Free Press, 1999, ISBN 0-684-85185-7, $25, 196 pages

Napoleon certainly had enough written about him, but he also wrote a considerable amount about his ideas concerning the art of war. Culling correspondence, missives, and other documents, Luvaas shows how Napoleon tackled all aspects of warfare, from preparations to education to organization to strategy and more.

Inside, Napoleon opines on the great captains of history--and the not so great. He directs subordinates to do one thing or another--and then explains why it is important. It's more than just maxims; it's the reasoning behind competence.

"Henry IV was a good soldier, but in his time war demanded only courage and good sense. It was very different in a war fought with great masses. The bravery that a commander in chief must display differs from that required of a division commander, since his bravery should not resemble that of a grenadier captain. Glory and the honor of arms is the first duty that a general who delivers battle must consider; the safety and conservation of his men is only secondary. But it is also in his boldness an stubbornness that the safety and conservation of men is found." (p. 69)

The above paragraph has three footnotes, indicating that the paragraph was drawn from three places: correspondence from Napoleon to Bessieres on November 20, 1809, correspondence during the campaign of 1815, and a report on the war of Marshal Turenne. No wonder it took Luvass 30 years to complete this volume.

Topics range from grand strategy to utterly nitpicking details. "Commissary and quartermaster officer are expressly forbidden to issue any marching orders to soldiers who are isolated from their battalions until 25 men have been assembled. To this end, soldiers who have reported to join their unit will remain assigned for pay and subsistence in the fortified depot until this number has been reached." (p. 120)

All in all, this is a handy little book--a perfect introduction to Napoleonic warfare from the man whose name graces the era: Napoleon.

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