author

Herman Théodore Chappuis

1844–1906

A Dutch army officer who also became a remarkably prolific storyteller, he wrote a steady stream of novels, tales, and translations that found a wide readership in the late 19th century. His work ranged from adventure and war writing to domestic fiction and stories for younger readers.

1 Audiobook

Napoleon Geschetst

Napoleon Geschetst

by Herman Théodore Chappuis

About the author

Born in Haarlem on September 19, 1844, Herman Théodore Chappuis built an unusual double career as both a military officer in the Dutch army and a man of letters. He entered service in 1861 and rose through the ranks to lieutenant colonel before his death in The Hague on August 15, 1906.

Alongside his army career, he wrote extensively. Reference sources describe him as the author of a very large number of novels and stories, and also note that he translated popular writers including Aimard, Maine Reid, Ouida, and Mark Twain. His books included historical and war-themed works, family and social novels, sketches set in North Brabant, and fiction for boys.

Contemporary biographical accounts suggest that he wrote so abundantly that critics sometimes wished he had published less, but they also make clear that his books were eagerly read. That mix of productivity, range, and popular appeal helps explain why his name still surfaces today in digital libraries of older Dutch literature.