The Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon Bonaparte #1

by Robert B. Asprey

Ever since 1821, when he died at age fifty-one on the forlorn and windswept island of St. Helena, Napoleon Bonaparte has been remembered as either demi-god or devil incarnate. In The Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte, the first volume of a two-volume cradle-to-grave biography, Robert Asprey instead treats him as a human being. Asprey tells this fascinating, tragic tale in lush narrative detail. The Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte is an exciting, reckless thrill ride as Asprey charts Napoleon's vertiginous ascent to fame and the height of power. Here is Napoleon as he was-not saint, not sinner, but a man dedicated to and ultimately devoured by his vision of himself, his empire, and his world.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, France, Military History, War, European History

608 pages, Paperback

First published November 22, 2000

About the author

Robert Brown Asprey was an American military historian and author, noted for his books on military history published between 1959 and 2001.

Asprey received a bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa in 1949, after serving in World War II. He also studied at New College, Oxford, at the University of Vienna, and at the University of Nice.

In World War II, Asprey was a member of the secret Marine Beach Jumper Unit, then joined the 5th Marine Division. In the 1950s, he served in U.S. Army Intelligence in Austria before returning to the U.S. Marine Corps in the Korean War with the rank of captain. He received a Purple Heart and a Presidential Unit Citation for his service.

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

After all the history I have read, I have not, until now, read much about Napoleon and his wars. I decided this was the year to change that and this book, The Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte, was a great place to start. Mr. Asprey is a military combat veteran and an excellent historian. He brings Napoleon to life without bias or slant. This book covers him from birth until Dec 1805, and the end of the Battle of Austerlitz. A second volume covers the rest of his rule and life. Although it is 545 pages, this book is a quick read as Asprey keeps the story moving briskly with short, pithy chapters. In many chapters, I found myself wishing for more details to explain this complex man. With his easy writing style, he could have doubled the size of the book and I would not have minded.

You first meet Nabolione Buonaparte’s parents as members of a Corsican band of insurgents, fleeing the French forces on Corsica. As Napoleon grows up, we see a young rebellious youth figuring out how to gain independence for Corsica and throwing out the French. It was simply incredible to see this young Napoleon and all the shenanigans he is involved with. He graduates from the Ecole Militaire and joins the French Army. Pretty undistinguished service until he is called on to join the siege of Toulon. Overnight, this “flighty” young officer becomes a leader of men. He is brilliant in how he motivates all around him and his courage is undeniable.

His meteoric rise to general, his campaigns in Egypt, Italy and Germany/Austria and his political rise to First Consul and then Emperor are covered. Don’t expect much detail, especially for the military campaigns. Asprey covers each one briefly with major movements and battles. But you will have to go elsewhere for more on the battles. His political intrigues in France and his diplomatic efforts are explained. Asprey usually takes the simplest explanation as the reason for an action. If you are interested in a brief but thorough look at Napoleon Bonaparte’s rise to power, this book is the one for you. 5 Stars!

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This, the first part of Robert Asprey's two-part Boney bio, starts with Napoleon as a baby during his parents' time as partisans fighting for Corsican independence from the foreign invader (ironically France herself) in 1769 and ends with his triumphant ass-beating of the Austro-Russian forces at Austerlitz in 1805. As such, it covers a ton of the major moments of Napoleon's life, from his formative years in Corsica, his rise through the ranks of the French artillery, his involvement with Revolutionary celebs like the Robespierres, his "whiff of grapeshot" fame-gaining antics during 13 Vendémiaire, his epic loot-grabbing Italian campaign, his adventures in Egypt, his meteoric rise to power via the consulship, 18 Brumaire, the dictatorship and finally the Emperor's crown and some of his initial acts as Emperor (mostly taking on the aforementioned Russians and Austrians). I want to apologize to any of my potential readers and also the English language for that run-on, but fuck--this dude did a LOT of shit in a very short period.

Asprey sets out in the foreword with the clear goal of presenting a Napoleon bio from a totally impartial and objective standpoint. It's pretty obvious that Napoleon was and remains a polarizing historical figure; some people see him as this kind of warrior-scholar bringing the secular ideals of the Enlightenment and l'Revolution to still-backwards-and-barbaric Europe and some people seriously equate him with Hitler. It's really easy to fall into one of these two camps, but Asprey noticeably stays true to his mission statement throughout the book. Sometimes the man comes out looking good and sometimes bad, but that was all due to me having to come to my own conclusions via the facts that the author presents. It's kinda sad that this kind of dedication to impartiality is even noteworthy, as you'd think that historians take their job seriously and would want to preserve and present it completely unmarred by opinion. Unfortunately people have been fucking with the facts since Herodotus and so Asprey deserves points.

Given that Asprey was a former Marine this is a very military-focused biography, which is fine with me. I like that kind of thing and also trying to remove Napoleon the politician from Napoleon the warrior is futile and dumb. The guy was pretty much fighting one or more European state at any given time during his career until the British and Prussians finally forced him out after Waterloo, so when you learn about Napoleon you learn about Napoleonic military shit, period. As such, entire chapters are devoted to his big famous set-piece scraps like Marengo and Austerlitz. I did think that five whole chapters about his Egyptian misadventures was a bit excessive, though. It seemed like they could have been condensed into one, to be honest. Aside from that misstep, though, the pace stays lively and the story full of interesting people and events. Asprey's prose isn't the most juicy but he also stays this side of stiff and/or dry. The book definitely answered a lot of questions about the man and revolutionary France that were bugging me and so I comfortably recommend it to the curious, especially those into military history. I will continue with the second part and also probably check out his Frederick the Great bio.

[happy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this volume a very good look at the various facets of Napoleon. Starting with his youth in Corsica and ending with his masterpiece at Austerlitz, Mr Asprey tells the reader how Napoleon rose to rule France and most of continental Europe.

I felt that Mr. Asprey did a very admirable job of letting the reader know about Napoleon the man, the politician and the general. Starting with the personal, the author looks at Napoleon’s life growing up and his studiousness. It seems that while at school, he spent most of the money he did have on books and often limited himself to one meal a day. Even on his campaigns, Napoleon would take trunk loads of books. Mr. Asprey states that on his first campaign in Italy, he took more than 150 volumes. He also looks at his love affair with Josephine, a somewhat surprising choice for a wife. She was senior by 6 years and on their marriage certificate they alter their ages, adding a couple to his and subtracting a couple from hers to make the age difference more socially acceptable. His letters to her are quoted extensively and paint a picture of a man thoroughly enraptured with a woman. His pain at be told of her affairs while in Egypt is well done as his “revenge”. He takes the wife of one of his junior officers as a mistress, even appearing with her in public with her wearing a replica Hussars uniform.

