The History of Napoleon Bonaparte

by John Gibson Lockhart

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“Courage cannot be counterfeited. It is the one virtue that escapes hypocrisy.” – Napoleon

When historians are asked to list the most influential people of the last 200 years, a handful of names might vary, but there is no question that the list will include Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821), the most successful French leader since Charlemagne and widely acknowledged one of the greatest generals ever. Indeed, Napoleon was likely the most influential man of the 19th century, leaving an indelible mark on everything from the strategy and tactics of warfare to the Napoleonic Code that drafted laws across the continent. To defeat Napoleon, the Europeans had to form large coalitions multiple times, which helped bring about the entangling alliances that sparked World War I after Europe was rebuilt following Waterloo and the Congress of Vienna. Napoleon’s influence on the United States was also palpable. To finance his endeavors, he struck a deal with President Thomas Jefferson that became the Louisiana Purchase, and it was Napoleonic warfare that was used throughout the Civil War, leading to massive casualties because the weaponry of the 1860s was now more advanced than the tactics of 1815.

When Napoleon died at St. Helena, he still engendered fear and distaste among the Europeans, but the man and his legacy continued to be held in awe across the world. In Napoleon’s time, emperors and leaders still hoped to become the next Julius Caesar. After the Napoleonic Era, emperors and generals hoped to become the next Napoleon. For the next century, military leaders and even civilians struck Napoleonic poses when having their pictures taken, and phrases like “Napoleonic complex” and “meeting one’s Waterloo” are now common phrases in the English lexicon. It would be truly impossible to envision or understand geopolitics in the West over the last two centuries without Napoleon.

With the passage of time, Napoleon’s legacy has had time to crystallize, but the legends, myths, and controversies about the man and his empire continue to swirl. Was he really short? Did his men shoot the nose off the Sphinx? Was he a good chess player? Was he poisoned by the British? In the rush to analyze his stunningly successful military record or question whether he was very short or a great chess player, people often overlook his political reign and personality.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Military Fiction, France

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1829

About the author

John Gibson Lockhart was a Scottish writer and editor. He is best known as the author of a biography of his father-in-law Sir Walter Scott, which has been called the second most admirable in the English language, after Boswell's Life of Johnson.

Between 1818 and 1825 Lockhart worked indefatigably. In 1819 Peter's Letters to his Kinsfolk appeared, and in 1822 he edited Peter Motteux's edition of Don Quixote, to which he prefixed a life of Cervantes. Four novels followed: Valerius in 1821, Some Passages in the Life of Mr. Adam Blair, Minister of Gospel at Cross Meikle in 1822, Reginald Dalton in 1823 and Matthew Wald in 1824. But his strength did not lie in novel writing. In 1825 Lockhart accepted the editorship of the Quarterly Review, which had been in the hands of Sir John Taylor Coleridge since William Gifford's resignation in 1824. His major work was the Life of Sir Walter Scott (7 vols, 1837—1838; 2nd ed., 10 vols., 1839).

Reviews

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well written look at the fascinating life of Napoleon, something I previously only knew fragments of. Although written some time ago, it was clearly well researched and gives an idea of the scale of the Napoleonic wars.

[Milton McDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great biography, reminds me of the style of Plutarch.

[Beth Robinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This biography covered Napoleon's rise and fall. It focused most on the battles and the troop movements and generals that won or lost them. But it also included some speeches and letters and other material that was relevant to the political changes. The style is a bit different than today's biographies and the author's Englishness shows through occasionally, but overall it seems a factual accounting, not a highly slanted one. It was a decent read.

[Hugo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another mistake on my part. I don't know what it is with English writers(maybe because of the history with Napoleon)but they suck at this topic.

[Harshit · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent yet sometimes too much of a detailed account of one of the greatest and popular conqueror.

[Wm · Rating 5 out of 5]

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