Brigadier Gerard is, after Holmes and Watson, Conan Doyle's most successful literary creation - Julian Symons
Mon Dieu! The extraordinary...
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Nov 27, 2011
Jacob
rated it: 
"Save for two or three men and a score or two of women, you are the first who have ever heard the story."
Etienne Gerard, hero of France, is the kind of man who challenges a dozen men to a dozen duels (in a row, while promising to spend no more than five minutes with each so that the others are not kept waiting), only to show up late to the dueling ground because he was busy infiltrating a fortified Spanish town in order to end a siege--and then, just so he won't miss breakf More...
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Dec 17, 2009
Laura
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Best book I've read in a very long time, I have to say. Gerard is an absolutely appealing character and his transparently misguided narration is pretty much brilliant. It's difficult to pull off a story which has the narrator living, through his own words, in a state of enlightenment significantly lower than that of the reader, and to keep him charming-- but Conan Doyle does that, and he does that seventeen times. Everyone with even the vaguest interest in Napoleonic history, Sherlock Holmes, or
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Jun 28, 2010
Tony
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Doyle, Arthur Conan. EXPLOITS AND ADVENTURES OF BRIGADIER GERARD. (n.d., this ed. 2001). ***. After Conan Doyle killed off Sherlock Holmes, he turned to a totally different genre – the military adventure story. These tales, seventeen of them (plus one that doesn’t fit the mold), were collected into two volumes after their publication in various periodicals under the titles: “Exploits of Brigadier Gerard,” and, “Adventures of Brigadier Gerard.” I’ve been a Doyle fan for lots of years and h
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Dec 10, 2010
Esther
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Brigadier Gerard is one of those people who think they're awesome - they're probably just average, but they're enthusiasm for themselves is so glowing and positive, that it's impossible not to get caught up in it. Gerard is charming, and made me smile. He's not arrogant, just full of noble intentions and sure of his importance in every situation he is involved in. You can see his mistakes a mile away, but he is blissfully unaware, and the other characters don't take him to task for them.(His blo
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Jan 29, 2011
Jc
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For the Doyle fan, for fans of military history, for fans of Napoleonic history, or just for people who like to read rollicking Victorian adventure stories tinged with a bit of comedy, I highly recommend these stories. Brig. Gerard is the third and maybe least known of Doyle's reoccurring characters (after Holmes and Prof. Challenger). Gerard is an old man, a pensioner hanging out, drinking wine, and telling stories of his youthful bravery in the armies of the Emperor. However, the reader finds
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Jul 09, 2010
Andrea
rated it: 
I'm a Sherlock Holmes fan -- not madly, but I do enjoy reading Arthur Conan Doyle's preposterous detective. So when this reissued, complete collection of stories by Conan Doyle came into the office, I snagged myself a copy.
It's hilarious. Gerard is completely oblivious to how ridiculous he is and truly believes that everyone has as high an opinion of himself as he does, and if they think he's a joke, whatever mission or adventure he's been sent on will soon change their minds. Ha!
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It's hilarious. Gerard is completely oblivious to how ridiculous he is and truly believes that everyone has as high an opinion of himself as he does, and if they think he's a joke, whatever mission or adventure he's been sent on will soon change their minds. Ha!
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Dec 23, 2008
Ian
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A brilliant series of stories about Brigadier Gerard, a French cavalryman in the Napoleonic wars, who by his own reckoning was "the finest horseman in all six brigades of light cavalry, and the best swordsman in the entire Grande Armee". His vanity gives you an idea of Conan Doyle's view of French arrogance, but he is nonetheless an extremely likeable hero. The stories cover a wide range of settings, from the Peninsular War, the retreat from Moscow, Gerard's imprisonment in England,
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Jun 14, 2010
Matimate
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There are plenty of books about british military. "The Sharpe series" are well known and I am going trough them with snail speed. I wanted to read something about French military and to my surprise there was a book, which took my fancy. The author is well known from his Sherlock Holmes series, but very few people know that he wrote something else. The main of the hero was dashing and swashbuckle Brigadier Gerard of the french cavalery. His exploits took us to the famous battlefields a
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Jan 11, 2011
Jim
rated it: 
This really wasn’t my cup of tea. It was a review copy which I dutifully read but if it had been a Xmas present I probably wouldn’t have – the Flashman I got as a ‘secret Santa’ about ten years ago is still lying unread. It’s not bad – far from it – but just because a thing is well written isn’t reason enough to read it in my book. Gerard is an endearing character and is often unintentionally funny in just the same was a Sherlock Holmes is funny and it says a lot about Conan Doyle’s skill as a w
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Feb 16, 2009
Nick
rated it:
Good clean fun for 12 year old boys and girls who want to read about swashbuckling adventures during the Napoleonic Wars. Doyle can certainly write a good yarn. It's all a little silly, though; adults who fancy historical novels will find Flashman much richer, more historically illuminating, and racier.