In looking at his political views, Mr. Asprey traces the changes in them. Starting out with republican leanings, the excesses of the Directory caused him to reconsider them and eventually led him to a coup, the establishment of the Consulate, with Napoleon as First consul and eventually proclaiming himself emperor. As emperor, the author notes the many civil reforms Napoleon enacted, including a complete rewriting of the legal code, which is still the basis of many legal codes throughout the world.

Finally he looks at Napoleon as soldier and general. From his beginnings as an officer in the French Royal Army through to his victory at Austerlitz, The author looks a Napoleons ability to inspire soldiers and armies. This is first exhibited at the siege of Toulon, where he completely reorganized the artillery of the besieging army and drives out the Royalist and there British allies. From there he is sent to Northern Italy and reorganizes and reinvigorates the French forces and ultimately defeats the Austrians. Mr. Asprey’s look at Napoleons Egyptian expedition emphasizes Napoleon’s realization that he has to come as a liberator and not a conqueror. Napoleon issued orders to his troops that they were to treat the inhabitants fairly, not to molest the women, respect the religious sites and clergy, and not loot. This was not always successful, and the punishments were swift and harsh. In looking at the Egyptian campaign, Mr. Asprey differs with the accepted history that Napoleon abandoned army. He states that Napoleon was recalled by the Directorate because of military reverses in Europe and he was needed to fix the problems.

Finally Mr. Asprey looks at the campaigns of 1805, the impending invasion of England and when that became infeasible because of Trafalgar, the campaign that resulted in his masterpiece of a battle Austerlitz. Unfortunately, Mr. Asprey does gloss over this a little bit, but that does not distract from the quality of biography. I found this a very readable and informative look at how Napoleon came to be the one of the greatest men of his time. I gave this book 4.25 stars, rounded down for good reads.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a rough idea of French history, along the lines of "king, king, king, REVOLUTION!, Napoleon, king". But I could never quite figure out how they went from heads rolling off the guillotine platform to an Imperial monarch striding about conquering Europe, dripping in ermine. Not to mention that most of my knowledge of this period comes very much from the English perspective--Horatio Hornblower and Jane Austen--with a touch of Tolstoy, in which Napoleon is the devil incarnate a la Hitler or something.

So getting a detailed explanation of how this random kid from Corsica who wanted to overthrow French rule there ended up crowning himself Emperor of France was interesting and connected a lot of the dots. I knew he went to Egypt--I didn't realize it was pre-Imperial days. I had no idea he started off with republican leanings, let alone revolutionary sympathies. There are so many points at which he nearly derails himself because of a big mouth and a sharp temper, it's really impressive how far he managed to get.

And you know? I kind of like him now. Oh, he's a completely arrogant bastard, but he works so goddamn hard. And he starts with such a mess, it's a relief in a way to see someone competent start to put it to rights. France was a disaster when he came to power--I can understand why acquiring a military dictator seemed like a good idea. And maybe it was--he was pretty effective at creating reforms and getting taxes back to work and building useful things and reorganizing society to be functional again. And England...well, the English were kind of pricks. They were pissy about France taking control of Europe on the land, but they completely ruled the seas. I don't blame Napoleon for being bitter about it and convinced he needed to challenge their dominance.

This book covers a lot of ground, very thoroughly. It means that there aren't a whole lot of anecdotes, but there is a fair amount of explanation. The author is a military historian, so there are a lot of descriptions of battles, but not to an exhaustive degree. And he covers personal life, as well. It's clear and easy to follow, which I appreciated, with exhaustive primary source footnotes. It's amusing, where appropriate, and dramatic, also where appropriate. It's not light, quite literally--this is the first in a pair of volumes, and it's still impressively weighty. But you'll understand the overall situation well at the end. I'd be interested in reading more of Asprey's books, in fact. After I finish the second volume of this one.

[KOMET · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a highly readable book about one of the most extraordinary figures ever to bestride the world stage. The chapters were well-structured, not overly weighty nor too long as some books about Napoleon can be.

Here the reader sees how Napoleon rose from modest means in Corsica to studies at Brienne and the Ecole Nationale in France shortly before the Revolution. Later, as an artillery officer, Napoleon was instrumental in taking back Toulon from the British in 1793. Subsequently, he was given command of a starving, ragtag army in Italy and moulded it into a very effective fighting force, which went on to defeat the Austrians (the dominant power in that part of Europe at the time) in a series of decisive battles. (Napoleon became a general before he was 30.)

Napoleon then went on to Egypt in command an expedition of soldiers and scholars (who uncovered the Rosetta Stone). He also spent some time in the Middle East before returning to Paris, where, late in 1799, he became First Consul, his first step on the rung to real power in France.

For anyone seeking a basic understanding of Napoleon's early years (the book ends in December 1804, when he is crowned Emperor of the French), this book comes HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

[Preetam Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book: The Rise Of Napoleon Bonaparte
Author: Robert B. Asprey
Publisher: ‎ Basic Books; Reprint edition (4 October 2001)
Language: ‎ English
Paperback: ‎ 608 pages
Item Weight: ‎ 748 g
Dimensions: ‎ 13.97 x 3.86 x 21.59 cm
Price: 3590/-

In his Note to the Reader, the author writes:

“Ever since his premature demise at the age of 51 on the forlorn island of St. Helena in 1821, Napoleon Bonaparte has too often been the fatality of biographical and historical enthusiasm, of detrimental literary passions that treat him either as demi-god (mainly French authors) or as devil incarnate (mainly British authors). The interpretive pendulum continues to swing, most recently toward devil incarnate in three lengthy books by American, British and French authors.

I object to either interpretation which, by distorting either his achievements or failures, gives the reader a lopsided view of one of the most fascinating persons of all time who dominated one of the most contradictory periods of the world’s history….”

This book presents the balanced biography of a man, who “was not the father of chaos, as his detractors would have us believe. He was heir to chaos both at home and abroad. We tend to forget the appalling conditions of abject human servitude that fomented the French Revolution; the devastating period of terror invoked by Robespierre and his Jacobin followers; the inept and corrupt administration of the Directorate which followed the overthrow of the Jacobins…”

Truth be told, these miserable and disorganized years shaped the young Bonaparte’s thinking to bring forth his energetic participation in a coup d’etat followed by the creation of the Consulate and the Empire – and a sensibly triumphant attempt by the new ruler to restore order in a torn nation while leading it to what he believed was its rightful role in the consolidation of Europe.

Neither was Napoleon the father of the wars that accompanied the process, as his detractors would also have us believe. Almost constant warfare was a legacy of the revolutionary chaos, a series of wars invoked by European and English rulers determined to topple the dangerous interloper and restore Bourbon feudalistic rule to France.

The impetus of the revolutionary movement in France had burned itself out and the time was now ripe for a popular soldier with a genius for organisation to take over the authority.

