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Napoleon and the Art of Diplomacy: How War and Hubris Determined the Rise and Fall of the French Empire
A small library could be stocked with books written about Napoleon Bonaparte the general, whose battles and campaigns have been studied extensively. Warriors, however, are not generally known for their diplomatic skills and Napoleon is no exception. After all, conquerors are accustomed to imposing rather than negotiating terms. For Napoleon, however, the arts of war and diplomacy meshed. Napoleon was often as brilliant and successful at diplomacy as he was at war, although at times he could also be as disastrous at the diplomatic table as he was on his final battlefield. William R. Nester’s Napoleon and the Art of Diplomacy is the first comprehensive exploration of Napoleon the diplomat and how his abilities in that arena shaped his military campaigns and the rise and fall of the French empire.
Napoleon’s official diplomatic career lasted nearly two decades and involved relations with scores of kings, queens, ministers, diplomats, and secret agents across Europe and beyond. All those involved asserted their respective state (and often their private) interests across the entire span of international relations in which conflicts over trade and marriage were often inseparable from war and peace. For Napoleon, war and diplomacy were indivisible and complementary for victory. Much of Napoleon’s military success was built upon a foundation of alliances and treaties.
Although not always at war, Napoleon incessantly practiced diplomacy on a steady stream of international issues. Some of his noteworthy achievements in this arena included his 1797 Treaty of Campo Formio with the Austrians after he defeated them in the Italian campaign; the 1807 Treaty of Tilsit, when he incorporated Tsar Alexander of Russia as his junior partner while France was still at war with Britain; and, the 1812 conference of Dresden, where the crowned heads of Europe allied with France as Napoleon opened his massive (and disastrous) invasion of Russia.
Nester’s masterfully researched and written Napoleon and the Art of Diplomacy fills a gaping hole in Napoleonic literature by providing a vital and heretofore neglected dimension that allows readers to fully understand one of history’s most intriguing, complex, and powerful leaders.
About the Dr. William Nester is a professor in the Department of Government and Politics at St. John’s University in New York and the author of more than a score of books on a wide variety of international relations topics including The First Global Britain, France, and the Fate of North America, 1756-1775 and Haughty Amherst and the Great Indian Uprising of 1763. He has spent nearly a dozen years living overseas doing research and traveling in more than eighty countries.
Napoleon’s official diplomatic career lasted nearly two decades and involved relations with scores of kings, queens, ministers, diplomats, and secret agents across Europe and beyond. All those involved asserted their respective state (and often their private) interests across the entire span of international relations in which conflicts over trade and marriage were often inseparable from war and peace. For Napoleon, war and diplomacy were indivisible and complementary for victory. Much of Napoleon’s military success was built upon a foundation of alliances and treaties.
Although not always at war, Napoleon incessantly practiced diplomacy on a steady stream of international issues. Some of his noteworthy achievements in this arena included his 1797 Treaty of Campo Formio with the Austrians after he defeated them in the Italian campaign; the 1807 Treaty of Tilsit, when he incorporated Tsar Alexander of Russia as his junior partner while France was still at war with Britain; and, the 1812 conference of Dresden, where the crowned heads of Europe allied with France as Napoleon opened his massive (and disastrous) invasion of Russia.
Nester’s masterfully researched and written Napoleon and the Art of Diplomacy fills a gaping hole in Napoleonic literature by providing a vital and heretofore neglected dimension that allows readers to fully understand one of history’s most intriguing, complex, and powerful leaders.
About the Dr. William Nester is a professor in the Department of Government and Politics at St. John’s University in New York and the author of more than a score of books on a wide variety of international relations topics including The First Global Britain, France, and the Fate of North America, 1756-1775 and Haughty Amherst and the Great Indian Uprising of 1763. He has spent nearly a dozen years living overseas doing research and traveling in more than eighty countries.
418 pages, Hardcover
First published December 22, 2011
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About the author
William R. Nester
42 books2 followersWilliam Nester, PhD is a Professor of Government and Politics at St. John’s University. He is the author of twenty-five books that explore varying dimensions and subjects of international relations and power. He taught at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London from 1987 to 1989, and since then at St. John's University.He received a BA in international studies and history from Miami University of Ohio, and a MA and PhD in Political Science from the University of California at Santa Barbara.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 24, 2012
William Nester’s latest book; “Napoleon and the Art of Diplomacy” had me a bit worried when I ordered it. I wasn’t keen to read a dry & dull exposé of the art and use of diplomacy by Napoleon and his court (however I do acknowledge the importance of diplomacy). I started this book off then with some trepidation but soon found it to be an easy to read book of Napoleon and his campaigns with accounts of his use of diplomacy interwoven within the story.
I don’t think there are any ground-breaking revelations here, nothing entirely new for those readers of Napoleonic history, but the author has managed to put together a great story of Napoleon’s style of diplomacy, how and why it worked or didn’t work. As usual I was frustrated and annoyed to read of Talleyrand and Fouche causing problems for the Emperor. I wonder how he achieved so much sometimes with those two and a few others in the wings wrecking his plans but that’s history.
