Napoleon's Last Victory and the Emergence of Modern War

Epstein (history, US Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth) presents a new interpretation of Napoleonic warfare, arguing that the true origins of modern war can be found in the Franco-Austrian war of 1809. He contends that the 1809 war, with its massive and evenly matched armies, increased firepower, and large-scale slaughter, had more in common with the American Civil War and subsequent conflicts than with the Napoleonic campaigns that preceded it. Epstein examines 1809 in terms of the evolving new systems of recruitment, organization, and command used by both sides. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.