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The Invisible Emperor: Napoleon on Elba from Exile to Escape
Part forensic investigation, part dramatic jailbreak adventure, Mark Braude's The Invisible Emperor is a gripping narrative history of Napoleon Bonaparte's ten-month exile on the Mediterranean island of Elba
In the spring of 1814, Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated. Having overseen an empire spanning half the European continent and governed the lives of some eighty million people, he suddenly found himself exiled to Elba, less than a hundred square miles of territory. This would have been the end of him, if Europe's rulers had had their way, and Napoleon for a time seemed resigned to a quiet retirement in this idyllic setting. But soon enough Napoleon imposed his preternatural charisma and historic ambition on both his captors and the very island itself, plotting his return to France and to power. After ten months of exile, he escaped Elba with just of over a thousand supporters in tow, landed near Antibes, marched to Paris, and retook the Tuileries Palace--all without firing a shot. Not long after, tens of thousands of people would die fighting for and against him at Waterloo.
Braude dramatizes this strange exile and improbable escape in granular detail and with novelistic relish, offering sharp new insights into a largely overlooked moment. He details a terrific cast of secondary characters, including Napoleon's tragically-noble official British minder on Elba, Neil Campbell, forever disgraced for having let "Boney" slip away; and his young second wife, Marie Louise who was twenty-two to Napoleon's forty-four, at the time of his abdication.
What emerges is a surprising new perspective on one of history's most consequential figures, which both subverts and celebrates his legendary persona. By putting this sliver of Napoleon's life under the microscope, Braude depicts him in all his glory and hubris: vanquished, fallible, and, yet, irrepressible. The Invisible Emperor is both a riveting story and an original examination of how preposterous, quixotic, and grandiose ideas can suddenly leap from the imagination and into reality.
In the spring of 1814, Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated. Having overseen an empire spanning half the European continent and governed the lives of some eighty million people, he suddenly found himself exiled to Elba, less than a hundred square miles of territory. This would have been the end of him, if Europe's rulers had had their way, and Napoleon for a time seemed resigned to a quiet retirement in this idyllic setting. But soon enough Napoleon imposed his preternatural charisma and historic ambition on both his captors and the very island itself, plotting his return to France and to power. After ten months of exile, he escaped Elba with just of over a thousand supporters in tow, landed near Antibes, marched to Paris, and retook the Tuileries Palace--all without firing a shot. Not long after, tens of thousands of people would die fighting for and against him at Waterloo.
Braude dramatizes this strange exile and improbable escape in granular detail and with novelistic relish, offering sharp new insights into a largely overlooked moment. He details a terrific cast of secondary characters, including Napoleon's tragically-noble official British minder on Elba, Neil Campbell, forever disgraced for having let "Boney" slip away; and his young second wife, Marie Louise who was twenty-two to Napoleon's forty-four, at the time of his abdication.
What emerges is a surprising new perspective on one of history's most consequential figures, which both subverts and celebrates his legendary persona. By putting this sliver of Napoleon's life under the microscope, Braude depicts him in all his glory and hubris: vanquished, fallible, and, yet, irrepressible. The Invisible Emperor is both a riveting story and an original examination of how preposterous, quixotic, and grandiose ideas can suddenly leap from the imagination and into reality.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published September 27, 2018
34 people are currently reading
420 people want to read
About the author
Mark Braude
5 books48 followersMARK BRAUDE is a cultural historian and the author of KIKI MAN RAY: ART, LOVE, AND RIVALRY IN 1920S PARIS (W.W. Norton, Summer 2022), THE INVISIBLE EMPEROR: NAPOLEON ON ELBA FROM EXILE TO ESCAPE (Penguin Press, 2018), and MAKING MONTE CARLO: A HISTORY OF SPECULATION AND SPECTACLE (Simon & Schuster, 2016). His books have been translated into several languages.
Mark was a 2020 visiting fellow at the American Library in Paris and was named a 2017 NEH Public Scholar. He is the recipient of grants from the Robert B. Silvers Foundation, the Canada Council for the Arts, the de Groot Foundation, and others. He has been a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University’s Center for Spatial and Textual Analysis (CESTA) and a lecturer in Stanford’s departments of Art History, French, and History.
Mark was born in Vancouver and went to college at the University of British Columbia. He received an MA from NYU’s Institute of French Studies and a PhD in History and Visual Studies from USC. He has written for The Globe and Mail, The Los Angeles Times, The New Republic, and others. He lives in Vancouver with his wife and their two daughters.
Mark was a 2020 visiting fellow at the American Library in Paris and was named a 2017 NEH Public Scholar. He is the recipient of grants from the Robert B. Silvers Foundation, the Canada Council for the Arts, the de Groot Foundation, and others. He has been a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University’s Center for Spatial and Textual Analysis (CESTA) and a lecturer in Stanford’s departments of Art History, French, and History.
Mark was born in Vancouver and went to college at the University of British Columbia. He received an MA from NYU’s Institute of French Studies and a PhD in History and Visual Studies from USC. He has written for The Globe and Mail, The Los Angeles Times, The New Republic, and others. He lives in Vancouver with his wife and their two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
October 27, 2018
I have been fascinated with Napoleon since I was a child. Needless to say, I read everything I can find about Napoleon. Mark Braude has this new book about Napoleon’s exile on Elba. Braude is a research fellow at Stanford University. Braude has chosen to explore the one part of Napoleon’s life that most historians have skipped over.
