With Napoleon in Russia: The Illustrated Memoirs of Faber Du Faur, 1812

Rating:
Summary: At Last!
Review: I first saw a collection of these justifiably famous plates - alas, only in black and white - over 30 years ago and was at once struck by the great dramatic style, artistry and accuracy of the subjects portrayed. Anyone who has travelled in Russia will at once recognize the style of the wooden houses which can still be found there today. The author has captured the scale, drama and pathos of this historic campaign in a singularly effective and immediate manner, almost with the character of a modern war correspondent`s camera. The text sets the locations for all the pictures and is an invaluable adjunct to them. This book is a show-stopper. Greenhill are to be congratulated for publishing this work and making such rare witnesses to history available to a wide public. Jonathan North is also to be congratulated for his efforts in his handling of the translation of the text. It was worth waiting all this time to have the chance to acquire such an important historical document. Well done again! Digby Smith.

Rating:
Summary: 'Never Despair While Brave Men Remain With the Colors'
Review: This book has only one word fit to describe it: Magnificent!
It is the best book on the Napoleonic period to come out since Napoleonic Uniforms, Volumes III and IV, by Col John Elting was published in May of 2000, and it clearly defines Greenhill as the premier publisher of Napoleonic literature today.

Edited and translated by the stalwart Jonathan North, who gave us In the Legions of Napoleon (translator) and The Napoleon Options (editor and contributing author), it is one of the best memoirs of the Napoleonic period. Jonathan North's discerning eye has once again enabled all of us to see inside the Napoloenic period in general, and the Grande Armee in particular, through the eyes of those who marched, sweated and fought in its ranks. The combination of a reliable, detailed memoir and the author's eyewitness sketches and paintings is vivid, compelling, and, at times, incredible.

With Napoleon in Russia is the memoir, both in writing and sketches and color plates, of a Wurttemberg artillery officer, Major Christian Wilhelm von Faber du Faur, who was assigned to and fought with Marshal Michel Ney's III Corps in Russia. Serving from the crossing of the Nieman in June 1812 with the invasion, through the grueling march to and retreat from Moscow, seeing combat at Smolensk, Borodino (the Moskva), and the epic crossing of the Berezina in November, Faber du Faur endured the entire gamut of this most cruel of campaigns.

The narrative is crisp, informative, blunt and to the point, describing the Russian countryside, its people, and the army with which he served gallantly, the Wurttemberg horse artillery being given the singular compliment by Ney that it was as good as or better than its French counterpart, long acknowledged as Europe's best.

The narrative neatly compliments the 93 full color paintings by Faber du Faur, most of them cleverly accompanied by the eyewitness sketches from which the paintings were developed. From the crossing of the Nieman, to the dreary, horrifying march in the cold, snow, and frozen hell of the retreat, Faber du Faur describes all that was the Russian campaign. The Grande Armee of 1812 was the largest European force ever assembled up to that time and included Germans from the states of the Confederation of the Rhine, Poles, Spanish, Portuguese, Austrians, Prussians and Italians, by 'fear or favor' all allied with the French under the 'Emperor of Battles' to fight the eastern nemisis in the 'Second Polish War.' Faber du Faur chronicles the achievements and endurance of all of these troops and their commanders, the paintings making the Grande Armee come alive as no other graphic memoir has before or since.

Marches, bivouacs, battles, more marches, the burning of both Smolensk and Moscow (the last deliberately set by its half-mad Russian mayor), frozen retreats, running fights, and more battles to the climactic fight at the river Berezina are brought to life, along with an interesting picture of Russian cities and villages, as well as both Russian peasants and nobles. There are also snapshots of troops in action, on the march, as well as three interesting portraits from life of the Emperor himself.

Some of the interesting points brought out in the paintings and narrative are that the French infantry were still wearing the pre-1812 infantry uniform in Russia, a Wurttemberg gun crew is shown in action, the accompanying text describing the terror of ricochet fire by the Russian artillery, Faber du Faur's own artillery unit in march column, a Wurttemberg burial detail, interesting interaction between the troops and the Russian peasants, troops in bivouac and on the march, with incredible uniform details, as well as how their horses were cared for during halts, how close artillery was actually used in action by the Grande Armee, and use of light infantry both in open order and in line of battle.

A detailed, interesting overview of the campaign is given by Jonathan North which sets the tone for the book, and the 1831 Preface by Faber du Faur is also included. Additionally, the order of battle of Ney's III Corps for 25 June 1812 is given as well as a detailed bibliography of eyewitness accounst of the campaign, both from the viewpoint of the Grande Armee and the Russians. All of these elements combine into a work of scholarship, realism, and what it was to soldier in the ranks of the Grande Armee.

Taken altogether, this book is an immense achievement and a welcome, reliable addition to Napoleonic literature. This book belongs on the bookshelf of every historian, wargamer, military modeller, or anyone interested in the period. The sketches and paintings are done with artistic talent, as well as being a memoir on their own, and contain a wealth of detail, information, sweep, and color. If you don't add this book to your collection, you are missing out on both a verbal and visual treat, as well as one of the most reliable memoirs of the period. It is a bargain at twice the price. This volume is enthusiastically recommended.