The Emperor's Friend - (Contributions in Military Studies) by Margaret Scott Chrisawn (Hardcover)

About the Book

An examination of the life of Marshal Jean Lannes, this study looks at the career of the only soldier of any rank who consistently said exactly what he thought to Napoleon at every stage of their amazing careers. The marshal not only survived these frank encounters, he was well rewarded for his abilities, which were remarkable even among the stellar senior officers who served the Emperor. While Lannes was best known for his military skill, especially as an advance-guard commander, his unconventional three-year diplomatic career was equally noteworthy, since his diplomatic tactics resulted in particular benefits for France. His career spanned much of what many historians and readers believe to be one of the most fascinating and controversial eras in French history.

The marshal's personality and his tendency to lead by example rather than by orders won him the respect and the affection of his troops. He also charmed a diverse number of his contemporaries, from autocratic rulers to literary icons. Although his relationship with Napoleon was stormy at times, he earned and kept the Emperor's friendship and esteem. Chrisawn avoids the tendency of previous biographers to either canonize or condemn the marshal, providing instead a balanced treatment of her subject which includes both his strengths and his shortcomings. Marshal Jean Lannes emerges as a complete person within the context of his own intriguing world.

Book Synopsis

An examination of the life of Marshal Jean Lannes, this study looks at the career of the only soldier of any rank who consistently said exactly what he thought to Napoleon at every stage of their amazing careers. The marshal not only survived these frank encounters, he was well rewarded for his abilities, which were remarkable even among the stellar senior officers who served the Emperor. While Lannes was best known for his military skill, especially as an advance-guard commander, his unconventional three-year diplomatic career was equally noteworthy, since his diplomatic tactics resulted in particular benefits for France. His career spanned much of what many historians and readers believe to be one of the most fascinating and controversial eras in French history.

The marshal's personality and his tendency to lead by example rather than by orders won him the respect and the affection of his troops. He also charmed a diverse number of his contemporaries, from autocratic rulers to literary icons. Although his relationship with Napoleon was stormy at times, he earned and kept the Emperor's friendship and esteem. Chrisawn avoids the tendency of previous biographers to either canonize or condemn the marshal, providing instead a balanced treatment of her subject which includes both his strengths and his shortcomings. Marshal Jean Lannes emerges as a complete person within the context of his own intriguing world.

Review Quotes

"What if the person about whom you are writing is too one dimensional, and the individual exhibits a consistent and relatively simple pattern of conduct throughout life? In such a study, establishing the relevancy of the individual is more difficult in many ways. On one level, that is the dilemma faced by Margaret Scott Chrisawn in her study of, arguably, Napoleon's best subordinate tactical commander in The Emperor's Friend: Marshal Jean Lannes. That she succeeds so admirably in her endeavor is a tribute not only to her research skills, but also to her ability to portray her findings to the reader in a lucid and captivating manner. . . . This is an excellent book and should seve as the foundation for any secondary research on Jean Lannes for the Foreseeble future." --Army History

"A lively account of one of the greatest of Napoleon's marshals, the salty, uncouth, and poorly educated Gascon Lannes, one of the few senior French officers who was unimpressed by the Emperor's dignity. The book encompasses both Lannes's private life and his military career in considerable detail. The notes are clear, include many valuable additional, details, insights, and information." --NYMAS Newsletter

"This valuable and useful book is not for the general reader, but rather for the Napoleonic military scholar, and perhaps the serious and informed Napoleonic military buff as well. It deserves shelf space in any university or good college library whose curriculum devotes more than a passing attention to Napoleon and the Napoleonic era." --History: Review of New Books

"[A] welcome addition to Napoleonic scholarship. Chrisawn brings a lively, conversational style to her subject, drawing on extensive research to assemble a straightforward chronicle of the marshal's life. Dr. Chrisawn has provided a useful introduction to Lannes's life for the general military historian, accompanied by good maps and excellent source notes for future research." --The Journal of Military History

About the Author

Margaret Scott Chrisawn is adjunct professor of history at Tallahassee Community College and a member of the senior management with the Florida Department of Corrections. She belongs to the Institute of Napoleon and the French Revolution at Florida State University, where she received her PhD in 1994. She is a frequent contributor to the annual Consortium on Revolutionary Europe as presenter, panel chair, and commentator.