Everybody knows Sir Arthur Conan Doyle as the genius who created Sherlock Holmes. Many know him also as the creator of the extremely self-absorbed professor Challenger (who was Doyle's own personal favorite). However, Doyle also created another character, a character who although decidedly more obscure than the detective and the professor, is just as brilliant a creation as they are. His name:
Etienne Gerard.
The Exploits and Adventures of Brigadier Gerard are narrated in first-person by Gerard, now an old man, looking back at his career as an officer in Napoleon's army. The stories range from light-hearted to dark and dramatic, but they all rank among the finest adventure-stories I've read and really shows Conan Doyle's mastery of the short-story format.
By far the best thing about the Brigadier Gerard stories are Etienne Gerard himself; a man whose conceit is only matched by his naiveté, Gerard would be a purely comedic character, if not for the fact that he really is as courageous, dashing and gallant as he claims to be. In his foreword to the collection, George MacDonald Fraser describes Conan Doyle's brigadier as "embodying the brightest in the human spirit". I, for one, agree wholeheartedly with this description.
To sum it up: If you want to read some top-notch adventure stories featuring a very engaging and likable protagonist, I'd definitely recommend getting acquainted with Brigadier Gerard.
Vive L'Empereur!
