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This Dark Business: The Secret War Against Napoleon
Between two attempts in 1800 and 1804 to assassinate Napoleon Bonaparte, the British government launched a campaign of black propaganda of unprecedented scope and intensity to persuade George III's reluctant subjects to fight the Napoleonic War, a war to the death against one man: the Corsican usurper and tyrant.
This Dark Business tells the story of the British government's determination to destroy Napoleon Bonaparte by any means possible. We have been taught to think of Napoleon as the aggressor - a man with an unquenchable thirst for war and glory - but what if this story masked the real truth: that the British refusal to make peace either with revolutionary France or with the man who claimed to personify the revolution was the reason this Great War continued for more than twenty years? At this pivotal moment when it consolidated its place as number one world power Britain was uncompromising. To secure the continuing rule of Church and King, the British invented an evil enemy, the perpetrator of any number of dark deeds; and having blackened Napoleon's name, with the help of networks of French royalist spies and hitmen, they also tried to assassinate him.
This Dark Business plunges the reader into the hidden underworld of Georgian politics in which, faced with the terrifying prospect of revolution, bribery and coercion are the normal means to secure compliance, a ruthless world of spies, plots and lies.
This Dark Business tells the story of the British government's determination to destroy Napoleon Bonaparte by any means possible. We have been taught to think of Napoleon as the aggressor - a man with an unquenchable thirst for war and glory - but what if this story masked the real truth: that the British refusal to make peace either with revolutionary France or with the man who claimed to personify the revolution was the reason this Great War continued for more than twenty years? At this pivotal moment when it consolidated its place as number one world power Britain was uncompromising. To secure the continuing rule of Church and King, the British invented an evil enemy, the perpetrator of any number of dark deeds; and having blackened Napoleon's name, with the help of networks of French royalist spies and hitmen, they also tried to assassinate him.
This Dark Business plunges the reader into the hidden underworld of Georgian politics in which, faced with the terrifying prospect of revolution, bribery and coercion are the normal means to secure compliance, a ruthless world of spies, plots and lies.
420 pages, Hardcover
First published August 2, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 22, 2024
I had heard good reports about Tim Clayton’s books, and decided to read this one because it was available through Highland libraries. The book focuses on a particular aspect of the Napoleonic conflict, and unfortunately it didn’t hold my interest. I’m still willing to try other books by the author.
He comments at the beginning that there is an enduring perception of Napoleon as “a dwarfish megalomaniac who could not rest content unless he was fighting a war.” I would agree that perception exists, in the UK at least. He suggests this is an unfair portrayal that resulted from a relentless and successful British propaganda campaign against Napoleon, something which arose from a determination on the part of the British government to destroy Napoleon by whatever means possible.
The bulk of the book is then taken up with details of the propaganda campaign, covering the period 1799-1804 when Bonaparte was First Consul of France, and ending with his coronation as Emperor. At the beginning of his term as First Consul, there was considerable sympathy for Napoleon amongst “liberal” opinion in the UK, but the author argues this had disappeared by 1802, as a result of the propaganda.
It seemed a little puzzling to me that everyone changed their minds as a result of what was being said in political pamphlets and newspapers. The British press of the period was noted for its scathing criticism of the government and the monarchy, savagely lampooning them in cartoons that make today’s social media look tame in comparison. It seemed strange that these same people tamely swallowed the anti-Napoleon propaganda fed to them by the government. However I lack the knowledge to argue against the author’s case. From a personal point of view though, I found this part of the book boring. There are lengthy descriptions of what was being said in documents and newspapers from the time.
About the last third of the book covers British attempts to assassinate Napoleon, using Frenchmen who were adherents of the ancien régime. I found this section a more interesting read, though of course the reader is aware in advance that the plots were unsuccessful. One feature of the period was that the assassination of a country’s leader was considered a very shocking act, and the revelation of these plots caused much anti-British feeling across the continent.
I have no strong feelings about the author’s generally pro-Napoleon viewpoint, though there was at least one occasion when I felt he stretched this a bit far. This was in describing the death of a French royalist general, Jean Charles Pichegru, who had been involved in an attempted coup against Napoleon in 1803. He was found dead in his cell ahead of his trial, having suffered death by garrote. The author concludes that his death was suicide, something which, given the method involved, seems to me quite unlikely.
That apart, I have no criticism of the historical research undertaken by the author. It’s just that, all in all, I found the book a bit of a struggle.
He comments at the beginning that there is an enduring perception of Napoleon as “a dwarfish megalomaniac who could not rest content unless he was fighting a war.” I would agree that perception exists, in the UK at least. He suggests this is an unfair portrayal that resulted from a relentless and successful British propaganda campaign against Napoleon, something which arose from a determination on the part of the British government to destroy Napoleon by whatever means possible.
The bulk of the book is then taken up with details of the propaganda campaign, covering the period 1799-1804 when Bonaparte was First Consul of France, and ending with his coronation as Emperor. At the beginning of his term as First Consul, there was considerable sympathy for Napoleon amongst “liberal” opinion in the UK, but the author argues this had disappeared by 1802, as a result of the propaganda.
It seemed a little puzzling to me that everyone changed their minds as a result of what was being said in political pamphlets and newspapers. The British press of the period was noted for its scathing criticism of the government and the monarchy, savagely lampooning them in cartoons that make today’s social media look tame in comparison. It seemed strange that these same people tamely swallowed the anti-Napoleon propaganda fed to them by the government. However I lack the knowledge to argue against the author’s case. From a personal point of view though, I found this part of the book boring. There are lengthy descriptions of what was being said in documents and newspapers from the time.