There are a number of errors; Sir Sidney Smith appears in the book as Sydney Smith, and Pasha Djezzar becomes Pjezzar along with a few other examples but nothing that detracts too much from the story. This is not an in-depth study of the use of diplomacy by Napoleon, more a general history of his campaigns and how he used his style of diplomacy to further his aims. Overall a good general study and well worth the effort to read.
I don’t think there are any ground-breaking revelations here, nothing entirely new for those readers of Napoleonic history, but the author has managed to put together a great story of Napoleon’s style of diplomacy, how and why it worked or didn’t work. As usual I was frustrated and annoyed to read of Talleyrand and Fouche causing problems for the Emperor. I wonder how he achieved so much sometimes with those two and a few others in the wings wrecking his plans but that’s history.
There are a number of errors; Sir Sidney Smith appears in the book as Sydney Smith, and Pasha Djezzar becomes Pjezzar along with a few other examples but nothing that detracts too much from the story. This is not an in-depth study of the use of diplomacy by Napoleon, more a general history of his campaigns and how he used his style of diplomacy to further his aims. Overall a good general study and well worth the effort to read.
July 25, 2012
Napoleon and the Art of Diplomacy is a very readable, insightful analysis of Napoleon as a diplomat. William Nester has crafted together a narrative that skillfully weaves together the diplomatic and military aspects of Napoleon's entire career- from the time of his first command in Italy, through the Consulship, and then the Empire. The author at some points early in the narrative is more generous than I would be in ascribing motivations to some of Napoleon's actions, but when all is said and done, the book ultimately doesn't pull any punches in showing that Napoleon's ultimate downfall was due to his stubborn pride, unbridled ambition, and refusal to compromise.
May 24, 2021
This book takes a different path when discussing the Napoleonic era. Rather than focus on Napoleon as military genius, the great warlord Emperor, William Nester takes a much closer look at Napoleon the statesman.
One of the thesis' that Nester proposes, while not original, is one that will surely cause some eyebrows to be raised. And that is that Napoleon was not a war monger for war's sake itself. Rather, Napoleon saw war in a very Clausewitzian manner, as a another tool in one's toolbox to wield when building up one's own national interests.
Napoleon, as Nester shows fairly well, thought of France first. His Empire was, albeit one encompassing many peoples in Europe, a French one. And hence, his diplomatic endeavors were geared towards ensuring French hegemony.
None of that is new, but it is interesting to view this period of a generation long series of wars and anarchical revolution through the lens of Diplomacy and statecraft as opposed to armies and operations. And, since the subject matter is Napoleon, it's not a boring read.
After all, Napoleon's own sarcastic, cutting wit is on display in these pages from time to time, and while saying things as he did would cause gasps of shock now a days (well, they did then, too), it makes for thoroughly enjoyable reading.
Despite the sheer entertainment value of the pithily tongued Corsican Emperor, Nester does point out that Napoleon's successes, both on and off the battlefield, bred a dangerous sense of hubris that lead directly to his, and France's, ruin. While it's not an original thesis, it's still well told, and as Nester himself has some experience in the field of diplomatic endeavors, it is very well informed.
While a good, informative read, with some sharp, spot on a analysis to go with it, if you're more a student of the military arts, this one might not be to your taste. Even so, all great commanders must now something of the art of politics, if for nothing else than to avoid the Prussian trap.
Recommended.
One of the thesis' that Nester proposes, while not original, is one that will surely cause some eyebrows to be raised. And that is that Napoleon was not a war monger for war's sake itself. Rather, Napoleon saw war in a very Clausewitzian manner, as a another tool in one's toolbox to wield when building up one's own national interests.
Napoleon, as Nester shows fairly well, thought of France first. His Empire was, albeit one encompassing many peoples in Europe, a French one. And hence, his diplomatic endeavors were geared towards ensuring French hegemony.
None of that is new, but it is interesting to view this period of a generation long series of wars and anarchical revolution through the lens of Diplomacy and statecraft as opposed to armies and operations. And, since the subject matter is Napoleon, it's not a boring read.
After all, Napoleon's own sarcastic, cutting wit is on display in these pages from time to time, and while saying things as he did would cause gasps of shock now a days (well, they did then, too), it makes for thoroughly enjoyable reading.
Despite the sheer entertainment value of the pithily tongued Corsican Emperor, Nester does point out that Napoleon's successes, both on and off the battlefield, bred a dangerous sense of hubris that lead directly to his, and France's, ruin. While it's not an original thesis, it's still well told, and as Nester himself has some experience in the field of diplomatic endeavors, it is very well informed.
While a good, informative read, with some sharp, spot on a analysis to go with it, if you're more a student of the military arts, this one might not be to your taste. Even so, all great commanders must now something of the art of politics, if for nothing else than to avoid the Prussian trap.
Recommended.
September 23, 2015
If you're interested in a biography of Napoleon, this is not the book for you. However, if you have a passing familiarity with his life, then this book could shed some informative light on the diplomatic tactics he pursued throughout his career.
It was a little slow at first, when he summarized the earlier years of Napoleon's life...the writer obviously isn't a biographer. but it picked up considerably once he became the Emperor.
It was a little slow at first, when he summarized the earlier years of Napoleon's life...the writer obviously isn't a biographer. but it picked up considerably once he became the Emperor.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews