The duke and the emperor

John Strawson

Asked who was the greatest general of his day, Wellington replied: 'In this age, in past ages, in any age, Napoleon'. But admiration was not mutual. On the eve of Waterloo, Napoleon said of his rival: 'C'est un mauvais general'. Napoleon's underestimation of Wellington is one of the undercurrents to General Strawson's brilliant narrative as he presents us with a dual portrait of two great military geniuses. Considerable attention however is also paid to their amorous exploits as an illustration of character. For twenty years or so, the destinies of Europe were dominated by the military and political ambitions of Napoleon Bonaparte. Exploiting the violent upheavals and patriotic ardour of Revolutionary France, Napoleon defeated the armies of Austria, Prussia and Russia time after time. Only England and the Royal Navy stood between him and absolute world power. England's defiance was...

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