The British who had done the majority of the fighting against Napoleon were shoved aside during the decision making leading up to the Treaty of Fontainebleau, which exiled Napoleon to Elba and gave him sovereignty of the island. Braude did extensive research about this time frame of Napoleon’s life. I found it fun to read about the events and people knowing what is going to happened to them after they leave Elba.
Braude provides a great deal of information about Napoleon’s time on Elba. Some people may find it too much information, but not me. Braude has the concise writing style of a historian. I learned more about Napoleon. This book is going to make a good reference book to put on the shelf. If you are interested in Napoleon, this is a must-read book.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book just over nine hours. The author narrated the book.
The British who had done the majority of the fighting against Napoleon were shoved aside during the decision making leading up to the Treaty of Fontainebleau, which exiled Napoleon to Elba and gave him sovereignty of the island. Braude did extensive research about this time frame of Napoleon’s life. I found it fun to read about the events and people knowing what is going to happened to them after they leave Elba.
Braude provides a great deal of information about Napoleon’s time on Elba. Some people may find it too much information, but not me. Braude has the concise writing style of a historian. I learned more about Napoleon. This book is going to make a good reference book to put on the shelf. If you are interested in Napoleon, this is a must-read book.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book just over nine hours. The author narrated the book.
November 5, 2021
I found The Invisible Emperor: Napoleon on Elba from Exile to Escape quite absorbing. It's best as a look into Napoleon's personality and his day-to-day life in Portoferraio during the ten months of his exile there. It does fall short on analysis and insight into Napoleon's thoughts and decision-making during the planning and execution of his return to France known as the One Hundred Days. Overall, Braude just crossed the threshold to Four Stars with me.
June 8, 2023
"Tens of thousands died at Waterloo because of one restless, middle-aged man's crisis of identity, which was, above all, a crisis of vision. A failure see what really mattered.". These are the last two lines of this book about Napoleon on Elba. He was there because of his losses to the allies in 1814. Grateful to be rid of their nemesis after nearly two decades of warfare, they let him keep his title of Emperor, only of the small island of Elba. He had loyal followers, money and a chance to live his life in peace. Unfortunately, he did not have his wife and son, but one sister and his mother chose to be with him. It wasn't enough. Practically from his first moment there, he planned to return to France to seek his destiny.
For the short months on Elba, he was his usual busy self. Whether he hoped to delude the allies about his plans or whether he just could not sit still, he accomplished at least a few things for Elba. On his last day there, he reminded the Elbans of what he had done for them--modesty was never one of his virtues.
Colonel Neil Campbell was also a prisoner of Elba. He was supposed to somehow keep the Eagle grounded. It didn't work. Maybe it never was supposed to. In February 1815, Napoleon made his escape and triumphantly returned to Paris, but on June 18, the dream came to an end, only for him to end his life on another island. No escape this time.
For the short months on Elba, he was his usual busy self. Whether he hoped to delude the allies about his plans or whether he just could not sit still, he accomplished at least a few things for Elba. On his last day there, he reminded the Elbans of what he had done for them--modesty was never one of his virtues.
Colonel Neil Campbell was also a prisoner of Elba. He was supposed to somehow keep the Eagle grounded. It didn't work. Maybe it never was supposed to. In February 1815, Napoleon made his escape and triumphantly returned to Paris, but on June 18, the dream came to an end, only for him to end his life on another island. No escape this time.
May 4, 2019
With a subject like Napoleon it would be easy to stray but Mark Braude sticks to the story making this book a good model for micro-histories.
The events leading up to the exile are summarized in the Introduction so that the book can start with how the treaty of abdication and exile was hammered out at Fontainebleau in 1814. The Bonaparte’s would retain their titles. Napoleon would rule Elba and Marie-Louise would have Italian lands near her home in Austria.
Elba was a convenient place for the negotiators. Because of their gentlemanly deference to royalty, most did not envision that Napoleon would use its convenient (for him) location to break the treaty.
There are good descriptions of the islands, the move, the welcome and how Napoleon traveled about the island bonding with its people and making civil improvements. He expanded his “empire” to an uninhabited nearby island. Even on this remote island, Napoleon’s charm offensive used the symbols of power: the hat, the clothes the stance and staged eventss. He extravagantly established and staffed of his stables with great horses and opulent carriages. His gambit of royalty with a common touch worked until he needed money, and strong arm tax collections turned the people of Elba against him.
The journal of Neil Campbell who was sent by the British to keep tabs on Napoleon records how his subject became more and more distant from him. He reports clues that something is afoot. While Campbell has no army or means of control, he is blamed for Napoleon’s escape.
The escape is clever (as expected from such a general) with decoys (such as soldiers sent to Corsica to bad mouth him), ploys (such as using disguised ships and going north when going south was expected), displaying royal attitude (marching like a winner through rural France) and daring (facing down the Bourbon troops).
The story concludes with Napoleon in Paris beginning his 100 day reign. There is a good report of what became of the key players.
