Servitude and Grandeur of Arms (Penguin Classics)

A captivating portrait of history creating itself, this study was written as Europe was struggling to recover from the Napoleonic Wars, when the remnants of chivalry were vying with the new, more democratic ideals. Dramatist Alfred de Vigny (1797-1863) explores the contradictions inherent in the military life. On the one hand he decries the savagery of war, all the while appreciating the discipline and camaraderie of army life. In the end, notorious Napoleon emerges as somewhat more hero than fallen idol.