Paperback ed.

Blücher: Scourge of Napoleon (Campaigns and Commanders Series)
Michael V. Leggiere
Series: Campaigns and Commanders Series (Book 41)
Paperback: 572 pages
Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press; First edition (July 9, 2019)
ISBN-13: 9780806164663

One of the most colorful characters in the Napoleonic pantheon, Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher (1742–1819) is best known as the Prussian general who, along with the Duke of Wellington, defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. Throughout his long career, Blücher distinguished himself as a bold commander, but his actions at times appeared erratic and reckless. This magnificent biography by Michael V. Leggiere, an award-winning historian of the Napoleonic Wars, is the first scholarly book in English to explore Blücher’s life and military career—and his impact on Napoleon.

Drawing on exhaustive research in European archives, Leggiere eschews the melodrama of earlier biographies and offers instead a richly nuanced portrait of a talented leader who, contrary to popular perception, had a strong grasp of military strategy. Nicknamed “Marshal Forward” by his soldiers, he in fact retreated more often than he attacked. Focusing on the campaigns of 1813, 1814, and 1815, Leggiere evaluates the full effects of Blücher’s operations on his archenemy.

In addition to providing military analysis, Leggiere draws extensively from Blücher’s own writings to reveal the man behind the legend. Though tough as nails on the outside, Blücher was a loving family man who deplored the casualties of war. This meticulously written biography, enhanced by detailed maps and other illustrations, fills a large gap in our understanding of a complex man who, for all his flaws and eccentricities, is justly credited with releasing Europe from the yoke of Napoleon’s tyranny.

Reviews

“In this excellent biography, Michael V. Leggiere reveals Marshal Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher in all his various facets―his recklessness, his cunning, his abilities as a commander, his relationships with his own family as well as with the Prussian nobility and royal family―to provide fresh insight into Blücher’s tactical and strategic abilities. Drawing on archival documents from throughout Europe, as well as Blücher’s personal papers, Leggiere portrays a man dominated by his passion to defeat Napoleon and preserve his native Prussia―a commander who ultimately succeeded in doing both at Waterloo.”― Donald D. Horward, author of Napoleon and Iberia: The Twin Sieges of Cuidad Rodrigo and Almeida, 1810

"Michael Leggiere's Blücher is a remarkably thorough and balanced treatment of an enigmatic and important man. Striking the proper balance between scholarly military history, analysis of campaigns and actions, and traditional biography, it will appeal to both advanced students and general readers."—Sam A. Mustafa, Ramapo College of New Jersey

About the Author

Michael V. Leggiere is Assistant Professor and Deputy Director, Military History Center, University of North Texas, and author of Napoleon & Berlin: The Franco-Prussian War in North Germany, 1813 (OU Press, 2002), and The Fall of Napoleon, Vol. I: The Allied Invasion of France, 1813-181 (Cambridge, 2007).