"What about Marbot?" Topic

What is the general feeling about the accuracy of Marbot's memoirs? There is little doubt that Marbot loved Marbot! I admit that I really like the guy, he seems to have been a soldier's soldier. The Emperor even left him 100k francs in his will.

Has anyone ever fact checked the memoirs? I would love for them to be accurate.

Speculus

Ok, I just searched the old threads and there are a lot on Marbot. I should have checked before the OP. So no need to add more here, unless you guys want to talk about him some more. 😛

It has been many years since I read his works, perhaps I should dig them out and do it again.
If I remember correctly I was impressed with him because -- although a braggart-- he also hung out his failures for all to read.

Russ Dunaway

If nothing else, a very enjoyable read.

Apparently he was the model for Conan-Doyle's 'Brigadier Gerard'. Need I say more?

Apparently he was the model for Conan-Doyle's 'Brigadier Gerard'. Need I say more?

I would say a lot more. Have you read the memoirs? Or are you merely relying on the writings of a novelist?

From the Recommended Reading List contained in A Military History and Atlas of the Napoleonic Wars by Vincent Esposito and John Elting:

'These famous memoirs are an inextricable mixture of invaluable and colorful stories of army life-and of howling cock-and-bull inventions. Marbot saw much service. He was aide-de-camp to Bernadotte, Lannes, Augereau, and Massena, and commanded a cavalry regiment in 1812-1813. Even some of his biggest whackers must have a small basis in truth-few Frenchmen have challenged them-possibly because they, too, had wonderful old-soldier stories to tell.'

The stories should be generally taken with a large salt pill, like the story of the eagle at Eylau, but they also give a good picture of the duties and functions of an aide-de-camp. As a regimental commander of the 23d Chasseurs a Cheval in Russia and Saxony, I would recommend paying attention to those sections (Marbot also commanded the 7th Hussars in 1815 and was wounded). His care of his beloved chasseurs in Russia is noteworthy and is probably generally accurate.

He did, as Henry V said, however, remember with advantages.

There is an abridged version of the memoirs, The Adventures of General Marbot by John W. Thomason which is well-worth reading. Thomason was a Marine colonel and the winner of the Navy Cross as well as a talented artist and military historian and his sketches in Adventures alone are worth the price of the book.

Thomason's book was my introduction to Marbot in 1971 and it gave me a taste for more French memoirs and stories of the Grande Armee. The character sketches of some of the marshals, especially Davout, are interesting and definitely worth reading. This volume is highly recommended.

I heartily agree with Brechtel's evaluation. I first read Thomason's edition which is wonderful.

However, I am one of these people who wants the whole story, not the edited version. I finally got the whole thing (in English), and to be honest, lots of it was heavy going. I read it once. I have read Thomason at least four times.

Another value the book has is that if you are in a slump in your Napoleonic interest, can't get motivated to paint figures or put on a game, read Thomason and you will be recharged and all fired up.

Tom

I have the three book paperback series published by Leonaur, which I really enjoyed. Not sure how different they may be to the Thomason version? Please say not much, I am still trying not to break my vow to buy another book until the end of this month. I did not count the book I did buy recently (Digby's third volume in the Napoleon's German Division in Spain) because it was not a new title. I guess any excuse will do and the end of this month can't come quick enough. LOL

Thomason's book is one volume of 499 pages.

The French publication of three volumes is 1331 pages.

The English publication of two volumes is 924 pages.

The French publication is of a smaller size and smaller print than the English translation.

I like Marbot. His book was the first memoir that I read and helped me fall in love with Napoleonic history.

Does he make things up to embellish his role in battles? Most likely, and in all honesty, how many of us embellish just a little whenever we tell our old sports stories or any other successes. However, whenever his personal reputation is not at stake, he seems to be pretty accurate. Also, his wounds can be seen in his service record at the SHD and when and where they occurred. So again he doesn't seem to make up how many times he was wounded. In my opinion, he gives the best depiction of what it was like to be an ADC to many of the most interesting Generals on the French side. I also enjoy how he retells battles and skirmishers.

Michael