Not only was Marshal Soult an outstanding military commander and prime architect of Napoleon's Grand Armee, but he was France's longest-serving head of Government and a statesman of great note. His reputation has been damaged by his "acquisition" of art treasures from the countries he fought - a fault not ignored by this book - but this cannot detract from his long and significant influence on European military and political history.
Not only was Marshal Soult an outstanding military commander and prime architect of Napoleon's Grand Armee, but he was France's longest-serving head of Government and a statesman of great note. His reputation has been damaged by his "acquisition" of art treasures from the countries he fought - a fault not ignored by this book - but this cannot detract from his long and significant influence on European military and political history.