A telling account from a soldier of FranceThis anonymously written account tells of the experiences of a French soldier during the Waterloo campaign. It of course recounts the events of those momentous days from the raising of the French forces and their march to Belgium; to the Battle at Ligny; the conflict before Mont St. Jean (the author's own name for the battle); the defeat and the rout that followed and led to the fall of Paris. The author's recollections are concisely related and he is careful; perhaps; to give the reader few clues as to his identity or to the specific role he played. However; what makes this book particularly fascinating is the writers views on this moment in French history. He is no adoring disciple of the Emperor of the kind we often read about; nor yet is he a closet Royalist. He is an educated; intelligent; professional soldier marching to fight for a leader for whom he has no regard and for a cause in which he has no belief. French accounts are rare in the English language and though this one is not extensive it certainly provides the modern reader with valuable insights into the thoughts of at least some who marched under the tricolour during those fateful days of June 1815. The original publishers have augmented the authors text with the inclusion of several dispatches penned by notable participants after the battle. Available in softcover and hardcover with dust jacket for collectors.
#1118434 in Books 2004-04-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.10 x .80 x 6.10l; .90 #File Name: 0853034524231 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Objective; authentic scholarship on a difficult topic. You don't see something this good very often.By DanaNYCHaving met Rabbi Rapoport; and having heard him speak; I was convinced that his view was objective; scholarly; and very well-documented. It's so rare to see a work on a controversial topic on Jewish law not have a bias of some kind. Rabbi Rapoport tells it like it is; even when it's not the best news for gay people. BUT; he is clearly a compassionate soul; and he debunks a lot of the responsa based in homophobia and/or ignorance. I'm not all the way through it; as it's a scholarly read; and even the footnotes are very educational.If you're interested in an objective; well thought out work on this difficult subject of Jewish law; buy this book!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Zerbibthank you7 of 12 people found the following review helpful. Excellent; but . . .By MusicophileThis book is an exceptionally well-reasoned argument for the acceptance of homosexual Orthodox men and women withing the Orthodox Jewish community. It does not "buy into any agenda" but rather recognizes what nearly every psychiatrist already knows - that homosexuality is inborn and not an acquired sexual preference.As for the Torah/Halakhah prohibiting homosexual acts; I would argue that if homosexuality is indeed proven to be inborn; Rabbinic Judaism would need to rethink its assumptions regarding sexuality. The Rabbis of each generation have the ability to interpret the Torah and to set the Halakhah in light of the best understanding of that generation. That is the foundation of all Halakhah. If it becomes clear that the brains of homosexual men and women are in fact wired differently; then we must comes to terms with that fact as reality and our actions and beliefs must reflect reality. We can not and should not distort reality to conform to our understanding of the Torah; but rather understand the Torah in light of reality. The argument that the Torah would not forbid homosexual relations if homosexuality were indeed inborn and immutable; is exactly correct. It would not and therefore does not!But . . . the difficulty is that it is not actually the dictates of Halakhah that preclude the acceptance of homosexuals within the Orthodox community; it is prejudice. One need only read one of the reviews of this book that appears on this site to understand what I mean. One can argue this issue back and forth; but the sad truth is that many of us refuse to even entertain the idea that our fellow Jews; and Orthodox Jews; are born this way.
