The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard
By Arthur Conan Doyle
Length7h 42m
About this audiobook
The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard is the first collection of stories about the exuberant French soldier Étienne Gerard, published in 1896. In these adventures, Arthur Conan Doyle introduces Brigadier Gerard as a dashing Hussar officer in Napoleon's army – courageous, outrageously vain, and endearingly obtuse. Through Gerard's first-person reminiscences, we gallop into battle alongside him and laugh at his grandiose self-regard. Among the eight tales: "How Brigadier Gerard Won His Medal" recounts a daring mission in Spain where Gerard, sent to capture a bridge, ends up single-handedly saving Napoleon himself (at least in Gerard's telling); "How the Brigadier Slew the Fox" transports Gerard to England during a peace, where he confuses fox-hunting with a military operation, leading to comic cultural misunderstandings. Another exploit, "The Brigadier in Three Captivities," sees Gerard imprisoned by the British, Spaniards, and Russians in turn, escaping each time by wit, charm, or sheer boldness. Doyle uses Gerard's perspective – full of hyperbolic praise for French glory and romantic chivalry – to gently spoof the era's national stereotypes while delivering genuinely thrilling action. Readers experience the smoke and sabers of early 19th-century warfare: the thick of the charge at Waterloo, covert scouting in the Alps, duels at dawn. Throughout, Brigadier Gerard's biggest antagonist is often his own ego: he cannot fathom why others don't recognize him as the world's greatest swordsman, rider, and lover. Yet Doyle ensures we also see Gerard's true heroism and kindness beneath the bombast. The brigadier's unwavering loyalty to France and to his friends renders him lovable. The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard brilliantly balances comedy and adventure – a difficult feat Doyle manages with breezy prose and affection for his character. These tales were highly popular, even rivalling Sherlock Holmes in contemporary acclaim, and they remain a delightful showcase of Doyle's storytelling range. With their mix of Napoleonic flair, humor, and swashbuckling escapade, the Exploits prove that sometimes the most memorable heroes are those who can laugh at themselves while charging headlong into danger.
Audiobook details
GenreHistorical Fiction, Action and Adventure
Length7 hrs 42 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateAug 1, 2025
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard
2HOW THE BRIGADIER CAME TO THE CASTLE OF GLOOM: First published in The Strand Magazine, July 1895
3HOW THE BRIGADIER SLEW THE BROTHERS OF AJACCIO: First published in The Strand Magazine, June 1895
4HOW THE BRIGADIER HELD THE KING: First published in The Strand Magazine, April 1895
5HOW THE KING HELD THE BRIGADIER: First published in The Strand Magazine, May 1895
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6HOW THE BRIGADIER TOOK THE FIELD AGAINST THE MARSHAL MILLEFLEURS: First published in The Strand Magazine, August 1895
7HOW THE BRIGADIER PLAYED FOR A KINGDOM: First published in The Strand Magazine, December 1895
8HOW THE BRIGADIER WON HIS MEDAL: First published in The Strand Magazine, December 1894
9HOW THE BRIGADIER WAS TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL: First published in The Strand Magazine, September 1895
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