"Napoleon - Life of an Emperor" Topic

"From childhood dreams of joining the British Royal Navy to a dotage spent riding on a seesaw to improve his health, the true story of Napoleon Bonaparte is every bit as bizarre and fascinating as it is controversial. Napoleon rose up out of the chaos and horror of the French Revolution to offer a shattered nation dreams of future glory, honour and a place once more at the forefront of Europe. After he seized power through a mixture of propaganda and rigged elections, Napoleon's armies waged a seemingly never-ending war throughout Europe, from Portugal to Imperial Russia. Many hundreds of thousands died in battle, or of disease and starvation. France itself would lose 50,000 soldiers on average during every year under Napoleon's control. Napoléon claimed to be furthering the libertarian values of the Revolution to free the continent, but then he had himself crowned Emperor, began moves to reinstate a hereditary monarchy and had slavery reintroduced throughout the French Empire. Profusely illustrated, this new biography by bestselling author Mike Lepine offers a fresh and unforgettable portrait of a true military legend"

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Armand

Nah, I think I'll give this one a miss but 'Napoleon, His Life, His Battles, His Empire by David Chanteranne and Emmanuelle Patot' might be worth a look.

if it is worth a look…an ambitious title but once you open the book, well it doesn't break three legs to a duck…a compilation of few contemporary documents of that time with others illustrations, some text with that…and already published in 2010…seems rather an album done for mainstream market than a definitive study about Napoléon's life battles and Empire, I am not sure that the true Napoleonic readers connoisseurs as in TMP will be find something new and interesting

Not actually seen the book, as yet. Only adverts and usual publishing info. And I can't find anywhere that shows it was previously published in 2010? They all seem to suggest it is a recent publication?

unfortunately yes, first french and english editions by Gründ and Carlton books in 2010
there are several sample pages on amazon
link
as said it is only rather an album of pictures paintings and documents to offer as gift for Christmas
the new card cover chosen is not commercial and ruins historical credibility, seems done by any stupid A.I. with a general from behind that we assume he should represent Napoleon and two columns of soldiers, also from behind, who look like more Austrians than anything else!

Lilian – very observant, although could they not be early uniforms when some did wear white. Although again, he was not an Emperor then. Even so, as you say, could be another title to ignore.

Guess who got a copy of Napoleon, His Life, His battles, His Empire for Father's Day? LOL

And it does state in the book itself that it was previously published in 2010. Even so, I was quite surprised to find the book is not bad actually, depending on what you were expecting or looking for. If anyone was looking for detailed descriptions of battles or orders of battle, you won't find them in this title, which is not surprising since it is only 160 pages in length. But it does have an nice overview of Napoleon's life and campaigns, and as for 'a few contemporary documents', the title contains over 30 pages of of documents, consisting of letters, military orders, postmortem, abdication etc, etc, with English translations alongside them. The book is also a visual delight and certainly one for popping into now and again. That's if you can obtain a copy. Some sellers are saying there is a 3-7 month wait before you can obtain a copy.

I was pleasantly surprised by Napoleon the great by Andrew Roberts. I thought the title alone was off putting and frankly prefer the Campaigns to the life, loves and politics of Buonaparte.

But mysonse persuaded me and I am just up to Wagram and loving it.

Thanks

Armand