I highly recommend this book for readers of European history.
The events leading up to the exile are summarized in the Introduction so that the book can start with how the treaty of abdication and exile was hammered out at Fontainebleau in 1814. The Bonaparte’s would retain their titles. Napoleon would rule Elba and Marie-Louise would have Italian lands near her home in Austria.
Elba was a convenient place for the negotiators. Because of their gentlemanly deference to royalty, most did not envision that Napoleon would use its convenient (for him) location to break the treaty.
There are good descriptions of the islands, the move, the welcome and how Napoleon traveled about the island bonding with its people and making civil improvements. He expanded his “empire” to an uninhabited nearby island. Even on this remote island, Napoleon’s charm offensive used the symbols of power: the hat, the clothes the stance and staged eventss. He extravagantly established and staffed of his stables with great horses and opulent carriages. His gambit of royalty with a common touch worked until he needed money, and strong arm tax collections turned the people of Elba against him.
The journal of Neil Campbell who was sent by the British to keep tabs on Napoleon records how his subject became more and more distant from him. He reports clues that something is afoot. While Campbell has no army or means of control, he is blamed for Napoleon’s escape.
The escape is clever (as expected from such a general) with decoys (such as soldiers sent to Corsica to bad mouth him), ploys (such as using disguised ships and going north when going south was expected), displaying royal attitude (marching like a winner through rural France) and daring (facing down the Bourbon troops).
The story concludes with Napoleon in Paris beginning his 100 day reign. There is a good report of what became of the key players.
I highly recommend this book for readers of European history.
December 24, 2023
This was not your typical book about Napolean. It covers his defeat in early 1814, abdication and banishment to the island of Elba, followed by his disastrous march on Paris a mere 10 months later. A very readable historical biography of Napolean and the events that took place during those 10 months. The book includes a very detailed notes section which expands on the story. I liked the short chapters. It gives you a little pause to reflect on what you just read before continuing on to the next chapter. It's hard to explain how much I enjoyed this book. Everything else I ever read about Napoleon was so long and boring. Thumbs up to the Epilogue which enlightens you to what happened to the main participants after 'The Hundred Days'. I love a historical book that wrap everything up like that.
April 25, 2025
Some of the minutiae it explores is so small and esoteric it borders on the hilarious...but there is no denying this is a unique look at an often-ignored time in the life of Napoleon Bonaparte. There are more than enough new insights to explore here, and it's often written from the point-of-view of Napoleon's English pseudo-jailer, who add his own interesting and frustrating experiences to this tale. A neat surprise.
October 13, 2018
This is a surprisingly quiet story. I sort of expected it to be more dramatic and intense after reading the back of the book, but it proved to be pretty much what you’d expect.
Napoleon inspired a bit of fanaticism in his followers, so a bunch of people followed him into exile on Elba. He manages to befriend his handler Campbell, and basically still operates as a ruler on the island by instituting taxes and stocking ships and the like.
It probably doesn’t need such a thick book detailing each little inconsequential thing, although it did have some gems of new information. My favorite parts were the dialogues between Campbell and Napoleon.
Napoleon inspired a bit of fanaticism in his followers, so a bunch of people followed him into exile on Elba. He manages to befriend his handler Campbell, and basically still operates as a ruler on the island by instituting taxes and stocking ships and the like.
It probably doesn’t need such a thick book detailing each little inconsequential thing, although it did have some gems of new information. My favorite parts were the dialogues between Campbell and Napoleon.
March 7, 2020
3.5 stars for this book.
What a charismatic and controversial Napoleon was. First time in exile, yet he's mind still in power mode and war driven to reclaim his throne. Good read.
What a charismatic and controversial Napoleon was. First time in exile, yet he's mind still in power mode and war driven to reclaim his throne. Good read.
October 29, 2018
I was on the fence whether to give this book a 3 or a 4, but wasn't so blown away by the work to rate it a 4 (realistically, a 3.5). This book attempts to reveal what happened to Napoleon while he was on his relatively brief exile on Elba. It was hardly a difficult time for Napoleon, who, once on Elba, was practically able to have relatively free reign on the island. His life was comfortable, and aside from dealing with some family drama, Napoleon could not complain too much about Elba. Yet, it was apparent that he would never stay on the island. The inability of the French nobility to try to restore balance in France, and the warring powers spending most of their time in Vienna trying to rebuild a post-Napoleon Europe, all the while, not seriously considering that Napoleon was but a few miles away from returning to France at the head of his armies. When he returned to France (way too easily for such an important exile), it threw Europe into major turmoil, and it was only after the final defeat at Waterloo did Europe effectively remove Napoleon from the equation, allowing the continent to move forward.
Overall, the book was a solid, and at times, a fun read. The reader does a decent job with the material. It is not too long, nor too detailed. Yet, this book reflects what the actual first exile was for Napoleon: an interesting, but ultimately short-lived transit time in the grand life of a significant individual. Worth the read for those who want insight into a small sliver of this man's life, but it might be a better investment to read the major bios that address some of this time, and the other, more significant events in the life of Napoleon.
Overall, the book was a solid, and at times, a fun read. The reader does a decent job with the material. It is not too long, nor too detailed. Yet, this book reflects what the actual first exile was for Napoleon: an interesting, but ultimately short-lived transit time in the grand life of a significant individual. Worth the read for those who want insight into a small sliver of this man's life, but it might be a better investment to read the major bios that address some of this time, and the other, more significant events in the life of Napoleon.
April 19, 2023
Braude’s intimate examination of Napolean’s first exile is an excellent example of narrative combined with historical detail. Maybe this is due to the sources for this book being derived from memoirs and journals of the contemporary players. Notwithstanding, the author has been able to capture the quiet details of everyday life in exile interspersed with the broad sweep of historical current affairs.
He also weaves characters, great and small, into the narrative with chronological ease taking us, the reader, along the journey of Napolean's claustrophobic months on Elba. The representative of the British contingent monitoring the famous outcast, Colonel Neil Campbell, has his story told in parallel with his more famous co-exile. The unfortunate scapegoat’s tale is interwoven with Napoleon’s and provides another perspective to this wretched affair.
This is a very worthwhile read for those interested in this overlooked aspect of the Napoleonic Wars, as well as being absolutely entertaining. A must have for every history buff’s library.
He also weaves characters, great and small, into the narrative with chronological ease taking us, the reader, along the journey of Napolean's claustrophobic months on Elba. The representative of the British contingent monitoring the famous outcast, Colonel Neil Campbell, has his story told in parallel with his more famous co-exile. The unfortunate scapegoat’s tale is interwoven with Napoleon’s and provides another perspective to this wretched affair.
This is a very worthwhile read for those interested in this overlooked aspect of the Napoleonic Wars, as well as being absolutely entertaining. A must have for every history buff’s library.
June 21, 2023
A perfectly adequate but unexciting account of Napoleon's time on Elba but I am puzzled by the author's interest; he is not really a historian and it appears he is trying to follow in the path of Sudhir Hazareesinghe in examining Napoleon as a cultural/political phenomena but the Elba episode doesn't really provide enough scope and, to be honest, I am not sure that Mr. Braude has the necessary depth of research or understanding to replicate, even in miniature, the remarkable work and insights of Hazareesinghe in works such as 'The Saint Napoleon: Celebrations of Sovereignty in Nineteenth Century France'.
I remember as a schoolboy reading an account of Napoleon's time on Elba published, I think, in the 1960's. I can not trace the book (if I ever do I will update this review) but I still remember the author attempted to make a case that Napoleon had wanted to settle down permanently on Elba but various factors, his wife's failure to join him, uncertainty over the allies intentions in Vienna and the failure of the French to pay his pension pushed him into the gamble of the Hundred Days. I don't think it was a very convincing argument but I remember it did give a very comprehensive account of his time on Elba and was also illustrated with fascinating pictures of his various residences etc.
Braude's book doesn't have any theory and rather concentrates on looking at events through the UK commissioner Sir Neil Campbell (of which I will say more shortly) and supplements it with occasional accounts of what was happening elsewhere, in particular Paris and Vienna. Most surprisingly there are no illustrations (although there are some maps) and until the acknowledgements at the very end of the book I had no reason to believe that the author had even been on Elba.
Although a theory is not essential it is useful if you come away with the belief that there was a need for the book you are reading to be written; unfortunately there is no sign of one and I came away with the feeling that this was a superficial compilation from the major recent biographies of Napoleon. We do not even learn if the diary of Sir Neal Campbell exists outside of the 19th century printed edition and there is no evidence of archival research. The sense that this is a superficial work is compounded by the way the author has padded his bibliography - works like Scott Carpenter's 'Aesthetics of Fraudulence in Nineteenth Century France' and Margaret Cohen's 'Profane Illuminations: Walter Benjamin and the Paris of Surrealist Revolution' are two of dozens of works listed that can have only the most tangential link with Napoleon's time on Elba.
The book is neither amusing nor imaginative enough to warrant recommending anyone read it. I would suggest consulting the relevant chapters in any of the recent multi volume biographies of Napoleon by Michael Broers, Philip Dwyer or Andrew Roberts. It is not a bad book it is just not a very good one.
I remember as a schoolboy reading an account of Napoleon's time on Elba published, I think, in the 1960's. I can not trace the book (if I ever do I will update this review) but I still remember the author attempted to make a case that Napoleon had wanted to settle down permanently on Elba but various factors, his wife's failure to join him, uncertainty over the allies intentions in Vienna and the failure of the French to pay his pension pushed him into the gamble of the Hundred Days. I don't think it was a very convincing argument but I remember it did give a very comprehensive account of his time on Elba and was also illustrated with fascinating pictures of his various residences etc.
Braude's book doesn't have any theory and rather concentrates on looking at events through the UK commissioner Sir Neil Campbell (of which I will say more shortly) and supplements it with occasional accounts of what was happening elsewhere, in particular Paris and Vienna. Most surprisingly there are no illustrations (although there are some maps) and until the acknowledgements at the very end of the book I had no reason to believe that the author had even been on Elba.