Jun 19, 2010
Lucy
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An amazing collection of Brigadier Gerard during the Napoleonic Wars. How he gets in grave danger of being killed on every corner however outwitting his enemy and saving life of others. Great writing by Doyle - I liked it.
Mar 14, 2009
Lisa
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Funny. You can tell that Conan Doyle loved his creation of a pompous Frenchman, and the stories are quite fun to read. I was rooting for Gerard even as I laughed at (with?) him.
Oct 27, 2009
Scout
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fantastic early work by Doyle; hair-raising adventures of a French soldier, filled with secret passages, code words, split second getaways and Napoleon!
REVISION: this is actually written AFTER sherlock holmes, and it's refreshing to see what Doyle does with a new character. Gerard is a rakish french soldier who thinks as much of himself as do any of his admirers. this is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to those who love pulp fiction and boy's-own adventure stories. not written for children at al More...
REVISION: this is actually written AFTER sherlock holmes, and it's refreshing to see what Doyle does with a new character. Gerard is a rakish french soldier who thinks as much of himself as do any of his admirers. this is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to those who love pulp fiction and boy's-own adventure stories. not written for children at al More...
Oct 03, 2011
Timothy
rated it:
Brigadier Gerard is often described as conceited, but I disagree. He approaches everything he does with gusto, and is proud of everything he participates in, and who can really fault him for that? He is willing to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, even if he doesn't understand what is going on, and that does lead to some Inspector Clouseau type moments, but his heart is in the right place, and if the stories are to be believed he is not undeserving of the honor he claims. He is a much m
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Jan 10, 2012
Paul
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This was a revelation. There are flashes of wit in Sherlock Holmes, but I never realised that ACD could be so funny. Gerard is a brilliant creation: a vainglorious, boastful Lothario, blessed with the talent and good fortune to find himself right at the heart of events in Napoleonic europe.
This collection of tales are a rumbustious compendium of derring-do, and as conceited as the Brigadier is, by the end of it one cannot help but love him. Why he hasn't been translated more success More...
This collection of tales are a rumbustious compendium of derring-do, and as conceited as the Brigadier is, by the end of it one cannot help but love him. Why he hasn't been translated more success More...
Oct 21, 2008
Cary
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Conan Doyale wrote a lot of other cool books besides Sherlock Holmes. The Brigadier Gerard is a compilation of short stories about a courier and cavalryman in the personal service of Napoleon Bonaparte. Gerard is a very likeable hero. The stories are exiting and humourous with lots off brutal 18th century warfare during the Napoleonic wars. The stories concerning Wellingtons Penensular campaigns in Spain are my favorites. Trust me you will love the Brigadier. Cary
Mar 05, 2009
Lindsay
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Fabulous. Gerard is a fantastic character, and the stories are highly entertaining. However, I think I gain the most amusement thinking of Conan Doyle writing in England in the 1890s about France in the 1810s, starring a character who would not be out of place in stories of the 800s.
Aug 07, 2011
Amanda
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I think the following line sums up Brig Etienne Gerard, who thinks he is a humble man, "[Despienne] was a tiny fellow, about three inches short of the proper height for a man - he was exactly three inches shorter than myself...." An enjoyable read.
May 31, 2010
Redsteve
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Wow! Brigadier Etienne Gerard is almost the complete antithesis of Sherlock Holmes - emotional, blockheaded, and totally gullible (although just as egotistical as the great consulting detective). He's also French.
Mar 05, 2007
Michael
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Awesome, fun little stories set during the Napoleonic Wars, from the perspective of a fierce small, somewhat stupid Frenchman, the famous Etienne Gerard. One of my favorite books of all time
Apr 10, 2010
Shep
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Wonderful series of short stories about a French cavalry officer remembering his many adventures. Funny, witty, and exciting story telling. Among Doyle's best writings.
Mar 27, 2009
Mark
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Just read 'Medal', oh dear he isn't the sharpest tool in the box is he, heart of a lion though. Think I'm going to like these stories, wonderful period feel.
Nov 03, 2008
Old-Barbarossa
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Before Flash Harry there was Gerard. Like Conan in a hussar's uniform...but not the sharpest sabre in the armoury. Great Napoleonic escapism.
Jan 30, 2012
Sean
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This is okay. Short of like Sharpe for the French side, but more tongue in cheek, and yet less fun all the same.
