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Napoleon III: A Life
A biography of the French president turned emperor discusses his empire-building, his role in creating the Italian nation, his many public works projects, and his eventual defeat by the Prussians
488 pages, Hardcover
First published October 18, 1999
About the author
Fenton Bresler
29 books1 followerFenton Bresler was a barrister, newspaper columnist, television pundit and author of many books, including biographies of the Belgian novelist Georges Simenon and the judge Lord Goddard. Bresler was educated at the local grammar school, the Sorbonne in Paris and King's College, London, before being called to the bar in 1951.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 26, 2013
A perfectly competent biography of an odd case--a kind of useless man who managed to somehow place himself at the crux of European history for the middle of the 19th century. Somewhat like its subject, it manages to be interesting and important without being brilliant.
This is the kind of book you have to be a history buff to care about. Napoleon I is one thing--everyone's heard of him. Do you care about the Crimean and Franco-Prussian wars? Then you might like this book. Not quite sure where or when those wars happened? This might not be for you.
Although if you're really interested in the Crimean and Franco-Prussian wars, this still might not be for you. It's a very personal biography, far more interested in the minutiae of Napoleon III's life than the actual events of his reign. Not that they're not covered, just that they're not covered in enormous detail.
What he is passionate about covering are the kinds of debates that loom large in the mind of a Napoleon III biographer and less so in ours. Who was his real father? Was his death caused by medical incompetence? Clearly the debate among historians is heated, from the tone, but for outsiders it's more just amusing how vehement the author gets.
Anyway--competent biography about one of the most major minor or minor major figures in 19th century European history.
This is the kind of book you have to be a history buff to care about. Napoleon I is one thing--everyone's heard of him. Do you care about the Crimean and Franco-Prussian wars? Then you might like this book. Not quite sure where or when those wars happened? This might not be for you.
Although if you're really interested in the Crimean and Franco-Prussian wars, this still might not be for you. It's a very personal biography, far more interested in the minutiae of Napoleon III's life than the actual events of his reign. Not that they're not covered, just that they're not covered in enormous detail.
What he is passionate about covering are the kinds of debates that loom large in the mind of a Napoleon III biographer and less so in ours. Who was his real father? Was his death caused by medical incompetence? Clearly the debate among historians is heated, from the tone, but for outsiders it's more just amusing how vehement the author gets.
Anyway--competent biography about one of the most major minor or minor major figures in 19th century European history.
March 3, 2024
My reading this book was a bit of a fluke. My 12 year old son checked it out of the school library and I saw it in his backpack. I said why did you check this out? His reply? “I don’t know I just grab it” 😂
Well I read the intro and it got me interested enough to read the whole book.
I really like history and know very little about French history I wanted to find out more.
I think when people hear the name Napoleon they think of the one associated with the battle of Waterloo but this is about his nephew.
If you like history I recommend this book. The one thing I struggled with is there some things described in French so I couldn’t understand it but on many occasion an English translation is given right after.
It’s a sad story really. While the man had his good ideas, many of which changed Paris into the city we see today, he was too blinded by the power he wanted.
And he couldn’t keep it in his pants. I lost count on how many illegitimate children he had!
Well I read the intro and it got me interested enough to read the whole book.
I really like history and know very little about French history I wanted to find out more.
I think when people hear the name Napoleon they think of the one associated with the battle of Waterloo but this is about his nephew.
If you like history I recommend this book. The one thing I struggled with is there some things described in French so I couldn’t understand it but on many occasion an English translation is given right after.
It’s a sad story really. While the man had his good ideas, many of which changed Paris into the city we see today, he was too blinded by the power he wanted.
And he couldn’t keep it in his pants. I lost count on how many illegitimate children he had!
December 27, 2018
I freely admit to having a fondness for Napoleon III and France's Second Empire. The history of France in the 19th century is one of constant change and chaos with islands of stability. The Second Empire provided plenty of both.
Bresler focuses almost entirely on the person Charles-Louis Napoléon Bonaparte and the events in his life, leaving the larger history of the age to play in the background. We see how the family dynamics of the first Napoleon created the circumstances of his birth, how the family exile post-Waterloo shaped his views and turned the young Prince from an impetuous actor to the careful plotter who eventually went from prisoner to President to Emperor in a remarkably short time.
