Entertaining, but a bit shoddy - 'marshal Junot'! for example. There is over use of those imaginative authors Marbot and Thiebault and the author does seem to have a touching faith in the veracity of men who boast about the duels they have fought.

Given that duelling was originally an aristocratic hobby (or did rankers fight duels under the monarchy?) was its prevalence in the post-revolution French army a way of asserting equality?