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isaacmcintyre's review against another edition
5.0
Fictional tragedies could simply only dream of being as awesome and incredible as Napoleon's rise, supremacy, and fall. One of the best history books I've ever read. Best books maybe. Was genuinely sad as the chapters slowly passed in act three and was tearing up in the conclusion.
There won’t be an easier five stars I ever log. Going to have to find way more books and films to read/watch about the Napoleonic era now.
There won’t be an easier five stars I ever log. Going to have to find way more books and films to read/watch about the Napoleonic era now.
tomstbr's review against another edition
4.0
I read a review that said this was bias, that 'Great' is not a term we should use for Napoleon. First, this book is not bias and shows Napoleon warts and all. The author brings up contrary evidence from detractors but properly dismisses them as bias when appropriate. Second, in the concluding chapter it is pretty clear that Napoleon is a Great, and that his disaster's were merely the result of hubris, something that affects all Greats, from leading surgeons to Ronda Rousey. His legacy has lasted and on a purely numbers game he is one of the leading men of history.
I have also read that you can judge a book (or I suppose writer) by the amount of other books they spur you to read. Eg I just started Duff Cooper's 'Talleyrand', and plan to read books on Nelson, Catherine the Great, the Congress of Vienna, Prussia and the Russian Campaign. All this a result of learning the fascinating ins and outs of the life of Napoleon.
Of course the battle accounts are detailed and interesting, but it is more Napoleon's letters and communications that really entertain and enlighten. It's a tragic story, but one that is important and we all should know.
Oh yeah and the audiobook wrapped up as I opened the door after my morning walk, great timing.
I have also read that you can judge a book (or I suppose writer) by the amount of other books they spur you to read. Eg I just started Duff Cooper's 'Talleyrand', and plan to read books on Nelson, Catherine the Great, the Congress of Vienna, Prussia and the Russian Campaign. All this a result of learning the fascinating ins and outs of the life of Napoleon.
Of course the battle accounts are detailed and interesting, but it is more Napoleon's letters and communications that really entertain and enlighten. It's a tragic story, but one that is important and we all should know.
Oh yeah and the audiobook wrapped up as I opened the door after my morning walk, great timing.
dale_kooyenga's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book since I have a professional and personal interest in military and political history. It's a must read for a military officer or history buff. Napoleon's story has all the drama to satisfy the fiction fan, but the books focus on military engagement details and numerous characters makes it more difficult to follow than the new genre of history books that read like a good novel. Keeping track of all the battles is tough, keeping track of all his mistresses even more difficult!
My sense is Napoleon is generally looked upon honorably by most individuals that have a general sense of history. At least when compared to Hitler or Stalin, Napoleon is perceived as being more righteous in his pursuits. Napoleon had some positive attributes, for example the Napoleonic code, but generally his conquest were about his own destiny and not in the interest of liberty, freedom or even France. He was a military genius, but also a butcher. He knew how to inspire men, but that inspiration also led to the death of hundreds of thousands in the most miserable of circumstances.
What killed Napoleon? The Russian Winter, England's Navy or his relentless focus to be greater than Julius Caesar? The book is an excellent portrait of a complicated man who has shaped world history. BTW Napoleon - thank you for the Louisiana Purchase!
My sense is Napoleon is generally looked upon honorably by most individuals that have a general sense of history. At least when compared to Hitler or Stalin, Napoleon is perceived as being more righteous in his pursuits. Napoleon had some positive attributes, for example the Napoleonic code, but generally his conquest were about his own destiny and not in the interest of liberty, freedom or even France. He was a military genius, but also a butcher. He knew how to inspire men, but that inspiration also led to the death of hundreds of thousands in the most miserable of circumstances.
What killed Napoleon? The Russian Winter, England's Navy or his relentless focus to be greater than Julius Caesar? The book is an excellent portrait of a complicated man who has shaped world history. BTW Napoleon - thank you for the Louisiana Purchase!
nicklemus's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
jplatzer's review against another edition
5.0
An excellent biography. There are long stretches where it reads like a novel and moves very quickly. There are however many sections that describe most of Napoleon's 60 battles in some detail. It can be tough sledding to read for several pages about troop movements. That aside I think it can be argued with some merit, that Napoleon's greatest achievements lay in his social and political reforms.
The author is clearly an admirer. While he does point out instances where Napoleon may have erred, he often follows with explanations for why this is so. This weakens a work which would have been that much stronger for being a bit more balanced. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would heartily recommend it to anyone interested in Napoleon or the Napoleonic Wars
The author is clearly an admirer. While he does point out instances where Napoleon may have erred, he often follows with explanations for why this is so. This weakens a work which would have been that much stronger for being a bit more balanced. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would heartily recommend it to anyone interested in Napoleon or the Napoleonic Wars
kulka's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
ameyawarde's review against another edition
4.0
I DID NOT REALIZE THIS (AUDIO)BOOK WAS ~32 HOURS LONG WHEN i STARTED IT. Oh man.
I usually avoid all forms of military history because I hate it and it's boring, but somehow almost all the books I have read in the last couple months have mentioned Napoleon in them, and I realized that I really didn't know but a few things about him/his life, really. So I got this in order to learn. And I certainly did, but wow it was so long. I really wish the Libby app made it easier to fast forward, because I would have FF through all the nearly blow-by-blow accounts of the battles, which I could not be less interested in. At the same time, I appreciated that this book, being the first one to use Napoleon's recently published papers, was able to argue against a lot of assumptions, lies and misinformation about napoleon's life. But I would definitely have appreciated a little more about his personal life and less about his battles.
I usually avoid all forms of military history because I hate it and it's boring, but somehow almost all the books I have read in the last couple months have mentioned Napoleon in them, and I realized that I really didn't know but a few things about him/his life, really. So I got this in order to learn. And I certainly did, but wow it was so long. I really wish the Libby app made it easier to fast forward, because I would have FF through all the nearly blow-by-blow accounts of the battles, which I could not be less interested in. At the same time, I appreciated that this book, being the first one to use Napoleon's recently published papers, was able to argue against a lot of assumptions, lies and misinformation about napoleon's life. But I would definitely have appreciated a little more about his personal life and less about his battles.
dmhayden76's review against another edition
It turns out, I don’t really care to read about Napoleon’s life. No problem with the book, just with the subject.