Although a theory is not essential it is useful if you come away with the belief that there was a need for the book you are reading to be written; unfortunately there is no sign of one and I came away with the feeling that this was a superficial compilation from the major recent biographies of Napoleon. We do not even learn if the diary of Sir Neal Campbell exists outside of the 19th century printed edition and there is no evidence of archival research. The sense that this is a superficial work is compounded by the way the author has padded his bibliography - works like Scott Carpenter's 'Aesthetics of Fraudulence in Nineteenth Century France' and Margaret Cohen's 'Profane Illuminations: Walter Benjamin and the Paris of Surrealist Revolution' are two of dozens of works listed that can have only the most tangential link with Napoleon's time on Elba.
The book is neither amusing nor imaginative enough to warrant recommending anyone read it. I would suggest consulting the relevant chapters in any of the recent multi volume biographies of Napoleon by Michael Broers, Philip Dwyer or Andrew Roberts. It is not a bad book it is just not a very good one.
October 5, 2018
4.5 stars. Who knew a book about Napoleon could be so entertaining. I've not read much about the conquering Emperor so went into this pretty vague on background facts, however, it did not detract from my enjoyment of the material. After the supposed end of the Napoleonic Wars, the allied powers were not sure what to do with Napoleon so they decided to exile his to the island of Elba. There, he spend almost a year getting to know the locals, acting as regent and secretly scheming of a comeback. Told in refreshingly short chapters, this books is immensely readable and engrossing. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed reading it. I received a digital ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 4, 2024
Leuk om te lezen, geeft een goed beeld van Napoleon op Elba. Goed geschreven, leest fijn.
May 6, 2021
De onzichtbare keizer biedt helder nieuw inzicht in een periode die in de geschiedschrijving meestal wordt verwaarloosd, maar in feite een zeer dramatische episode was in de carrière van Napoleon. Dit jaar is het 200 jaar geleden dat Napoleon overleed. Dat betekent altijd weer ietsje meer aandacht voor deze historisch figuur. Er valt nog altijd veel te vertellen over Napoleon. Hier gaan we nu het boek “De Onzichtbare keizer- Napoleon op Elba” bespreken.
Napoleon Bonaparte was een Frans generaal en dictator tijdens de laatste regeringen van de Franse Revolutie. In het boek van Mark Braude wordt speciaal zijn periode op Elba en zijn ontsnapping daarvan besproken. In 1814 viel de Coalitie Frankrijk binnen en werd Napoleon tot aftreden gedwongen en verbannen naar het eiland Elba. In februari 1815 keerde Napoleon terug naar Frankrijk en greep voor Honderd Dagen (1815) opnieuw de macht, maar in de Slag bij Waterloo leed hij een zware nederlaag en werd opnieuw verbannen, dit keer naar Sint – Helena.
Het was een idee van de Russische tsaar geweest om hem te verbannen naar Elba, een eiland vlak bij de kust van Toscane, met behoud van de keizerstitel, niet als keizer der Fransen, maar als soeverein vorst van Elba. Tijdens zijn bestuur van Elba verbleef de keizer in het Palazzina dei Mulini, een gebouw in Portoferraio, de hoofdstad van het eiland. Vanaf een bepaalde plaats op Elba kon hij in het westen zijn geboorte-eiland Corsica zien. Zijn moeder, Madame Mère, en zijn zus, Pauline, volgden hem in ballingschap. Tien maanden na de verbanning naar Elba ontsnapte Napoleon, vergezeld van duizend soldaten en vier kanonnen. Hij landde bij Juan-les-Pins en keerde terug naar Parijs. Zijn snelle terugkeer naar de macht wordt in Frankrijk ook wel de “adelaarsvlucht” genoemd. Napoleon kreeg steun van legeronderdelen, en kreeg de steun van een deel van de bevolking, diegenen die niet tevreden waren over Lodewijk XVIII. Zo kwam Napoleon wederom aan de macht en wilde via Zuidelijke Nederlanden de Britten en de Pruisen verslaan, juist ja Waterloo. We weten allemaal hoe dat is afgelopen.
Dit is dus in het kort waar het in het boek “De Onzichtbare keizer “over gaat. Het boek is lekker vlot geschreven en leest als een roman. Daardoor is het boek zeer vermakelijk. De hoofdstukken zijn kort en daardoor blijven alle achtergrond feiten goed overzichtelijk. Het boek geeft goed weer wat de feitelijke eerste ballingschap voor Napoleon was: een interessante, maar uiteindelijk kortstondige periode in het rijke leven van een belangrijk persoon. Het boek is zeker het lezen waard voor degenen die inzicht willen hebben in een klein stukje van het leven van Napoleon.
Samengevat : Het verhaal over de periode op Elba is fascinerend. De auteur weet Napoleon tot leven te wekken. Als lezer heb je het gevoel het aan de zijlijn mee te maken. Napoleon vanaf dag 1 van plan te ontsnappen. Maar het is niet alleen dat verhaal. Het boek geeft ook een mooi inzicht over zijn dagelijkse leven op het eiland. Je krijgt als lezer een goed beeld wie Napoleon als mens was en niet als een mythische figuur. Zeker een aanrader voor de geschiedenis liefhebber.