About the last third of the book covers British attempts to assassinate Napoleon, using Frenchmen who were adherents of the ancien régime. I found this section a more interesting read, though of course the reader is aware in advance that the plots were unsuccessful. One feature of the period was that the assassination of a country’s leader was considered a very shocking act, and the revelation of these plots caused much anti-British feeling across the continent.
I have no strong feelings about the author’s generally pro-Napoleon viewpoint, though there was at least one occasion when I felt he stretched this a bit far. This was in describing the death of a French royalist general, Jean Charles Pichegru, who had been involved in an attempted coup against Napoleon in 1803. He was found dead in his cell ahead of his trial, having suffered death by garrote. The author concludes that his death was suicide, something which, given the method involved, seems to me quite unlikely.
That apart, I have no criticism of the historical research undertaken by the author. It’s just that, all in all, I found the book a bit of a struggle.
September 26, 2018
Tim Clayton has produced some very well regarded historical books in recent years covering the Napoleonic era. I rated his 'Trafalgar' a five star read, and his work on 'Waterloo' received very favourable reviews. 'This Dark Business' is a most interesting and finely researched addition to his collection.
Clayton has exposed the multi-Machiavellian conspiracies initiated by the British government of King George III against the person of Napoleon Bonaparte in the early years of the nineteenth century. Unearthing a plethora of secret agents, double agents and British Ambassadors in Europe, in plots to assassinate the First Consul in Paris. A tangled web of intrigue and black propaganda, orchestrated from Downing Street, employing press and pamphleteers to portray 'Boney' as the usurper/aggressor, to support French Bourbon royalist spies across the Channel, and to promote the war.
Almost makes the CIA look like the Tufty Club.
Clayton has exposed the multi-Machiavellian conspiracies initiated by the British government of King George III against the person of Napoleon Bonaparte in the early years of the nineteenth century. Unearthing a plethora of secret agents, double agents and British Ambassadors in Europe, in plots to assassinate the First Consul in Paris. A tangled web of intrigue and black propaganda, orchestrated from Downing Street, employing press and pamphleteers to portray 'Boney' as the usurper/aggressor, to support French Bourbon royalist spies across the Channel, and to promote the war.
Almost makes the CIA look like the Tufty Club.
June 29, 2020
Tim Clayton’s book on Napoleonic espionage is packed so full of detail that most of the time it is difficult to follow the narrative.
The first half-ish of the book is about English journalistic propaganda against Bonaparte. Interesting in reflecting on our own times how little has changed since then. The second half ramps up the spying and assassination aspect of the tale, which is a little more exciting, but still full of detail for those that crave for this. There is a very comprehensive account (Chapter 16-Worse than a Crime) on the execution of Louis-Antoine-Henri, duc d’Enghien which is worth the price of admission alone.
This is a great resource to come back to if studying this subject, otherwise it is not exactly a ripping yarn.
The first half-ish of the book is about English journalistic propaganda against Bonaparte. Interesting in reflecting on our own times how little has changed since then. The second half ramps up the spying and assassination aspect of the tale, which is a little more exciting, but still full of detail for those that crave for this. There is a very comprehensive account (Chapter 16-Worse than a Crime) on the execution of Louis-Antoine-Henri, duc d’Enghien which is worth the price of admission alone.
This is a great resource to come back to if studying this subject, otherwise it is not exactly a ripping yarn.
June 27, 2024
A well researched expose' on the British governments real role in helping plan and fund the attempts on Napoleon's life and their ultimate attempts to foment unrest and revolution in France to bring back the discredited and incompetent French royal Bourbons. I woukd have liked the author either in this work, or in a subsequent book, to explore the British governments role on plotting and funding the final assassination of Napoleon on St. Helena
June 27, 2023
Ondanks dat het een populair wetenschappelijk boek is lees je toch het en der de wetenschappelijke insteek erin terug. Toch duizelen de vele namen je als lezer en weet je soms niet meer welke rol welke Fransman had in alle complotten die voorbij komen.
October 21, 2024
The author sets out in great detail British government involvement in two distinct issues: plots to murder Napoleon and his treatment by the British press. Whether the volume of information is wearisome rather depends on whether one accepts or is interested in his overriding thesis, that the government pursued a single minded policy against Napoleon for its own motives. These are not analysed but seem to have included building a colonial empire. The author claims to be neutral as to Napoleon's motives and character but consistently finds excuses for his controversial acts. The death of Pichegru is absurdly put down to suicide and the killing of d'Enghien rates no comment. The discussion of the massacre of Ottoman prisoners is confined to an endnote and cites only two authorities, both recent English language historians. The swing in British liberal opinion against Napoleon during the Peace of Amiens is ascribed to government propaganda, implying that Napoleon's own acts counted for nothing. My personal conclusion is that the author is a Napoleon fan boy (I've not read any other of his books) but lacks the courage or material to make a positive case.
March 27, 2019
An interesting view
I enjoyed this piece of history perhaps perversely as it addresses British subterfuge. The author addresses a couple of lots to assassinate Napoleon. He covers both the British planning to kill Napoleon and the French counter espionage work to frustrate British activities. There are a number of pen portraits of a large cast of characters, many of these are fascinating, particularly where they change sides or act as double agents. If there is fault in the book it is the recounting of trips made and meetings held, which I would have thought could have been reduced with careful editing.
I enjoyed this piece of history perhaps perversely as it addresses British subterfuge. The author addresses a couple of lots to assassinate Napoleon. He covers both the British planning to kill Napoleon and the French counter espionage work to frustrate British activities. There are a number of pen portraits of a large cast of characters, many of these are fascinating, particularly where they change sides or act as double agents. If there is fault in the book it is the recounting of trips made and meetings held, which I would have thought could have been reduced with careful editing.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews