The Art of Warfare in the Age of Napoleon

Abstract

This book stands out amongst the multitude of books on warfare in the Napoleonic period as it concentrates on the techniques and conditions of warfare at the fighting level rather than strategic interpretation or analysis of the major commanders. As Napoleon himself once said: 'There are many good generals but they see too many things at once.' Professor Rothenberg's erudite study allows both the historian and the general reader to see the wood for the trees, answering the central question: 'What was Napoleonic warfare like in practice?' Complete with numerous maps and explanatory diagrams, The Art of Warfare in the Age of Napoleon surveys the armies of Napoleon and his opponents and places these in the context of the French Revolutionary Armies and their new methods of waging war. Professor Rothenberg gives a thorough and accurate portrait of 'the soldier's trade', detailing the arms, equipment and tactics that shaped the experiences of infantry, cavalry and artillery soldiers in the Napoleonic period.