Napoleon Bonaparte was een Frans generaal en dictator tijdens de laatste regeringen van de Franse Revolutie. In het boek van Mark Braude wordt speciaal zijn periode op Elba en zijn ontsnapping daarvan besproken. In 1814 viel de Coalitie Frankrijk binnen en werd Napoleon tot aftreden gedwongen en verbannen naar het eiland Elba. In februari 1815 keerde Napoleon terug naar Frankrijk en greep voor Honderd Dagen (1815) opnieuw de macht, maar in de Slag bij Waterloo leed hij een zware nederlaag en werd opnieuw verbannen, dit keer naar Sint – Helena.
Het was een idee van de Russische tsaar geweest om hem te verbannen naar Elba, een eiland vlak bij de kust van Toscane, met behoud van de keizerstitel, niet als keizer der Fransen, maar als soeverein vorst van Elba. Tijdens zijn bestuur van Elba verbleef de keizer in het Palazzina dei Mulini, een gebouw in Portoferraio, de hoofdstad van het eiland. Vanaf een bepaalde plaats op Elba kon hij in het westen zijn geboorte-eiland Corsica zien. Zijn moeder, Madame Mère, en zijn zus, Pauline, volgden hem in ballingschap. Tien maanden na de verbanning naar Elba ontsnapte Napoleon, vergezeld van duizend soldaten en vier kanonnen. Hij landde bij Juan-les-Pins en keerde terug naar Parijs. Zijn snelle terugkeer naar de macht wordt in Frankrijk ook wel de “adelaarsvlucht” genoemd. Napoleon kreeg steun van legeronderdelen, en kreeg de steun van een deel van de bevolking, diegenen die niet tevreden waren over Lodewijk XVIII. Zo kwam Napoleon wederom aan de macht en wilde via Zuidelijke Nederlanden de Britten en de Pruisen verslaan, juist ja Waterloo. We weten allemaal hoe dat is afgelopen.
Dit is dus in het kort waar het in het boek “De Onzichtbare keizer “over gaat. Het boek is lekker vlot geschreven en leest als een roman. Daardoor is het boek zeer vermakelijk. De hoofdstukken zijn kort en daardoor blijven alle achtergrond feiten goed overzichtelijk. Het boek geeft goed weer wat de feitelijke eerste ballingschap voor Napoleon was: een interessante, maar uiteindelijk kortstondige periode in het rijke leven van een belangrijk persoon. Het boek is zeker het lezen waard voor degenen die inzicht willen hebben in een klein stukje van het leven van Napoleon.
Samengevat : Het verhaal over de periode op Elba is fascinerend. De auteur weet Napoleon tot leven te wekken. Als lezer heb je het gevoel het aan de zijlijn mee te maken. Napoleon vanaf dag 1 van plan te ontsnappen. Maar het is niet alleen dat verhaal. Het boek geeft ook een mooi inzicht over zijn dagelijkse leven op het eiland. Je krijgt als lezer een goed beeld wie Napoleon als mens was en niet als een mythische figuur. Zeker een aanrader voor de geschiedenis liefhebber.
February 15, 2021
Napoleon is a fascinating character. Born to minor nobility on Corsica he created the role of Emperor of the French and came to dominate the attention of Europe until his first forced abdication in 1814. After that, Europe was confronted with the question of what to do with him? Execution seemed too extreme and escape to America or exile in England too risky. Placement as Emperor of Elba, a small island in the Mediterranean, was Tsar Alexander’s suggestion. “The Invisible Emperor” is the chronicle of that experiment.
This work runs from the decision to use Elba as an imperial cage to Napoleon’s escape and arrival in Paris. It introduces the reader to Elba, as the Emperor found it, his mindset and life on the island, the initiatives he made during his short rule and people who were important during his tenure. Col. Neil Campbell, his British minder, had to live with the record of having let his charge slip away. Wife Marie Louise maintained a distant correspondence while under the watch of her father, Austrian Emperor Francis. Elba’s relationship to France and Italy mirrored Napoleon’s own.
Napoleon was left with a boat, a minor armed force and time to share life with his subjects and plot his return. The accounts of events on Elba reflect on the subject’s restless persona in a small realm. Narratives of conditions of the restored Bourbon monarchy in Paris, rollback of reforms in the Papal States and other items place Napoleon’s time on Elba and return to Paris in continental perspective.
Author Mark Braude employs a writing style that covers the material while holding the readers’ interest. His chapters vary in length depending on what is needed for the topic. For those seeking a familiarity with Napoleon I recommend starting with a full-life biography. When seeking a more detailed study “The Invisible Emperor” is an excellent resource focusing on a frequently overlooked but important aspect of the Napoleon saga.
This work runs from the decision to use Elba as an imperial cage to Napoleon’s escape and arrival in Paris. It introduces the reader to Elba, as the Emperor found it, his mindset and life on the island, the initiatives he made during his short rule and people who were important during his tenure. Col. Neil Campbell, his British minder, had to live with the record of having let his charge slip away. Wife Marie Louise maintained a distant correspondence while under the watch of her father, Austrian Emperor Francis. Elba’s relationship to France and Italy mirrored Napoleon’s own.
Napoleon was left with a boat, a minor armed force and time to share life with his subjects and plot his return. The accounts of events on Elba reflect on the subject’s restless persona in a small realm. Narratives of conditions of the restored Bourbon monarchy in Paris, rollback of reforms in the Papal States and other items place Napoleon’s time on Elba and return to Paris in continental perspective.
