NAPOLEON AND THE AWAKENING OF EUROPE (PAPERBACK) ~ BY FELIX MARKHAM

Men and Their Times

by Felix Markham

A STUDY OF THE MILITARY, POLITICAL AND PERSONAL ELEMENTS OF THE NAPOLEONIC DOMINATION OF EUROPE

Genres: History, Politics, Nonfiction, European History

Paperback

First published January 1, 1954

About the author

Felix Maurice Hippisley Markham studied at the University of Oxford and taught there for 40 years. He was Fellow and History Tutor at Hertford College, Oxford, from 1931 until 1973.

Reviews

[Ivan Ewert · Rating 3 out of 5]

An excellent high-level overview of how Napoleon and his battles helped shape nationalist identity in Europe. Written for the layperson and not academics, an excellent introduction to the Corsican Ogre's life, career, and ambitions. I particularly enjoyed the final chapters regarding his exile, return, and repeated exile.

[Bagus · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of the book is really slow paced, more like a bunch of facts about Napoleon Bonaparte splashed together. The story began to get interesting in the middle as Napoleon experienced several crisis beginning with his losses first in cold winter Russia and then in Leipzig. Frankly speaking, this is more like a collection of general facts about Napoleon because it doesn’t really touch deeply the day to day affairs of Napoleon. This book will be more suitable for people who want to get a general understanding about the life of Napoleon Bonaparte and don’t want to be bothered by unnecessary details.

One thing to note is that this book touched deeply about the turmoil of the late 18th century Europe. Europe at that time was divided between several countries which shared alliances and broke alliances because of ample reasons. This will then pave the way for Napoleon to rise into power and spread the spirit of the French Revolution throughout Europe until his fall starting with the active resistance from the British against the imposition of the Continental System. However the consequence of this was the rising of nationalism among several states that existed in Europe around that period. They became aware of their common identity and the need to repel the foreign invaders, something which will then lead to the current state of modern Europe which has been united by the same spirit.

This book included several maps regarding important battles which Napoleon has fought in Europe, but it only covered small regions which became important battlefields. For this kind of history book which contains many military combat descriptions, it would be better if the author could include more relevant maps of Europe during that period.

[Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

First few Chapter is very slow pace. This book is more for listing fun facts in order of Napoleon life before becoming an emperor, when he was an emperor, and after.

Last 2 chapters are the strongest in my opinion, when Napoleon downfall is in full effect,