The dictatorship of Napoleon was a serviceable, knowledgeable, prolific and hard-headed Government and its oppressiveness must not be exaggerated. It lacked the fanaticism and passion of the rule of Robespierre and the ruthlessness and brutality of the dictatorship of the 20th century.

Although the excessive royalists, fervent Roman Catholics and doctrinaire Jacobins were never reconciled to it, Napoleon managed to win over the support of the great majority of the people of France. From about 1808 onwards, the growing tension within the Empire, the protracted war and the shadow of defeat amished his regime, but the people continued to put up with it because there was no satisfactory ilternative to it.

The memories of revolutionary excesses were still unsullied in the minds of the people and there was also the fear of royalist reaction and under the circumstances the rule of Napoleon seemed to be preferable. Another reason was the economic advantages which Napoleon brought to ranch industrialists, farmers and traders.

The continental system was a vast system of economic Dereferences and protection in favour of France, and against not only Britain but also the rest of Europe. Italy was almost turned into an economic colony of France. It provided raw materials for its industry and a market for French textiles.

The economic development of Holland was, subordinated to that of France. The introduction of machinery was encouraged in France and discouraged elsewhere. The cotton and sugar-beet industries of France prospered as a result of the policy of protection. In economic terms, the Empire undoubtedly paid handsomely at least for some time.

This book will tell you that Napoleon was without question a man of extraordinary force of brain and character, who under all circumstances and in all countries would have won for himself a high position.

He had great powers of work and of organisation, rapid insight, courage, a willingness accept responsibility, resolution in following out a plan once undertaken—all the qualities of the osier in their highest development; and with all he had the gift of genius which defies analysis. But ns rise is much more than story of a capable man winning for himself a high place in the world.

It reflects also one of the most genial laws that may be observed on the surface of history.

We can see constantly how a period of confusion and of revolution ends in the establishment of some strong and often of a personal power. The instances that are usually quoted in comparison with Napoleon’s life History are the establishment of the Roman Empire by Julius Caesar after a century of confusion and evolution in Rome, and the personal rule of Oliver Cromwell which followed the Puritan revolution.

But these are only the most obvious instances. We may see something of the same sort when the Tudor Monarchy follows the Wars of the Roses; when the strong concentration of the French kings folder Charles VII and Louis XI brought to end the long agony and turmoil of the Hundred Years’ War in France; or again, when the Thirty Years’ War in Germany is followed very generally by the establishment of personal rule.

It has been claimed that Napoleon was equally great as a statesman and as a soldier. The view of this book on this point is that although Napoleon had no chance of developing all s ideas in the midst of hardly intermitted storms of war and his domestic policy was throughout coordinated to military necessities, it cannot be denied that the European situation was largely his vu creation.

His power in France itself was always intimately bound up with his military prestige and victories.

In his social and political schemes, there is very little that is original. For a part of it, way had been prepared by the Revolution and for the other part, by the old monarchy. The great nature gout his statesmanship is not its originality but the immense energy and strength of will and attention to detail with which he carried it out. It was not so novel or so well adapted to the needs of the time.

Moreover, in all his work, Napoleon showed no appreciation of the value of political liberty. This great watchword of the Revolution had perhaps at one time appealed to him but his early enthusiasm for it was dead. He now thought of liberty as a disturbing factor that prevented the efficiency of his state. There is no hint in anything that he said or wrote that he thought of it as the great force making for stability, order and efficiency.

According to the author, there was only one man who could challenge comparison with Napoleon. The figure of Julius Caesar dominated the Roman world as that of the great Corsican overshadowed the age of the French Revolution.

Both men lived in cataclymic periods when the old order was passing away and new ideas called for recognition. In many ways, both Napoleon and Julius Caesar succeeded in linking on the new to the old. Though innovators in youth, they became more and more conservative in manhood.

However, Caesar was a greater man than Napoleon. Although he began the serious part of his life late, yet both in war and statecraft, he established an unquestioned supremacy which nothing but murder could end. He led the way both by developing new principles of strategy and by adopting the almost stereotyped polity of Rome to the needs of a fast growing Empire.

His leniency and conduct won the affection of the conquered peoples whom he brought under the Roman rule. He left behind him a State both greater and stronger than that before his accession to office. His unparalleled triumphs both at home and abroad neither blinded his vision nor hardened his temper.

They were harmonised and humanised by clemency. The same cannot be said of Napoleon. He admitted his failure in the following words which he wrote about Alexander, the Great: “What I like in Alexander was not his campaigns, which we cannot understand, but his political methods. At thirty-three years of age, he leaves a well established Empire which his generals partitioned. He had the art of making himself beloved by the peoples he conquered.

Throught the 47 chapters of this book, you’’ see that Napoleon became great because he was the typical man of his day, less the personal mediocrity; the typical burgher in personal character, the typical soldier in war, the typical despot in peace and the typical idealist in politics, capable in all those qualities of analysis; capable consequently of being understood; capable of exhaustion and of being overwhelmed by combinations.

The Empire of Napoleon was like a brilliant bubble on the stream of time. Alexander Hellenised the civilisation of his day and prepared the world for Christianity. Charlemagne ploughed, harrowed and sowed the soil of barbaric Europe, making it receptive for the most superb of all secular ideals, that of nationality. Napoleon tore up the system of absolutism by the roots, propagated in the most distant lands of Europe, the modern conception of individual rights, overthrew the rotten structure of the German-Roman Empire, and in spite of himself regenerated the long-abused ideas of nationality and fatherland.

Napoleon was almost a poet in action. He was the mightiest breath of life whichever animated human clay.

The supreme combination of intellect and energy gave Napoleon’s mind a magnetic, almost supernatural power—a power that seems to radiate from his pictured features and endows, his very name with magic. If modern times have produced a mythological figure, that figure is Napoleon. Abraham Lincoln is a possible rival, but as a figure of mythology Napoleon has a great advantage; like the Olympians he is beyond good and evil, a true pagan god, eminently classical and Greek. Lincoln, a Christ-like figure from the backwoods, belongs to a different circle.

Few men have expressed the Napoleon mystique so suggestively as Heine in these few sentences:

His countenance, too, was of the complexion we find on the marble heads of Greeks and Romans. The features were as nobly proportioned as those of ancient statues, and on his face was written:

“Thou shalt have no other god but me.” (Introduction, The Mind of Napoleon, page XIX).

According to Talleyrand, “His (Napoleon’s) genius was unbelievable. It is the most astonishing career that has been witnessed for the last thousand years. He was certainly the most extraordinary man I ever saw, and in my opinion the most extraordinary men that has lived for many centuries.”

Hardy put the following words into the mouth of Napoleon after his defeat at Waterloo:

“I came too late in time
To assume the prophet on the demi-god
Apart past playing now. My only course
To make good showance to posterity
Was to implant my line upon the throne.
And how shape that if now extinction nears?
Great men are meteors that consume themselves
To light the earth. This is my burnt-out hour.”