My only complaint with the book is Bresler occasionally drops French phrases in with no explanation. This is forgivable, as you can easily look them up, but it is a distraction.
Bresler focuses almost entirely on the person Charles-Louis Napoléon Bonaparte and the events in his life, leaving the larger history of the age to play in the background. We see how the family dynamics of the first Napoleon created the circumstances of his birth, how the family exile post-Waterloo shaped his views and turned the young Prince from an impetuous actor to the careful plotter who eventually went from prisoner to President to Emperor in a remarkably short time.
My only complaint with the book is Bresler occasionally drops French phrases in with no explanation. This is forgivable, as you can easily look them up, but it is a distraction.
June 4, 2021
As Bresler recounts, Queen Victoria was positively smitten by Napoleon III's extraordinary grace and wit on his triumphal state visit to London early in his reign. Victoria's husband Prince Albert was more guarded, sensing Napoleon's capacity for treachery. As Bresler shows throughout this biography, both reactions were entirely valid. I found it enchanting to see the whole lifespan of this singularly cunning, grandiose, pompous, brilliant, and charming giant of the mid-19th century. And Bresler's prose is engaging to such an unusual degree that I'm disappointed that he never wrote on any other subject that I would find interesting. He has clearly done his research, and goes out of his way to astutely clarify issues that have confounded previous biographers -- these clarifications are never strictly vital, but certainly enhance the reading experience and the reader's overall understanding.
November 28, 2024
This book has left me so distraught that I went out of my way to create a Goodreads account just to share my experience with this god-awful work.
I care deeply about the historical importance of Napoleon III, and perhaps my lack of reading detailed reviews beforehand made me gullible to the content of this book. To clarify for those truly interested in buying it: you will most definitely leave knowing something you likely didn’t know before reading it (this is a positive). However, after finishing around 416 pages, I’ve come to a detailed conclusion about this work.
First, this book is not an analysis of the reign of Napoleon III. Instead, it’s largely a review of the sexual deviance of this Imperator as well as open-ended questions left by the author.. By the time you reach the halfway point, you will finally encounter Napoleon III ascending to the throne of France.
My biggest quarrel lies with the chapters following his ascension. While it can be inferred that Napoleon III was not as integral to French history as his uncle, this book often sacrifices detail for pacing. Chapters, often no longer than 20 pages, attempt to summarize four years of his aristocratic career into brief overviews. These summaries flow together in a way that makes it nearly impossible to grasp the significance of his policies and programs at a granular level.
A glaring example is the reorganization of Paris into the architectural and luxurious city we know today. This transformative initiative is glossed over in a way that undermines its importance.
Overall, this book has been extremely displeasing, and I would not recommend it to those seeking a substantive analysis of Napoleon III’s reign.
I care deeply about the historical importance of Napoleon III, and perhaps my lack of reading detailed reviews beforehand made me gullible to the content of this book. To clarify for those truly interested in buying it: you will most definitely leave knowing something you likely didn’t know before reading it (this is a positive). However, after finishing around 416 pages, I’ve come to a detailed conclusion about this work.
First, this book is not an analysis of the reign of Napoleon III. Instead, it’s largely a review of the sexual deviance of this Imperator as well as open-ended questions left by the author.. By the time you reach the halfway point, you will finally encounter Napoleon III ascending to the throne of France.
My biggest quarrel lies with the chapters following his ascension. While it can be inferred that Napoleon III was not as integral to French history as his uncle, this book often sacrifices detail for pacing. Chapters, often no longer than 20 pages, attempt to summarize four years of his aristocratic career into brief overviews. These summaries flow together in a way that makes it nearly impossible to grasp the significance of his policies and programs at a granular level.
A glaring example is the reorganization of Paris into the architectural and luxurious city we know today. This transformative initiative is glossed over in a way that undermines its importance.
Overall, this book has been extremely displeasing, and I would not recommend it to those seeking a substantive analysis of Napoleon III’s reign.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2025
Far from being a dry historical account of the life of the nephew of Napoleon I , this is a fascinating story of ambition and hubris, filled with anecdotes and interesting detail. Who knew that this was the man who gave us Hausmann and the redesign of Paris and extravagance of the Second Empire? After the fall of Napoleon Bonaparte and his banishment to St Helena, it is surprising to learn of the continuing support for a Bonaparte dynasty. Indeed the Emperor and his Empress eventually became close friends of Queen Victoria. Louis Napoleon, sex addict, conspirator, charmer is well covered in this book written and thoroughly investigated by English barrister Fenton Bresler.
