Gerard is a downright legend. At least in his own mind. Old and retired, the French brigadier muses over past adventures serving in the Napoleonic wars, and while he certainly should not be called a liar... uuh... he does have a tendency to put his best foot forward. 'The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard' (1896) is not a complicated book, yet it will make you reconsider the meaning of hubris and loyalty. Sherlock Holmes author Arthur Conan Doyle writes with sophisticated humour and this book is sure to pick you up if you are down. 'The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard was turned into a movie in 1970 starring Peter McEnery.-