Napoleon: A Life

A conventional biography of one of the more interesting men in history. Here the author, Mr. Zamoyski, trains his eye of the personal aspects of Napoleon's life, including his extended family and many loves, while also presenting the political and military context of his rule. It helps one to understand current European events with this background.Those seeking an in-depth analysis of his many battles should keep seeking; here they are usually covered superficially.Napoleon, like Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill, has had many volumes written about him. This one is reasonably good and even-handed for the reader wishing to be introduced to the one who upset the map of Europe over two hundred years ago.(I am in the camp that sees Napoleon as one who caused untold misery and death for no good reason, except the quest for personal glory.)

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) has had more books written about him than could fill a well stocked library! His meteoric rise and fall have been well documented on film and page. In this new biography the reader will come to learn more about the personality of the little corporal. Napoleon was born in a large family in Corsica. His father Carlo was a lawyer and noble who had a complicated relationship with Paoli the liberator of Corsica. Napoleon went to Brienne to receive his military training and was born in the days when Corsica was a French possession. He was a quiet and serious young man who became an artillery officer during the stirring days of the French Revolution. He succeeded in military glory and after a long series of complicated political jockeying became the emperor of France. He was a great field general and led France to victory over her opponents such as Great Britain, Prussia, Austria, Denmark and Spain. He invaded Russia but was forced to retreat following his defeat by General Snow in the horrible winter of 1812. Napoleon lost his crown and empire following his overwhelming defeat at Waterloo Belgium in 1815. He had escaped from the isle of Elbe but following Waterloo he spent his last years as a prisoner of the British on the island of St. Helena. Napoleon was wed to the unfaithful but fetching Josephine. She could not produce and heir so he divorced her wedding a Hapsburg princess who gave him a son. He was a serial adulterer and womanizer of historical renown. He was bright and a good leader of armies who enjoyed learning. The Rosetta Stone was discovered by a scientist who was part of the intellectual team of scholars he took with him on his invasion of Egypt. Napoleon had a large and difficult family. Much of the biography deals with how Napoleon dealt with them. He was a kindhearted man but could be brutal against his enemies. If you want to delve into the battlefields of Europe during the Napoleonic era I suggest works by David Chandler and Andrew Roberts. If you would more enjoy the personal side of Napoleon then this book will meet your needs I enjoyed this book and can heartily recommend it to you. Vive La France!

Simply put, the best one volume account of the Emporer that I have ever read. Evenly balanced, with wonderful prose, Zamoyski's biography is valuable as an introduction to Napoleon, and a highly enjoyable read for those like myself who have read many books on the great man.

Anyone who writes about Napoleon faces the problem that so much has already been written. Mr. Zamoyski faces the special problem of Andrew Roberts's splendid biography published only a few years ago. Mr. Zamoyski meets the problem head on and says his biography is not much concerned with batles. He does supply a great deal of personal history and follows the lead of the nineteenth century historian and politician Adolphe Thiers in seeing the beginning of Napoleon' s decline as when he became Emperor. Absolute power never improved anyone, but there is a larger issue: the age of kings was over and in pretending otherwise, Nspoleon wasted resources and alienated countryman. The author is at his best when he insists his subject must be judged by the standards of his time. By this measure, Napoleon seems more good than bad. The author is at his worst when he claims Napoleon was "no strategist." Napoleon's weakness was in Grand Strategy which combines politics and foreign relations with military strategy. Napoleon overthrew governments that deserved to be overthrown, but instead of attempting to benefit the defeated nations, he plundered and oppressed them. The "empire" was never more than a collection of resentful people looking for revenge. This is a useful book that repays reading. (it is too long).

Brilliant book.

Fue un regalo para mi marido.La edición es muy buena, llegó en la fecha señalada y es muy buen libro.

Wonderful look at the life of one of the greatest humans our planet has ever produced. Very well written and engaging

Raramente mi è capitato di leggere un soggetto tanto interessante narrato in maniera così bella.....

Long read. But worth it.