October 7, 2019
Napoleon III was a person I only knew a little about, so this was a nice biography to let me see the overall picture of his life. I enjoyed the information, the writing style was a little dull for me. Overall, worth it if the Bonaparte family after the famous Napoleon is of interest to you.
September 13, 2017
A well-written biography of a key figure in 19th century French history, focusing on his personal life and family.
December 5, 2015
Louis Napoleon Bonaparte was the son of the great Napoleon's brother Joseph and his wife Hortense - who herself was the daughter of the great Napoleon's first wife Josephine. This "double relation" endeared Louis to his uncle, but did little to endear him to his own father (who had married Hortense for family/political reason far more than because it was a love match of any sort.
Although Louis's parents were briefly king and Queen of Holland, after the defeat and exile of Napoleon, the family were very high end refugees barred from entering France. Louis was very much his mother's son, while his older brother was much closer to his father and the relationship between father and son never warmed.
Whe Napoleon's son (by his second wife) and older brother died, Louis was suddenly third in line to the throne of and when a Bonaparte restoration was achieved. The sudden death of his older brother put him even closer.
From here Louis begins a lifetime of scheming and planning to regain the French throne. He spent more than 20 years doing this. Unfortunately, Louis was a far better conspirator than leader and while things were easy his "second empire" was a success. Louis's greatest achievement was, perhaps, the building of the Paris that we know today. His focus on the arts and design and architecture are his enduring legacy to France and her people.
Strangely, after investing so much time, energy, and money into a Bonaparte restoration, when Louis was confronted with a humiliating defeat to the Germans at Sedan, he chose to abdicate and give himself up as a prisoner of war than to put his own troops through any more of the German "meat grinder."
For this, he has been thanked by the French people by almost complete expunging of his name from
French history or culture. Nice job!
Although Louis's parents were briefly king and Queen of Holland, after the defeat and exile of Napoleon, the family were very high end refugees barred from entering France. Louis was very much his mother's son, while his older brother was much closer to his father and the relationship between father and son never warmed.
Whe Napoleon's son (by his second wife) and older brother died, Louis was suddenly third in line to the throne of and when a Bonaparte restoration was achieved. The sudden death of his older brother put him even closer.
From here Louis begins a lifetime of scheming and planning to regain the French throne. He spent more than 20 years doing this. Unfortunately, Louis was a far better conspirator than leader and while things were easy his "second empire" was a success. Louis's greatest achievement was, perhaps, the building of the Paris that we know today. His focus on the arts and design and architecture are his enduring legacy to France and her people.
Strangely, after investing so much time, energy, and money into a Bonaparte restoration, when Louis was confronted with a humiliating defeat to the Germans at Sedan, he chose to abdicate and give himself up as a prisoner of war than to put his own troops through any more of the German "meat grinder."
For this, he has been thanked by the French people by almost complete expunging of his name from
French history or culture. Nice job!
March 4, 2016
Not as well known as Napoleon I, Napoleon III ruled France much longer than Napoleon I and died in exile on British soil, just as the first Napoleon did. A well researched book, this covers his entire life from his childhood growing up with all the Bonaparte in France and in exile. If anyone could justify having a Napoleon Complex, it is this guy. He tried to create revolts a number of times and failed each time before finally coming over from England to accept his role as leader. Perhaps because there was so much to this man that could be covered, only an overview from each chapter of his life was provided.
His invasion of Mexico, for instance, was not covered indepth, but the writer viewed one of the motives was to strengthen Catholicism in the face of the warring Protestant nations to the North.
His fall caused by the Franco-Prussian War was merely discussed as was the decision to have war with Prussia.
His invasion of Mexico, for instance, was not covered indepth, but the writer viewed one of the motives was to strengthen Catholicism in the face of the warring Protestant nations to the North.
His fall caused by the Franco-Prussian War was merely discussed as was the decision to have war with Prussia.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews