Overview

Napoleon – arguably more than any other single man – was the creator of modern total war; and in this book, originally published in 1962, he is seen creating one important side of it – that which concerns prisoners of war. In sheer numbers, the Royal Navy, the Merchant Navy and the Army were the principal victims. In one respect the book is a study in naval, maritime and military history, but its scope is wider than this: Michael Lewis discusses both principles and people as he examines the conventions of ‘exchange’ and ‘parole’ shattered by Napoleon. The conditions of capture and captivity are discussed, as well as escapes from prisons and camps.

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9781041126805

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Michael Arthur Lewis (1890-1970) read history at Trinity College, Cambridge, followed by a year at Grenoble University (and would have played in the French national rugby team had the authorities not discovered that he was British). His subsequent academic career was spent wholly in naval education, teaching at the Royal Naval College Osborne (1913-20, serving as lieutenant in the Royal Marine Artillery in World War I), at the Royal Naval College Dartmouth (1920-34) and finally as Professor of History and English at the Royal Naval College Greenwich (1934-55). A fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, he was active in the Navy Records Society (vice-president) and the Society for Nautical Research (president). In 1952-3 he introduced all 26 episodes of the American documentary series Victory at Sea on BBC television, earning the public soubriquet of ‘the TV Prof’. He authored or edited 22 books: two of light verse, six thrillers (‘clutch and throttle’ as he called them), thirteen on naval history, and one on genealogical gleanings from his own family tree. He retired in 1955, having been awarded a CBE for services to naval education. 0)

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