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Rating: 
Summary: Memoir of the Franco Prussian War
Review: Victor Hugo christened 1870-71 as the "Terrible Year". During that long year, France experienced the destruction of two armies at Metz and Sedan, the Siege of Paris and the unsucessful attempts to relive the city and finally the bloody Paris Commune. In the years following these disasters the French people tried to put a positive spin on this series of catastrophies. Artists like Detaille and De Nueville painted canvasses of noble soldiers defending the nation. Writers and historians tried to find positive stories and lessons from the Defeat. Leonce Patry's memoirs were written 25 years after the war. His goal was to tell his story with as much honesty and frankness as was possible. His memoirs are a reaction to the false sugar coating that had been taking place during the previous 25 years. Patry began the war as a young naive lieutenant and finished it as battle hardened captain. He led troops in the initial battles of the War. He was trapped during the siege of Metz and was there when Bezaine surrendered. Patry escaped Prussian imprisonment and fled to northern France where he took up arms again with Faidherbe's Army of the North. He endured the final battles of the War and then led his troops against the Paris Communards. If one is looking for a general history of the Franco Prussian War, one should immediately go to Michael Howard's classic study of the war. Patry's well told story is about war as seen by lieutenants and captains. Patry writes well and is very unassuming. Finally, the translator Douglas Fermer has produced a wonderful translation. His foot notes, Forward, bibliography and
appendices are simply amazing! This translation was obviously a work of love by a very gifted writer and scholar. This book is a must buy for every serious student of the Franco Prussian War.
Rating:
Summary: Memoir of the Franco Prussian War
Review: Victor Hugo christened 1870-71 as the "Terrible Year". During that long year, France experienced the destruction of two armies at Metz and Sedan, the Siege of Paris and the unsucessful attempts to relive the city and finally the bloody Paris Commune. In the years following these disasters the French people tried to put a positive spin on this series of catastrophies. Artists like Detaille and De Nueville painted canvasses of noble soldiers defending the nation. Writers and historians tried to find positive stories and lessons from the Defeat. Leonce Patry's memoirs were written 25 years after the war. His goal was to tell his story with as much honesty and frankness as was possible. His memoirs are a reaction to the false sugar coating that had been taking place during the previous 25 years. Patry began the war as a young naive lieutenant and finished it as battle hardened captain. He led troops in the initial battles of the War. He was trapped during the siege of Metz and was there when Bezaine surrendered. Patry escaped Prussian imprisonment and fled to northern France where he took up arms again with Faidherbe's Army of the North. He endured the final battles of the War and then led his troops against the Paris Communards. If one is looking for a general history of the Franco Prussian War, one should immediately go to Michael Howard's classic study of the war. Patry's well told story is about war as seen by lieutenants and captains. Patry writes well and is very unassuming. Finally, the translator Douglas Fermer has produced a wonderful translation. His foot notes, Forward, bibliography and
appendices are simply amazing! This translation was obviously a work of love by a very gifted writer and scholar. This book is a must buy for every serious student of the Franco Prussian War.
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