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A unique perspective on the Napoleonic epochExtremely rare, even on the antiquarian market, this book is possibly unique, among those few published accounts of this era translated into English, as a first hand account of the years of Napoleon’s wars in central Europe as experienced and reported on by a civilian who subsequently became an officer of the Prussian Army. The author of this dual perspective, Henry Steffens, was a Danish national and academic and in this book he describes his experiences, beginning with a short resume of his early life, the coming of the French Revolution and his observations of the French Army in the field. Shortly after his marriage, he moved with his family to Halle in Germany to take up a post at the University. In 1805 the Battle of Aüerstadt swept the defeated Prussian Army through the city whilst Steffens, clutching his newborn child, found himself running for his life as Bernadotte’s infantry hounded their fleeing foes through the streets. Steffens later involved himself in subversive operations against the French including a conspiracy to assassinate the Emperor and was instrumental in raising a corps of volunteers as direct action became inevitable. An intimate of Scharnhorst among other notables of his day, Steffens joined the Prussian Army as a junior officer of Guard Chasseurs. Subsequently joining Blucher’s staff (the old general called him affectionately ’Mr. Professor’) as an intelligence officer, Steffens served through the campaigns of 1813-14. He saw action at Görschen, Bautzen, on attachment with the Russian Army, at the Battle of Leipzig, Champaubert (Montmirail) and the battle for and occupation of Paris in 1814. This book was originally entitled, ’Adventures on the Road to Paris,’ but has been re-titled in this Leonaur edition to give the reader a view of its wider subject matter. Available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket for collectors.