The dissimilarity between the France of 1799 and 1815 was the work of Napoleon. The former was conventional and messy and the latter had respect for person, for contract and for property.

The administration was unitary, homogeneous and active. The finances, though not regulated, were restored to vigour. The processes were inaugurated by which the great cities of France became healthy and beautiful. The revolutionary precepts were so modified and assimilated that the efforts of the dynasties failed to change them. It was one of his sayings that “to have the right of using nations, you must begin by serving them alone.”

The seeds of disapproval were sown by Napoleon among the Christians of Turkey and his emissaries fired their hearts. Serbia was one of those examples and national awakening of the Greeks also began with the hopes similarly aroused.

It is pointed out that indirectly Napoleon made the U.S.A. completely independent of England. Napoleon was responsible for bringing about a war between the U.S.A. and England from which the former emerged with glory and with absolute commercial independence. The purchase of Louisiana from Napoleon revolutionised the American national system both from inside and outside.

A great experience, this book was. All 600 odd pages.

[Jeremy Perron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert Asprey's book traces the journey of a small boy from Corsica, on a journey from solider to emperor. He would turn the entire world on its ear; nothing would ever be the same again because Napoleon existed. He would knock kings off their ancient thrones and put his own relatives upon them. He would win battles against formidable odds; he would make incredible discoveries from his time in Egypt that would change the way we look at ancient history. He was a man who fought in the army of the Republic but would give himself a crown. There are more books written about this man then any other. Yet, he loses in the end. However, this book is not about his defeats but about how he rises to become the most powerful man in world who is sitting in the center of the stage.

Napoleon starts his life in Corsica, one year after France annexed it, during the reign of King Louis XV. Asprey covers a great deal of his early years growing up in Corsica under the watchful eye of his mother, Letizia Ramolino, then being sent to school in mainland France. He was able to get into French school because his father, Carlo Bonaparte, was the Corsican representative to the court of King Louis XVI. School is difficult for him; he always teased and made to feel like an outsider because of his accented French. Nevertheless, he did well at French military school and was commissioned in the French Army.

During a leave of absence from the French Army, Napoleon would try to join the Corsican Nationalist Movement led by Pasquale Paoli. He would join them, even leading troops against the French, but he was never fully accepted. Napoleon would get away with this behavior because this was all happen as French Revolution was going down. He would find himself with a strong ally in the younger brother of the most feared Maximilien Robespierre, Augustine. Napoleon would earn his respect by his performance at the siege of Toulon. Napoleon's actions were not one of military genius, just competence. Nevertheless, it made Napoleon a general in the French Army.

"Napoleon had never attempted to hide his preference for Jacobin rule insofar as it promised an end to tyranny and the establishment of an egalitarian republic. Nevertheless, he did not like certain aspects of the formative period: he loathed the mob attacks on the Tuileries, and he approved neither of the execution of King Louis XVI nor of the hideous excesses of the Terror. Yet, what were the alternatives? Certainly not a monarchy and rule by feudal lords. Certainly not rule by assembly, a mumbo-jumbo of screeching lawyers who could scarcely agree on the time of day, a disastrous regime that threatened to plunge the country into anarchy and open its borders to foreign invasion. No one could deny that Robespierre's quasi-dictatorship, despite or perhaps because of its excesses, had brought a semblance of order to a torn country." p.102

After the fall of Robespierre, Napoleon was almost imprisoned but a reactionary mob trying to bring down the Republic allowed him to demonstrate his abilities by putting it down. The Directory, the new power in France, knew it now had a champion and sent him to campaign in Italy, shortly after his marriage to Josephine, and from there, he would begin to earn incredible fame as a military commander.

"The offensive began auspiciously by pushing Archduke Charles behind the Tagliamento. `The enemy appears very uneasy,' Napoleon wrote Massena on 13 March, `and once more finds himself caught with his pants down after executing his adopted plan. Everything presages our great success.' Two days later he qualified this ebullience in a long operations order to Joubert which warned that under certain circumstances he might find himself beaten and `even obliged to take refuge in Mantua.' Should this happen he was to play for as much time as possible to allow the main army to extricate itself. Napoleon's major worry at this point centered on the Austrian right flank and was considerably eased when he learned the Massena had sent that column flying with a haul of 800 prisoners including its commander, the disreputable General Lusignon." p.211

After his incredible success in Italy, Napoleon finally meets Talleyrand* and the Directory sends him to Egypt to undermine British trade routes to India. While he has initial success and made incredible discoveries, most famously the Rosetta Stone, Admiral Nelson's victory at sea, put Napoleon's army in a terrible position. With the wars in Europe going badly, the Directory recalled Napoleon.

"Napoleon chose to fight the big battle with tactics similar to those employed at Chabrakhyt (which must have seemed an eternity ago to his exhausted troops). This time there would be no fleet action owing to an adverse wind. Division deployed in echelons of mutually protective battalion squares, the artillery filling the intervals, the tirailleurs carefully placed. Moving up toward Embabeh, moving toward Mourad's horsemen, he deployed Bon on the left, Vial on the right and Dugua in reserve on Vial's flank (where Napoleon stationed himself). Reynier and Desaix's divisions deployed ahead and to the right of the assault divisions deployed ahead and to the right of the assault divisons to block what Napoleon believed was Mourad's natural line of retreat. This move caused the Mameluke commander to open the action be sending a corps to attack Reynier and Desaix." p.267

When Napoleon he pulled the original coup d'état on the Directory and establish the consulate with Napoleon as the First Cousul**. From this point on Napoleon rules France as a monarch in all but name. This led to a great many positive developments, first needed bureaucratic reform in the administration of government, banking, and civil law. Military victories on land in the War of the Second Coalition, although the sea still eluded them. This period also had a great deal of set backs, a rebellion in Haiti convinced Napoleon to give up France's empire in North America by selling the Louisiana territory to the United States under President Jefferson.

"The Bonaparte brothers, Sieyes and the coterie of generals were severally upset, and with good reason. The coup stood at a crossroad. It was one thing to disband the generally scorned Directory, but it was a far more serious matter to challenge the freedom of the elected legislature. But if that body were not quickly brought to heel the conspirators would undoubtedly end on the guillotine. No realized this more than Sieyes who had a carriage and six horses standing by for a quick escape. Ironically it was he who at this critical moment kept his cool and advised Napoleon to send in the grenadiers." p.338

In 1804, tired of plots against him Napoleon, decided to take the crown, mimicking Roman history he takes the title emperor. In December of that year, Napoleon has his grand coronation.

"Napoleon's sudden elevation to imperial status had brought mixed reactions at home and abroad. European rulers in general, including the English king, cautiously welcomed the move as indicating an end to the dangers of revolution--Napoleon, so to speak, had joined the `family,' albeit as an uncouth parvenu. A good many statesmen were not so optimistic, looking on the event a consolidation of his power, a basis on which to build further mischief. Liberals everywhere were dismayed and saddened. Upon learning of the news the composer Ludwig van Beethoven, who had just dedicated a new symphony to his hero, furiously tore up the dedication, retitled the work `Eroica' and dedicated it to `the memory of a great man.'" p.489

This book by Asprey is extremely well done; in addition to the historical information, Asprey also discusses Napoleon's personnel life, his marriage, and relationship with his political brothers and his mother. Asprey's work also has a smooth narrative that is easy for the reader to follow.

*His full name was Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord.

**In a clear allusion to the Roman Republic that was governed by two consuls, and the Triumvirates that preceded the personnel rule of Julius Caesar and Emperor Augustus.

[Davy Bennett]

Rod Stewart posed for the cover art.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a little dry and technical but not overly so. Especially during the accounts of the campaigns I had to continually reference the maps. Asprey either assumes you are or that you are intimately familiar with the geography of Austria and Italy. Like any good non-fiction book it made me want to read a lot of other books. Asprey’s account of the French revolution and the labyrinthine politics of its aftermath is adequate but focuses only on Napoleon’s involvement and what affects Napoleon which is substantial but far from comprehensive. I loved reading about Horatio Nelson and the British navy too but the amount of coverage is similar to the French revolution.

The highlight of Volume I has been the analysis of international politics. The different ministers and governments as well as the balance of power are shrewdly assessed and I felt like I got a very good understanding of the shifting landscape of Europe at the turn of the 19th century. Especially the role of fractured Italy and Germany as buffer zones and the rest of Monarchist Europe’s difficulty in categorizing and dealing with Napoleon and France after the revolution. I also greatly enjoyed Asprey’s emphasis of Napoleon as a managerial genius. I got a clear idea of the incredible amount of energy, expertise and influence needed to effectively run the French government as well as a successful military campaign (not to mention both at the same time...) If you want a colorful account of Napoleon's life though this is not the book for you. A minimum amount of time is given to Napoleon’s relationship with Josephine and his many affairs are mentioned casually in passing. Some time is given to the family spats and relationships of the Bonapartes but I got the impression that there was quite a lot left unsaid.

Overall I quite liked the 1st volume and am excited to read the second. The life of Napoleon happened at the intersection of so many rich areas of the history of Western civilization. His influence is immense from his supervising of the Napoleonic code and his domestic achievements, to his preternatural abilities on the battlefield, to his love and contributions to art and science (like the Rosetta stone and the first scientific paper written about the mirage), to his embodiment of and conflict with the principles of the French revolution which Western civilization is still struggling with. Robert Asprey’s is an excellent but inevitably incomplete account of Napoleon’s life and world.

[Martin Koenigsberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a disappointing book. I heard about an American Military author was tackling the subject. I was hoping for a balanced view, enough maps, Tactical maps to explain the military genius of the era, and maybe some new anecdotes to spice up a diorama or a game scenario. Instead I got the legend warmed over, wrapped in a hazy film of irrational anglophobia and liberally doused in total blindness to his many glaring faults. This sort of hagiography lead to a hefty tome that I really can't recommend- almost any choice is a better one if you want to understand Napoleon.

It's all there, the murky roots in Corsican minor Nobility, the troubled childhood at military schools, the dalliance with Revolutionary Politics, Josephine, Toulon and the "Whiff of Grapeshot" that rocketed Bonaparte to power. But there is no feel for the era, a constant anti-british axe to grind that is almost childish, a dearth of maps, NO tactical or strategic maps with arrows and explanations anywhere, a lack of understanding of naval affairs, and everywhere a refusal to state the obvious- all the monies Asprey enumerates as being spent on war and imperial fripperies by Napoleon is STOLEN- the wealth of Europe for the previous 100 years spent in a paroxysm of violence from 1792-1815, causing millions of deaths in the process. Asprey treats this Violent Dictator as a Hero, when a rational historian is better served with the more usual "SocioPathic Power Hungry Menace" theory. It gets old fast.

This book is a volume challenge for a junior reader, at over 500 pages, but easily readable- i'd just prefer that I directed kids to a better version of the story. For the Military Enthusiast/Gamer/Modeller, there are other better choices that will provide more help. I'd only recommend this book as part of a reading plan that was going to include several other Biographies of the Emperor, so this isn't the overpowering narrative- it's just too flawed.

[Robby · Rating 4 out of 5]

The problem with reading any one book on a great historical figure, such as Napoleon, is that there are so many aspects to cover that it is impossible to be summed in one book. In order, to get a full understanding of Napoleon's life you need to read a great many books.
That said, this is one I'd recommend reading. If your looking for a vivid description of military tactics this is not the book (The Campaigns of Napoleon by David Chandler is best for all things military). This book however does a very good job, though still somewhat incomplete, of explaining Napoleon's Egyptian campaign and his rise to consul. However, it does a rather terrible job and a great disservice by glossing over Trafalgar and Austerlitz towards the end. This is somewhat surprising because the author himself was a Marine captain. Also some more maps would have been helpful because though I have a very strong background in geography I was still confused about exactly where the author was writing about at a few points. The few maps provided were too limited and unclear.
One strength is the ease to reread the short chapters, so if you're looking to do some academic work on Napoleon this would be a great start. I found the writing short and to the point which was appreciated. Additionally, having a bibliography at the end of each chapter would make this book helpful for academics or those looking for further reading.
In spite of this volumes many flaws, academic and amateur historians would be well advised to start with this book because of its accessibility. Like all books on Napoleon you must read many books to have a full understanding of the man, but Robert Aspery is not a bad way to start an Napoleonic odyssey.

[Toyota · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the best I've read.
It pulls the reader on a journey from Corsica to Austerlitz with the authors dramatic competence in writing

[Ruth Eitemiller · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's so much I didn't know about Napoleon. This is a great biography, very engaging and easy to read, with enough humanity to keep it from ever feeling dry.

[Sam Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Asprey has done his research. This book is highly in depth, to the point that it is a very slow read, but no less fascinating.

[Barack Liu · Rating 5 out of 5]

551-The Rise and Fall of Napoleon-Robert B. Asprey-Biography-2000

Barack
2025/01/04

The Rise and Fall of Napoleon, first published in 2000, tells this fascinating story in rich narrative detail. It is an exciting, desperate thrill ride as Asprey documents Napoleon's rise to fame. Napoleon was neither a saint nor a sinner, but a man devoted to and ultimately consumed by his vision of himself, his empire, and his world.

Robert B. Asprey, born in 1923 in Sioux City, Iowa, is an American military historian and author, best known for his books on military history published between 1959 and 2001.

Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Ajaccio, Corsica, Kingdom of France in 1769 and died in Longwood, Saint Helena in 1821. He was a French military officer and politician who rose to fame during the French Revolution (May 5, 1789 - November 9, 1799) and led a series of successful campaigns in Europe during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1796 to 1815. He served as First Consul of the French Republic from 1799 to 1804, then Emperor of the French Empire from 1804 to 1814, and briefly ascended the throne again in 1815.

Born into an Italian family in Corsica, Napoleon moved to mainland France in 1779 and was appointed an officer in the French Royal Army in 1785. In 1789, he supported the French Revolution and promoted it in Corsica. He rose through the ranks quickly after winning the Siege of Toulon in 1793 and defeating royalist rebels in Paris on 13th of the Vincennes in 1795. In 1796, Napoleon commanded a decisive victory in the War of the First Coalition against the Austrians and their Italian allies, becoming a national hero. In 1798, he led an invasion of Egypt and Syria, which became a springboard for his seizure of political power. In November 1799, Napoleon orchestrated the Brumaire coup against the Directory and became the first consul of the Republic. In 1800, Napoleon won the Battle of Marengo, ensuring France's victory in the War of the Second Coalition, and in 1803 he sold the Louisiana Territory to the United States. In December 1804, Napoleon was crowned Emperor of France, further expanding his power.

The breakdown of the Treaty of Amiens led to the outbreak of the Third Coalition War in 1805. Napoleon's decisive victory at the Battle of Austerlitz crushed the anti-French coalition and the Holy Roman Empire disintegrated. In the Fourth Coalition War, Napoleon defeated Prussia at the Battle of Jena-Auerstedt in 1806, led the Grande Armée into Eastern Europe, and defeated the Russian army at the Battle of Friedland in 1807. In order to expand the trade embargo on Britain, Napoleon invaded the Iberian Peninsula and supported his brother Joseph as King of Spain in 1808, triggering the Peninsular War. In 1809, Austria challenged France again and the Fifth Coalition War broke out. Napoleon won the Battle of Wagram and consolidated his control over Europe. In the summer of 1812, he invaded Russia, but ended with a disastrous retreat of his army in the winter of that year. In 1813, Prussia and Austria joined Russia in the Sixth Coalition War, and Napoleon was defeated at the Battle of Leipzig. The Coalition invaded France and captured Paris, forcing Napoleon to abdicate in April 1814. They exiled him to the Mediterranean island of Elba and restored the Bourbon dynasty to power. Ten months later, Napoleon escaped from Elba on a brig and landed in France with a thousand men, marching on Paris and regaining control of the country. His opponents formed the Seventh Coalition and defeated him at the Battle of Waterloo in June 1815. Napoleon was exiled to the remote island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic, where he died of stomach cancer in 1821 at the age of 51.

Napoleon is considered one of the greatest military commanders in history, and his tactics are still studied in military schools around the world. He left behind a legacy of modernizing legal and administrative reforms in France and Western Europe through the Napoleonic Code. He established a system of public education, abolished the remnants of feudalism, liberated Jews and other religious minorities, abolished the Spanish Inquisition, established the principle of equality before the law for the emerging middle class, weakened religious authority, and centralized the state. His conquests became a catalyst for political change and the development of nation-states. However, he is controversial for his role in the wars that devastated Europe, his plunder of conquered territories, and his mixed record on civil rights. He abolished a free press, ended directly elected representative government, exiled and imprisoned critics of his regime, reinstated slavery in French colonies outside of Haiti, banned blacks and mixed-race people from entering France, curtailed the civil rights of French women and children, reintroduced hereditary monarchy and aristocracy, and violently suppressed popular uprisings against his rule.

Napoleon married Josephine in 1796, but they had no children. In 1806, Napoleon adopted Josephine's stepson, Eugène de Beauharnais (1781-1824), and his cousin, Stéphanie de Beauharnais (1789-1860), and arranged a dynastic marriage for them.

Napoleon had one son from his marriage to Marie Louise, Napoleon Francis Joseph Charles (Napoleon II) (1811-1832), who was called King of the Romans from birth. When Napoleon abdicated in 1815, he named his son's successor "Napoleon II", but the Allies refused to recognize him. He was given the title of Duke of Reichstadt in 1818 and died childless at the age of 21 of tuberculosis.

Napoleon admitted to having an illegitimate child: Charles Léon ( 1806-1881), by Eléonore de Nueille de La Plagne. Denuelle de La Plaigne . Alexandre Colonna -Walewski (1810–1868), the son of his Polish mistress Maria Walewska , is also generally believed to be his child, [484] and DNA evidence has confirmed this. He may have had other illegitimate children .

Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE : THE BOY 1769–1778
CHAPTER TWO: AUTUN, BRIENNE AND THE COLE MILITAIRE 1779–1785
CHAPTER THREE : THE STUDENT: VALENCE AND AUXONNE 1785–1789
CHAPTER FOUR: THE REVOLUTION AND THE REBEL: AUXONNE AND CORSICA 1789–1791
CHAPTER FIVE: AUXONNE, VALENCE, CORSICA, PARIS 1791–1792
CHAPTER SIX: THE PARIS CAULDRON MAY–OCTOBER 1792
CHAPTER SEVEN : END OF A DREAM CORSICA 1792–1793
CHAPTER EIGHT: NAPOLEON GOES TO WAR JULY–SEPTEMBER 1793
CHAPTER NINE: THE BATTLE OF TOULON NOVEMBER–DECEMBER 1793

The reason why I suddenly became interested in Napoleon is that today I had a sudden idea and specifically looked for some videos about MBTI personality analysis. The author of the video mentioned Napoleon as a representative figure of ENTJ to illustrate the advantages and disadvantages of this personality type. In terms of advantages, ENTJ people usually have a strong ambition to change the world and have above-average execution. They are not only strict with themselves, but also with others. This trait makes it easier for ENTJ to succeed in the secular sense. In terms of disadvantages, ENTJs often appear to be lacking in emotions. If they can have a good intimate relationship, the support and love from their partners will greatly enhance their abilities and allow them to better realize their potential. However, if they cannot get positive feedback in terms of emotions, the passion in this personality may turn against themselves and bring negative effects. Back to Napoleon himself, there are countless studies and discussions about him, and the author of the video cuts in from a unique perspective, believing that Napoleon's major mistakes in the Russian campaign and the final fatal defeat in the Battle of Waterloo were largely due to his problems in love. Napoleon was initially deeply in love with his wife Josephine, although her love for him was not that strong. However, as time went on, Josephine gradually began to accept and even fell in love with this man. But at this time, Napoleon fell in love with someone else. No one could restrain him anymore, and he seemed to have become a wild horse that had run away from the reins. It was this emotional imbalance that gradually made him lose his self-restraint, and then he made frequent mistakes in decision-making, which led to a series of failures in his later life.