Author Mark Braude employs a writing style that covers the material while holding the readers’ interest. His chapters vary in length depending on what is needed for the topic. For those seeking a familiarity with Napoleon I recommend starting with a full-life biography. When seeking a more detailed study “The Invisible Emperor” is an excellent resource focusing on a frequently overlooked but important aspect of the Napoleon saga.
February 12, 2020
There is no shortage of books on Napoleon. I remember reading somewhere that besides Lincoln and I think either Caesar or Washington, he is the most written about person in history. I have found books about him dating back to the mid 1850's and I am sure there are older ones then that. So, how does one take a fresh approach to an already over crowded market? Do what Mark Braude did, and really find those obscure corners that have been left untouched. When reading books about the Emperor, his time on Elba is sometimes glossed over and pushed aside in favor of his battles or time on the throne. Elba is kind of treated like "He was banished, lived on the island, then escaped...the end". So, if authors in times past skimmed this period was there a reason for it? Yes, and the answers are time and size. Napoleon's life is so vast you have to leave bits on the cutting room floor or his biographies would become cinder blocks, being so thick and time consuming that people might not want to read them.
Circling back to this work, I found his short time on Elba fascinating. I wasn't sure I would but I really did. Braude brings to life a lion in waiting. I think from Day 1 Napoleon was planning his escape. He was ready to emerge from the tall grass and pounce on the powers of Europe that sent him into exile. But the book isn't just about that. It's about his day-to-day life on the island. It really fills out more the historical Napoleon than most books do. We get a sense of him as a person and not just a mythical figure.
The reason I gave it four out of five is I doubt I will read it again. I feel I got what I wanted the first time around. I am trying to be more selective in what I give five. But make no mistake if I could give it another half star I would. 4 1/2 out of 5. If you are interested in the Emperor and want a fresh story, the look no further. This is it!
Circling back to this work, I found his short time on Elba fascinating. I wasn't sure I would but I really did. Braude brings to life a lion in waiting. I think from Day 1 Napoleon was planning his escape. He was ready to emerge from the tall grass and pounce on the powers of Europe that sent him into exile. But the book isn't just about that. It's about his day-to-day life on the island. It really fills out more the historical Napoleon than most books do. We get a sense of him as a person and not just a mythical figure.
The reason I gave it four out of five is I doubt I will read it again. I feel I got what I wanted the first time around. I am trying to be more selective in what I give five. But make no mistake if I could give it another half star I would. 4 1/2 out of 5. If you are interested in the Emperor and want a fresh story, the look no further. This is it!
August 8, 2021
It took me much longer to get through this book than it should have. I started it back in the spring, figuring it would be a good book for me to read at work in the random 5-10 minute chunks of free time that I get. The chapters in this book (all 53 of them) are very short... averaging about three pages each. I figured it would be a quick read because of all of the space taken up by chapter titles and relatively large print. This plan backfired. I would read a chapter or two, set it down, and then not read it again for several days. Part of this issue was because of how I planned to read the book, but it was also because each chapter was very much its own, self-contained, thing. He didn't do that good of a job developing drama between chapters and making me want to read more immediately. This all lead to some discontinuity in reading. It also made it hard to remember small plot points and keep all of the characters straight.
Some of this is also because of the author's writing style. I appreciate his thorough research and use of primary sources, but he could have done better, in places, at blending those into the narrative. He often relies on large block quotes, which slow down the reading.
Another issue I had with this book was the lack of clear thesis or argument at the beginning. He's just kind of telling the story of Napoleon on Elba. At the end, in the epilogue, he does take a more scholarly tack, trying to demonstrate that Napoleon's efforts in Elba were part of his lasting positive legacy and that his attempt to return to Europe was flawed because of his ego. While certainly true, those points are not consistently developed throughout the book.
I'm glad I read this book, I did learn some and there were parts where I did read an additional 2 page chapter because of some minor drama, but it could have used a bit more polish and a clear purpose.
Some of this is also because of the author's writing style. I appreciate his thorough research and use of primary sources, but he could have done better, in places, at blending those into the narrative. He often relies on large block quotes, which slow down the reading.
Another issue I had with this book was the lack of clear thesis or argument at the beginning. He's just kind of telling the story of Napoleon on Elba. At the end, in the epilogue, he does take a more scholarly tack, trying to demonstrate that Napoleon's efforts in Elba were part of his lasting positive legacy and that his attempt to return to Europe was flawed because of his ego. While certainly true, those points are not consistently developed throughout the book.
I'm glad I read this book, I did learn some and there were parts where I did read an additional 2 page chapter because of some minor drama, but it could have used a bit more polish and a clear purpose.
