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Title details for The Illustrious Dead by Stephan Talty - Available

The Illustrious Dead

The Terrifying Story of How Typhus Killed Napoleon's Greatest Army

by Stephan Talty
Stephen Hoye
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
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1 of 1 copy available
In a masterful dual narrative that pits the heights of human ambition and achievement against the supremacy of nature, New York Times bestselling author Stephan Talty tells the story of a mighty ruler and a tiny microbe, antagonists whose struggle would shape the modern world.
      
In the spring of 1812, Napoleon Bonaparte was at the height of his powers. Forty-five million called him emperor, and he commanded a nation that was the richest, most cultured, and advanced on earth. No army could stand against his impeccably trained, brilliantly led forces, and his continued sweep across Europe seemed inevitable. Early that year, bolstered by his successes, Napoleon turned his attentions toward Moscow, helming the largest invasion in human history. Surely, Tsar Alexander’s outnumbered troops would crumble against this mighty force.  
     
But another powerful and ancient enemy awaited Napoleon’s men in the Russian steppes. Virulent and swift, this microscopic foe would bring the emperor to his knees.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    June 2, 2009

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781415963937
      • File size: 272624 KB
      • Duration: 09:27:57

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Napoleon's unseen enemy during his invasion of Russia in 1812 was typhus, a bacterial infection transmitted by body lice. Thousands of his men died of it, contributing as much to the French emperor's failure to conquer Czar Alexander's vast empire as the opposing army. Narrator Stephen Hoye's mastery of Russian and French names and places adds authenticity to a sad and depressing account. He doesn't hurry, leaving plenty of time to absorb the intricate history of typhus and its recurring effects on military history. Hoye's skillful interpretation paints unforgettable images of men dying of disease, wounds, hunger, thirst, and cold while at war. Since the narrative does not rely on a cartographic understanding of terrain and troop movements, it adapts well to audio. J.A.H. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      April 20, 2009
      When Napoleon invaded Russia in 1812, typhus ravaged his army, killing hundreds of thousands and ensuring his defeat, according to this breathless combination of military and medical history. After summarizing the havoc this disease wreaked on earlier armies and sketching Napoleon’s career, the book describes his invasion of Russia with more than 600,000 men. Almost immediately typhus struck. Infected lice excrete the microbe in their feces, and victims acquire the disease by scratching the itchy bite. Talty (Mulatto America
      ) describes the effects in graphic detail: severe headache, high fever, delirium, generalized pain and a spotty rash. Death may take weeks, and fatalities approached 100% among Napoleon’s increasingly debilitated, filthy, half-starved soldiers. Talty makes a good case that it was typhus, not “General Winter,” that crushed Napoleon. Readers should look elsewhere for authoritative histories of Napoleon’s wars and of infectious diseases, but Talty delivers a breezy, popular account of a gruesome campaign, emphasizing the equally gruesome epidemic that accompanied it. 12 maps.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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