There is a Chinese saying that "you can tell a person's future at the age of three and his old age at the age of eight". Although it is a bit exaggerated, it also reflects a truth: to predict a person's future, you must understand his present; and to understand a person's present, you need to trace his past. The impact of the environment on a person's growth, especially the early environment, is indeed profound. However, I do not completely agree with the view that "it is impossible to change after birth". Although it may be difficult to change after birth, it is not impossible. Sometimes, it may not require a subversive change, but just a moderate adjustment can bring significant differences. I think this is also the meaning of our learning - to make us better through understanding and correction. This kind of thinking reminds me of the arms in strategy games. Different arms have their own advantages and disadvantages. The key is how to play to their strengths and avoid their weaknesses and maximize their advantages. Similarly, people can find their best state through learning and adjustment. The book mentions that Napoleon once recalled: "I was a little handful except my mother, nothing and no one could impose the slightest restraint on me." Since childhood, Napoleon has shown an unruly personality, and this trait may also be destined for him to find a special person to balance himself. This person must not only have sound values, but also must be able to win Napoleon's deep love, because only deep love can make an extremely self-centered ENTJ like Napoleon put down his arrogance, feel awe, and be willing to listen and change. At the same time, this person's values must be positive to serve as a good guide for him. Looking back at Chinese history, similar examples are not uncommon. For example, Li Shimin, Zhu Yuanzhang, and even Qianlong, their temperaments changed after their beloved and kind wives died. Perhaps for these people who are obsessed with success, emotional support and guidance are indispensable.

Napoleon went to a good university when he was young. Although there are indeed many people who are self-taught, in general, entering an excellent university has a profound impact on a person's life. This impact is not only reflected in the explicit degree, but more importantly, the implicit resources, such as the social network and interpersonal relationships established during college. I used to think that friendship can be "long-term", and it is not too late to establish it in the future. However, now it seems that this idea is wrong. Many things are difficult to make up for if you miss a certain age. When a person is around 20 years old, he is often in a special stage of life-he has enough time and energy to make new friends, and his heart has not yet been filled with fixed views and responsibilities, and he is more receptive to new things. The friendship established at this time is not only more natural, but also more likely to become an important support in life. As we get older, our personality and values gradually solidify, and it becomes much more difficult to establish deep friendships. Looking at the examples in history, many early allies of the founding emperors often came from the same hometown, province, or even county. It is precisely because of the similar experiences in youth and many common languages that a stable alliance relationship can be formed. There is even a saying that "a founding team can be found in one county." This may be because interpersonal communication when we are young focuses more on personal interaction rather than the exchange of interests. On the other hand, when we establish connections when we are young, we don't have to worry about those who are not interested in us or look down on us. Because no matter success or failure, when we look back in the future, these people who intersect with us, the fragments in our memories will often have new meanings or even be reinterpreted. The value of these interpersonal interactions lies not in the opinions of others, but in the sincere connections established at that time. No matter what knowledge we learned or what degrees we obtained in college, it may not be as profound as the impact of these relationships and experiences on our lives.

It is said that Napoleon was bullied a lot when he was studying at the boys' school. He was small in stature, had poor French skills, came from a poor family, and had an unpleasant personality, so he was easily bullied by older and stronger classmates. In addition, it is said that there was a certain degree of homosexuality in the school, and perhaps he was also troubled by this when he was a teenager. These experiences undoubtedly left a shadow on his mind. Even though he later ascended to the pinnacle of power, these early psychological traumas would still accompany him to a certain extent and would be difficult to truly eliminate. A person's early experiences, especially those encountered during adolescence, often have a profound impact on the formation of a person's character. Those experiences are like the core of an onion. Although we continue to add layers of hard shells to ourselves over time, the harder we get outside, the more fragile we get inside. The core of the onion is the trace of early experiences, and they may never fully heal. In modern society, young people generally postpone marriage and childbirth, perhaps because they know that these choices mean huge responsibilities and investments. Because family environment and growth experience have such a profound impact on human nature, the earlier experiences are often the greater the impact, and can even profoundly shape a person's inner world and behavioral patterns.

After graduating from school, Napoleon entered the military camp and was just an ordinary junior officer at first. At that time, France was defeated in the war with Britain, and the entire army was in trouble and in urgent need of reform. There is an old saying that "times make heroes". It was precisely because of that turbulent period that many things were full of uncertainty, which created more possibilities. In contrast, in a long-term stable environment, many things will gradually proceed according to a fixed process. On the one hand, society is more orderly and everyone has higher expectations for the future; but on the other hand, it also reduces the opportunity to "break the rules and rewrite destiny". From a historical perspective, this change is often difficult for people to adapt. Just as "being in this mountain, you don't know the true face of Mount Lu", when we are in the tide of the times, it is easy to be shrouded by the predicament in front of us and ignore the opportunities hidden in it. However, the significance of learning history lies in this-it forces us to withdraw from ourselves and look at problems from a more rational and macro perspective. When we look back at the past over a long period of time, we can more clearly realize the existence of those turning points. Of course, it is easy to say, but in the real context of history, it is never easy to identify and seize these turning points. History will not simply repeat itself, so it is important to record what a person did in a specific situation, but it is more important to understand the meaning behind it. When we look at these historical events from a higher perspective and transcend the entanglement in details, we may be able to reduce the feeling of being blinded by the current predicament and look at the problem more rationally.

Napoleon is a controversial figure. He tried to restore the monarchy and wanted to become emperor, but on the other hand, he made great efforts to weaken the influence of religious forces in Europe and promoted social changes in many aspects. However, what future generations may remember more is his brilliant achievements as a great military commander. He did not inherit power from his father, but gained it by leading the army and fighting with his own sword and gun. Even a foreigner like me would be shocked by the extraordinary achievements he established. Even in modern democratic society, I can still imagine the reverence and enthusiasm that the French have for Napoleon. After all, human beings seem to always tend to admire the strong, especially those who have extraordinary abilities and can create great things. In the face of these achievements, people are often willing to overlook their many shortcomings. However, we are only mortals after all. From history, many great men rarely make mistakes in the later stages of their careers. Perhaps it is because great success not only makes followers fanatical, but also makes them fanatical. This kind of fanaticism will devour rationality and eventually lead to self-destruction. Therefore, true greatness may lie in whether one can always maintain self-discipline, as if there is a "rope" tied to oneself, so as to maintain a balance between reason and passion.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast paced prose - action, adventure and drama

Asprey does a truly remarkable job retelling events that brought rise to the Emperor. His battles are fast pace and descriptive. He really brings out the Napoleon Bonaparte battlefield genius.

He also depicts France in the post revolution period as one fraught with danger of poor alliances and deception. He filled in many of my blank spots regarding the period after the throne was toppled and before Napoleon became the consulate leader.

The geography was extremely comp!icated. I had my map app open numerous times and found the links to the maps in the book to not work or lack detail.

