商品簡介
The cantinières who accompanied Napoleon's armies to war have often been unjustly dismissed simply as harlots, but these sutlers and laundresses were in fact officially sanctioned members of the army performing a vital support role, under the supervision of baggage-masters, commissariat officers and gendarmes. In a period when the supply and pay services were haphazard, their canteen wagons and tents were a vital source of sustenance and of 'payday loans', and served as the social hubs of the regiment. In the absence of any but the most basic medical facilities, they also helped care for and evacuate the wounded. Although officially non-combatants, a number of these women were decorated, including with awards of the Legion d'Honneur for courage in the field.
This book is a timely piece of social history, as well as a colourful new guide for modellers and re-enactors. Through meticulous research of unprecedented depth and accuracy, Terry Crowdy wades through the inaccurate portrayals that Napoleon's Women Camp Followers have suffered over the years to offer a fascinating look at these forgotten heroes.
