Book Review: Exploits and Adventures of Brigadier Gerard by Arthur Conan Doyle
Napoleon had many fine soldiers in his army. But by far the finest was Etienne Gerard, Brigadier of the Hussars of Conflans. Of course, that’s his own opinion, and now he is only an old pensioner who tends his cabbage garden and tells grand tales at the cafe. But to hear him tell it, Gerard was the bravest, handsomest fellow in the Grand Army, the best horseman and duelist, and Napoleon’s most faithful follower.
Arthur Conan Doyle is best known for his detective stories, but wrote many other tales of interest. In this case, a series about a Napoleonic soldier on the French side of the wars. This was unusual at the time, since previous British literature almost always depicted the French military as the villains of any work taking place in the time period. The author sweetened things a bit by making Gerard a more comical hero.
Gerard’s bravery and loyalty are without question. However, he is more clever than wise. He might be the very fellow you want with you in a tight scrape, but is likely to have gotten you into that scrape in the first place. Gerard is more than once cozened by a pretty woman or a disguised bandit.
His personality is amply demonstrated by the first story in the collection, “The Medal of Brigadier Gerard.” Napoleon entrusts Gerard and another messenger with secret plans to be taken to his brother. Their route, however, takes them directly through territory that was just captured by the enemy. Gerard cunningly makes his way through despite several setbacks (including having to change uniforms with a Cossack), only to learn that the plans were fake and his actual job was to be captured! But Napoleon still gives him a special medal of honour.
After that, the stories bounce back and forth in Gerard’s career, including his captivity in England (with fun being poked at British foibles) and the reason Gerard wasn’t able to fight at Waterloo. (He does a lot of missions behind the scenes of history.) My favorite is “How the Brigadier Came to the Castle of Gloom”, a spooky tale of avenged honor.
Don’t get too attached to other characters in the stories–Gerard doesn’t always succeed in getting them out alive.
The last story in the regular sequence is “How Etienne Gerard Said Good-Bye to His Master” Gerard is recruited for one last secret mission–to rescue Napoleon from St. Helena. It does not end well. Because we’ve gotten to know Gerard, it’s an affecting moment as he bids farewell to the Emperor, and to his readers.
One story, “The Marriage of the Brigadier” is out of continuity, and written later than the others (in no other story does it ever mention that the Brigadier was ever married, and he even gives suggestions to the contrary.)
This is a fun collection of adventurous stories which you should be able to find on various public domain sites, or in this handy collection.