Sometimes the names and locations were too much too fast. Almost like expository text. Perhaps providing more background may have made the book too long. I don't know.

I am excited to read the demise in book 2.

[Tobias Hendriksen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although this started out as one of the better biographies I had read on the rise of Napoleon, I quickly realized how the author does not check his sources. For example, in discussing Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord he claimed that Talleyrand's club foot is from a carriage accident. This is false. Historians all agree that this clubfoot was from childhood, as even Talleyrand suggests in his Memoirs.

[Batu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think world history was in the curriculum for my high school because I have never had much of an idea about why Napoleon was such a big deal. Well, this book satisfied that deficiency in spades. It is a thorough, but not stodgy, biography of Bonaparte's early years, school years, and early military career written in a completely accessible style. It doesn't read like a history book and the maps make the events easier to understand. Highly recommend.

[Scott Cedotal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I understand why Napoleon is the historical figure that he is. As for great generals, in my opinion he ranks up there with Alexander, Caesar and Hannibal.

[Dave Benner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best Napoleon biography series.

[Frederick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting biography but may be enjoyed more by those interested in military history than the average reader.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introduction and military history, but lacking on a lot of key questions.

I picked this book up not knowing much about Napoleon the man and his impact on European history. I took away a very well written and very readable history of the man.

The broad points are interesting - we see Napoleon's rise from a Corsican idealist and rebel to a military student, with a strong pedigree developed by a family of low-ranking nobility.

The account of Napoleon taking on commands on behalf of a French Army largely abandoned by it's leaders (members of the ousted nobility) is strongly written, and the authors account of Napoleon's passion and military acumen is compelling (and betrays a great deal of admiration).

The political aspect is severely lacking. There are passing references to Napoleon supporting republican and Jacobin causes and philosophies, but these issues are touched lightly. It is apparent that the author both holds the Jacobins in disdain and greatly admires Napoleon the military leader - with predictable result. Similarly, the author mentions the enormous effort put forth by Napoleon in crafting the Napeoleonic codes, but fails to really explain what those codes changed and accomplished. The most detail given to domestic policy is describing monuments and bridges.

BUT I still HIGHLY recommend this book. It gives a strong picture of Napoleon's rise, and reads almost as easily as an adventure novel in parts. It also gives a clear picture of why Napoleon rose so fast to Emperor - in his mid 20s, he was given multiple commands of poorly organized armies and routinely defeated neighboring states that posed a threat to the young French Republic, and managed to establish a sense of order in a France that could just have easily become a failed state.

A history of the philosophy and politics of Napoleonic France this is not (and, to the authors credit, he does not attempt to provide oversimplistic summaries of issues that he does not cover in depth - he mentions them briefly and moves on, allowing a reader easily to understand the scope of the book and not be misled by information beyond the scope of the authors interest and expertise). It is, however, a wonderfully written book that provides an excellent overview of Napoleon the man and how he helped shape modern Europe

[Jeff Clay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Admittedly never much of a Napoleon 'fan' I became intrigued after visiting the site of his (military) demise: Waterloo. Who was this guy? How did he go from nobody to defender of the Revolution to dictator par extraordinaire? This book -- and the second volume that follows -- does less of an effort to explain who he was, and focuses more what he became. In other words, this is not a psychological study of Napoleon the Man, but rather a travelogue of his life. And, what a life it was. I'm hard-pressed to think of another person in recent history that dreamed as large as he did and just fell short of fulfilling it.

This is not a fanboy book nor one replete with numerous negative asides. Asprey's treatment is very even-handed. He spares little gory detail but he also does not wallow in it. The author is a military historian and both books move along in an episodic fashion perhaps expected of this style of writing.

I have read somewhere that after Jesus, Napoleon is the most written about historical figure. That may well be true, but after completing both books, my curiosity for Napoleon was whetted. As a recommend, you could not go wrong with Asprey's rendering of this fascinating person. As a biographer he did what he should have done: he made a historical caricature a real human.

[Todd Stockslager · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perhaps my letdown by this book was inevitable coming as it did immediately after my reading of Doris Kearns Goodwin's demythification of Lincoln's human leadership power (see my review of Team of Rivals). Neither subject nor author could measure up here.

In any case, this "battlefield biography" never really tells who Napoleon was, but what he did on the field of battle, and that with an over-reliance on secondary sources and unsupported generalizations and opinions.

This book was followed by "The Fall of Napoleon Bonaparte" by the author, but not by me.

The most enlightening part of the book was the statement Napoleon purportedly made at his coronation as Emperor of France, leaning over to his brother and whispering: "If only our father could see us now." That one quote tells more of the personality and motivation then hundreds of pages of battlefield maneuvering. Here was not a monster or maniac, or even a masterful monarch, doing great things on a great stage, here was a young man with verve and vigor emulating and now far exceeding his father, and wishing for his approval and adoration.

Skip this one.

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a very good book regarding the circumstances surrounding Napoleon's rise to power. Asprey clearly explains the strategy and troop movements of Napoleon's campaigns, but I was hoping for more depth on the tactics of the major battles. It is understandable though given that this is a biography, and not a military history of a particular campaign. This book would be a great book for an introduction to Napoleon's life, or someone who has read several books on him (like myself). I can't comment on what experts on the time period would think, but those are probably a small fraction of the people who would read this review anyway.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Detailed but not very deep. It does cover a lot, however, and to get more into politics, etc. would require a much longer book - or several more books. This book is concerned with Napoleon and it focuses on Napoleon, his campaigns and his rise to power. Though I thought the early chapters indicated more background than was in the rest of the book, I was looking for the basics and I got what I wanted. But now I want more.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good chronological account of the life of Napoleon from his birth to when he crowns himself emperor. The book is good if a bit bland and needs more maps for the campaign's as they are hard to follow if you are not intimately familiar with the area. The author is a Napoleon fan boy at least to a small degree and tends to emphasize the positives and minimize the negatives of his Napoleons actions. Still a very good well researched account with ample sources annotated.

[Bruce · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy-to-read account of Napoleon's life from his Corsican origins to the victory at Austerlitz. He was a remarkable, if flawed, individual and an exceptionally brilliant military leader. Unfortunately, his ambition, need for power and hatred of England eventually did him in, as we all know. If you're interested in learning more about him, this is a good place to start.

[Madly Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. It's a good look at Napoleon and provided me with the information I needed for my WIP. I love reading nonfiction. There's a lot here on how the Napoleon made good use of the French Revolution and what a great thinker he was. He was also an egomaniac. The latter destroyed him. He just went after more than he needed.

[Autumn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really the Napoleon biography I was looking for, but reasonably easy to read and informative. Very much a military history. Very flat style of writing which was almost unreadable when discussing troop movements. Hope to find another biography of Napoleon that places him more firmly in his time and discusses the social and political aspects of his life.