Synopses & Reviews
Heroic, ambitious, opinionated and independent to the point of insubordination, Sir Charles James Napier (1782-1853) was an inspiring leader. Published in 1857 in four volumes, this is the story of Napier's remarkable, action-packed and often controversial life and military career, as told by his brother William. The biography places Napier's life in historical context, and contains portraits, extracts from his letters and entertaining anecdotes, ranging from his childhood in Ireland through the Peninsular War to his controversial military and political roles in India in later life. William's admiration for his brother is evident throughout, and he describes how his brother's fiery character divided opinion. A close friend of Lord Byron, Napier also had a great admirer in Thomas Carlyle, who described him as 'more of a hero than any modern I have seen for a long time'.
Synopsis
Napier's heroic and controversial military career is documented in this four-volume biography, published in 1857 by his brother.
Synopsis
Heroic, ambitious, fiery and individualistic, Sir Charles James Napier (1782-1853) inspired his troops and infuriated the authorities. This four-volume biography (1857) by his brother William tells the story of his life and career, describing his campaigns, his character, his high-profile admirers and the controversies he generated.
Table of Contents
Volume 1: Part I. Parentage; Part II. Rifle Corps; Part III. General Fox's staff, London; Part IV: 1. Mr. Pitt; 2. State of the army; Part V. 50th Regiment; Part VI: 1. Resemblance to a chained eagle; 2. Massena retreats; Part VII: 1. Letters to Prince Regent; 2. American expedition; Part VIII. Exchange to 50th Regiment; Part IX. Napoleon; Part X: 1. Cephalonia; 2. Quarantine; 3. Greek command; 4. Politics; 5. Seymour Bathurst; Part XI: 1. Private life; 2. Australian government. Volume 2: Part XII: 1. State of England; 2. Manchester; 3. Government discipline; 4. Fear of blindness; 5. Political dinner; 6. Discipline; 7. Chester; Part XIII: 1. Calvelly; 2. Dreadful voyage; 3. Instructions; 4. Ameers; 5. State of affairs; 6. Battle of Meeanee; 7. Governor of Scinde; 8. Outram's notes; Part XIV: 1. Ameer Hussein flies. Volume 3: Part XIV cont.: 2. Pestilence; 3. Battles; 4. State of affairs; 5. Scindian chiefs; Part XV: 1. Slanders in French press; 2. Robber chiefs; 3. War with robber tribes; 4. Soldiers' hardihood; Part XVI: 1. Islam Bhoorgtee; 2. Mr. Boone; 3. Enmity; 4. Journey to Lahore; 5. Advice to Lord Hardinge; 6. Incipient disease. Volume 4: Part XVI cont.: 7. Official memoir on Scinde; 8. Scindian army broken up; Part XVII: 1. Defiance to enemies; 2. Defeat of the Bhoogtees; 3. Vulgar insolence of enemies; 4. Punjaub war; Part XVIII: 1. Retrospect and view of affairs; 2. Sketch of Sepoy mutiny; 3. Directors' enmity; 4. Directors cockpen; Part XIV: 1. Private life; 2. Lies are lively things; Part XX: 1. Approach of death.