Overview
The Napoleonic era was one of turmoil and constant change, and produced a plethora of interesting characters unsurpassed in French history. Napoleon's Elite, originally published as In Flight with the Eagle, by Raymond Horricks, is a detailed guide to the many hundreds of people who immediately surrounded the Emperor, the magic inner circle of marshals and near-marshals, members of Napoleon's administration, his often treacherous family, wives, and mistresses, and members of his household staff.
Napoleon's Elite presents a tightly woven tapestry of those who surrounded and were important to this most intriguing of leaders. Horricks charts the Emperor's progress and provides the historical backdrop within which we can place the elite. In his new introduction, he describes the many qualities he finds admirable in Napoleon, as well as the negative aspects of Napoleon's character.
Written as a companion volume to Military Politics from Bonaparte to the Bourbons, Horricks's Napoleon's Elite is a rich source of anecdotes and memoirs, providing sharp and telling insights into the personality of this complex yet truly remarkable man. It will be of interest to historians, political scientists, and students of military affairs.