to the Imperial Headquarters. These reports were not written for public consumption and often were the first communication between a subordinate commander and the army headquarters. These reports contain information that would not necessarily be placed in the bulletins. Mr. Markham also included all the bulletins written by Marshal Masséna in 1805. He was in command of the Army of Italy and operating as an independent commander. Masséna's bulletins are in chronological order and interspersed with Napoleon's. Reading them together will give the reader a good feel for the two individuals' writing styles.

Mr. Markham and Greenhill Books are to be commended for making available to the public, material that has long been inaccessible to all but those with extensive libraries. Imperial Glory is an impressive collection of documents that every Napoleonic library should own. Do not delay buying Imperial Glory. It will be snatched up quickly and soon will be out of print.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars newsletter of Napoleon's Army, January 20, 2005

By 

lordhoot "lordhoot" (Anchorage, Alaska USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Imperial Glory (Hardcover)

The Bulletins of the Napoleon's Grande Armee was in essence, nothing more then newsletters written for French army personals and their opponents. The author did the Napoleonic community a great service by making this book available in English, the complete set of Napoleon's Bulletins. The book also included other pages of history as Napoleons' decrees, treaties that was signed and even military reports.

The Bulletins shows exactly what it supposed to be, a newsletter written for military consumption, and it was geared not only for the French army but also for their enemies. Thus, you will have not only the truth in those bulletins but also misinformation. It does boggled the mind to realized such effort was made to both informed and misinformed both sides of the battle line. As one previous reviewer wrote, a propaganda sheet. But it seems to work. If I was a French soldier reading these bulletins, it would be informative and if I was a their enemy, I would be misinformed. The bulletins also serves to give recognition to troops for their services or valor, both as an unit or as indivduals. These bulletins and its accompanying documents gives a clear inside view of how war looks to the men fighting it.

However, unlike the other reviewers, I would say this much. I don't think this book is for everyone. Readers with limited background in Napoleonic military history will undoubtfully be totally confused or be misinformed themselves. Most of the bulletins were written with the understanding that people reading them knows who "Duke of Auerstadt" and what corps he commanded. It was written for people who already know what went on previously. I don't believed this is a book for beginners into this subject but someone who already have a good understanding of the Napoleonic wars and its terrains, leaders and troop types.

A valuable book, a "must have" in any Napoleonic library and almost a mandatory reading material for any experienced Napoleonic reader.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Imperial Glory a major contribution, a real gem!, March 15, 2003

By 

Doug La Follette "Sec. of State" (Madison, Wisconsin, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Imperial Glory (Hardcover)

Imperial Glory, a new book of English translations of Napoleon's campaign bulletins from 1805-1814, by J. David Markham, published by Greenhill Press, is a real gem. As a student of history with an interest in Napoleon, it is thrilling to read Napoleon's accounts of his many campaigns in his own words. For those of us who do not read French fluently, Markham has done a real service in bringing the Emperor's accounts of both his victories and defeats to our attention. This is the first-ever English translation of all the bulletins, and the book also includes Marshal Massena's 1805 Bulletins of the Army of Italy as well as reports by various marshals in several campaigns, especially in 1812. The book also includes biographical sketches of important people mentioned in the Bulletins, as well as a very useful glossary. Markham has to deal with the dilemma of using modern English or a more literal translation of the language of Napoleon's time, and the result is occasionally uneven. Even so, Imperial Glory is a wonderful opportunity for many of us to see into the mind of one of the world's great and very complex men.