"Imperial Sunset - R. F. Delderfield " Topic

"Playwright turned author and amateur historian R. F. Delderfield was very clearly something of a latter-day Bonapartist. So far I've read three of his non-fiction books [1] on the Napoleonic era: this one, Napoleon in Love (subject = obvious!), and The March of the Twenty Six (subject = the Napoleonic Marshalate). They are all very, very good indeed. What is best about them, undoubtedly, is how readable and exciting they are.

Delderfield's skills as a writer of fiction and drama are very evident throughout. His skills and credentials as a historian might perhaps be open to debate, and I have seen reviews criticising his favouring of excitement and atmosphere over scholarly exactitude. I must say, this doesn't bother me too much. There's plenty of other literature out there on Napoleonic subjects; one can do as Delderfield did, and read as much of it as possible and then make one's own mind up as to the 'facts'.

Of the three Delderfield Napoleonic history books that I have read so far, this is probably the best. The story starts with the aftermath of the retreat from Russia in 1812. Delderfield's skills as a novelist enable him to set up a series of very vivid opening tableux, of Cossacks on the Elbe, in 1813, and garrison towns throughout the empire with wavering and divided loyalties. He skilfully describes the Coalition powers moving westwards as the French retreat, their crumbling alliances and stranded fortress outposts draining Napoleon's resources, such that though he fights with great skill and verve, there's a kind of inevitability to his gradual downfall…"
Full review here
link

Amicalement
Armand

I remember being inspired by this book in my teens, which leas me to building large Napoleonic armies. Forty years on, I acquired an e-book version and read it this summer. I was severely disappointed in the quality of the research, the pro-Napoleon and anti German nationalist bias.

Yes this and the March of the 26, as well as his novel Seven Men of Gascony, are very well written and exciting.

I daresay the research can be sniffed at by contemporary, publicly funded researchers and academics, but for my money these still have pride of place on my bookshelves, and are a useful primer.

As for anti-German Nationalist bias, well clearly the man was a product of the 20th Century, 'nuff said…

Glad it brings you good memories boys!. (smile)

Amicalement
Armand

I also have to at least salute Delderfeild for sparking my life-long interest in Napoleonic history.

Love the books. Just loaned Imperial Sunset to a friend. He enjoyed it and is asking a lot of Napolionics questions now.