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Rating: 
Summary: Unadulterated truth
Review: Coignet tells things as he sees them, often with a disclaimer to reveal his bias. He is candid about his own weaknesses and mistakes often enough to make one believe that when events sound a little fantastic, they are indeed true. Doesn't claim to give us an overview of the Napoleonic Wars, but does an incredible job of letting us see the campaigns through the eyes of a decorated veteran and member of the Guard.
Rating:
Summary: Unadulterated truth
Review: Coignet tells things as he sees them, often with a disclaimer to reveal his bias. He is candid about his own weaknesses and mistakes often enough to make one believe that when events sound a little fantastic, they are indeed true. Doesn't claim to give us an overview of the Napoleonic Wars, but does an incredible job of letting us see the campaigns through the eyes of a decorated veteran and member of the Guard.
Rating:
Summary: It has the bonus of social context as added value...
Review: There are far better accounts of the napoleonic battles... and you will find them somewhat "sketchy" in this account... but sure enough Captain Coignet had his share of danger! and fighting!... BUT, the perspective of a "grognard" wich has so ample scope of time from his enlistment in the line to his discharge after obtaining the grade of captain in the Garde Imperiale (and attached to what today we will call "logistics" or "supplies") is invaluable and a must read for napoleonic wars fans (as myself).
I thought the first chapters redundant (as they deal with the youth and pre-war years) but after finishing the book I think they are not out of place at all...
I must say I read my copy in french and can't vouch for the translation to english, but the other GreenHill Books I have in my collection are very good, so I gave them my confidence.
It is really fascinating to learn such aspects as training, finances of the soldiers, living of the land, etc from a first hand account, sometimes the text has even too much concern with his personal&family problems but it gives the book an authenticity difficult to criticize...
A MUST READ FOR NAPOLEONIC WARS FANS.
Rating: 
Summary: Very good tale, a little biased
Review: This book worth the time and the money expended on it. M. Coignet was there, fought and lived to writte his tale. Excellent for anyone interested in the Napoleonic Wars. Besides it is a primary source for a lot of other works on this subject.
The author gives the soldier point of view, a battle is reduced to smoke, cries, fear and sweat. It is a very different thing them showed in the more usual historic approach. Superb.
The only problem is that M. Coignet, in his own words, is to perfect, everybody liked and helped him. Ok, he entered the dreaded Guard, but one can't satisfy everybody everytime. Otherwise a great book.
Rating:
Summary: An 'Old Sweat' Tells His Tale
Review: This is one of the top three Napoleonic memoirs that I would recommend, the other two being Parquins Souvenirs, and In the Legions of Napoleon by Brandt. Jean-Roche Coignet started as an illiterate private, and worked his way up to Captain in the Imperial Guard, one of those loyal, ever-present, tough as nails Grumblers that marched and fought the length and breadth of Europe.Coignet distinguishes himself in his first fight at Montebello in northern Italy in 1800 and is rewarded with a loaf of bread by Berthier, Napoleon's chief of staff. He is almost killed a few days later at Marengo, one of the few who survived in his company, and getting whacked over the shoulder by an Austrian cavalryman, which does effectively cut off his qeue, which saves his life. He is one of the first recipients of the Legion of Honor in 1804, serves throughout the wars all the way to Waterloo, and kills a Prussian officer in a one-on-one contest between the lines outside of Paris. The Prussian was yelling insults and made him angry. This is a great tale, well told by a loyal, hardworking, very good soldier who did more than his assigned duty. I have a picture of Jea-Roche Coignet, a photograph taken in old age-he still looks as if he could eat nails for breakfast, and wouldn't take too kindly of insults against his Emperor. Just seeing the picture made me believe the book.
Rating:
Summary: An 'Old Sweat' Tells His Tale
Review: This is one of the top three Napoleonic memoirs that I would recommend, the other two being Parquins Souvenirs, and In the Legions of Napoleon by Brandt. Jean-Roche Coignet started as an illiterate private, and worked his way up to Captain in the Imperial Guard, one of those loyal, ever-present, tough as nails Grumblers that marched and fought the length and breadth of Europe. Coignet distinguishes himself in his first fight at Montebello in northern Italy in 1800 and is rewarded with a loaf of bread by Berthier, Napoleon's chief of staff. He is almost killed a few days later at Marengo, one of the few who survived in his company, and getting whacked over the shoulder by an Austrian cavalryman, which does effectively cut off his qeue, which saves his life. He is one of the first recipients of the Legion of Honor in 1804, serves throughout the wars all the way to Waterloo, and kills a Prussian officer in a one-on-one contest between the lines outside of Paris. The Prussian was yelling insults and made him angry. This is a great tale, well told by a loyal, hardworking, very good soldier who did more than his assigned duty. I have a picture of Jea-Roche Coignet, a photograph taken in old age-he still looks as if he could eat nails for breakfast, and wouldn't take too kindly of insults against his Emperor. Just seeing the picture made me believe the book.
Rating:
Summary: A classic memoir
Review: Very often used as a primary source, this classic memoir is well known to Napleonic writers such as John Elting. Many exciting stories, probably easier to believe than Marbot, though not as much fun and detail. Marengo and Russian campaings particularly good. Goes through his story swiftly and this may make many readers feel cheated.
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