"17 minutes ago -
The famous recollections of a soldier of Napoleon's Imperial GuardSeveral English language translations of recollections written by the soldiers of Napoleon's Grande Armee have become famous as they bring the exuberant days of the First Empire of the French vividly back to life. Infantryman Sergeant Bourgogne's account of the 'Retreat From Moscow' and Parquin's and Marbot's wonderfully related experiences as light cavalry officers are fine examples. There can be no doubt however, that Jean-Roch Coignet's highly informative and readable account of his long career in the Grenadiers of the Imperial Guard is one of the most important French military memoirs of that period. F"