August 20, 2022
Beginning to see that of the napoleonic history books I read my favourites tend to be on the literary side. Black Spartacus felt like a sweeping epic novel, while The Invisible Emperor felt like a contemplative character based drama. Set (almost) entirely during Napoleon’s first exile on Elba, it’s the sort of perspective you rarely get. This was a period where many people got to be unusually close to Napoleon, and he was in an interesting place in his life having gone from the most important figure in Europe to an outcast his enemies were desperate to forget. Mark Braude creates a portrait of Napoleon during this time from accounts close to him. A favourite of mine was the British officer Campbell, who had been brutally attacked by Russian troops mistaking him for a Frenchman in the battle in Paris, who was given the duty of keeping an eye on Napoleon. He goes from being awe struck at being close to such an important person, to frustrated with being stuck with the most annoying man he had ever met, and during Napoleon’s flight from Elba, he gets mugged by highwaymen. He is a hilariously misfortunate character, and the great thing about history writing which focuses in like this, you can find these sort of characters who would be ignored in the great tomes which only cover “important” figures.
October 24, 2018
Most of us are familiar with Napoleon Bonaparte's history of war and conquest. Once he was banished in 1814, to the island of Elba in the Mediterranean our interest in him tends to wain until he once again shows up in France in 1815, looking for a fight. This book details that year of exile and I do mean details. The author gives an almost day by day depiction of what it was like for Napoleon during his time on this less than idyllic island. Napoleon, the man who achieved domination of over half of Europe was relegated to a tiny island and it's lack luster community that had nothing to recommend it. A couple of hundred pages into the book I was as ready to get off that island as was Napoleon. Even the comings and goings of his various family members and any number of visiting sycophants could not dissuade Napoleon from fomenting a plan to get the heck off that island and back to France no matter what the consequences might be. The author has done a fine job of documenting this time of Napoleon's life and gives us some good insights into the man and his times. Book provided for review by Amazon Vine.
February 17, 2019
Mark Braude’s great book, Invisible Emperor, tells the story of Napoleon Bonaparte’s 10 month exile on the island of Elba. Braude’s book reads almost like a spy novel with British officers watching Napoleon’s every move, letters between Napoleon and his wife that never get delivered and Napoleon’s plans to leave the island so secret that everyone seemed to know except his British guard, Neil Campbell, who incorrectly assumes where Napoleon headed when he leaves the island. Braude tells a really good story of the decision to send Napoleon to Elba, how Napoleon made life bearable there, about visits from his mother and sister, his daring escape to the southern coast of France and his march to Paris. A great detailed story of France’s love/hate relationship with the Emperor and the Bourbon royalty, but most importantly the book addresses how the exiled Emperor, forced into a humiliating life, manages to gather the fortitude to make an uncertain comeback.
January 10, 2023
A very insightful account of Napoleon’s first exile on Elba.
Even having read a good deal about this era I always wondered — how on Earth did he manage his return to Paris, and manage to give all the Allies a tough time at Waterloo? One would expect him to be pretty tightly supervised in exile after the Napoleonic Wars.
Made nominal “Emperor” of Elba after his abdication, a 100 square mile island, which made decent wine but apparently little else, and a which is day’s sail away from Tuscany, Bonaparte was left with but one battleship and very few (albeit well-seasoned and loyal) troops.
Monstrous ego and tactical brilliance aside, Napoleon hadn’t much to work with.
This book documents that story, and well; it reads like a thriller, the characters are all well-drawn, and it’s much enhanced by their first-hand accounts. It’s a remarkable tale.
My highest recommendation.
I discovered this title through reading Braude’s “Kiki Man Ray” which documents another scene which fascinates me. Reviewed here as well, another great read!
Even having read a good deal about this era I always wondered — how on Earth did he manage his return to Paris, and manage to give all the Allies a tough time at Waterloo? One would expect him to be pretty tightly supervised in exile after the Napoleonic Wars.
Made nominal “Emperor” of Elba after his abdication, a 100 square mile island, which made decent wine but apparently little else, and a which is day’s sail away from Tuscany, Bonaparte was left with but one battleship and very few (albeit well-seasoned and loyal) troops.
Monstrous ego and tactical brilliance aside, Napoleon hadn’t much to work with.
This book documents that story, and well; it reads like a thriller, the characters are all well-drawn, and it’s much enhanced by their first-hand accounts. It’s a remarkable tale.
My highest recommendation.
I discovered this title through reading Braude’s “Kiki Man Ray” which documents another scene which fascinates me. Reviewed here as well, another great read!
October 12, 2018
Bonaparte's life is fascinating, how could a man get so much power to conquer so much territory and to lead so many men, and have such a tremendous impact in the world?
And yet, fall predictably after such a raise?
How did it happen? The man himself is fascinating, for his strategic skills, but also for his attraction to mathematics. We all can learn from His psychology and philosophy.
Bonaparte life is a mystery that we're asked to observe and learn from.
However, I couldn't get into this book.
I get lost in those long verbose sentences, with lots of names and description that drown the storyline, if there's one.
Perhaps this is just not my style, or perhaps I should persevere, I don't know.
And yet, fall predictably after such a raise?
How did it happen? The man himself is fascinating, for his strategic skills, but also for his attraction to mathematics. We all can learn from His psychology and philosophy.
Bonaparte life is a mystery that we're asked to observe and learn from.
However, I couldn't get into this book.
I get lost in those long verbose sentences, with lots of names and description that drown the storyline, if there's one.
Perhaps this is just not my style, or perhaps I should persevere, I don't know.
December 5, 2018
I like books that teach me something about which I knew nothing, and this deeply researched and well written book does just that. The subject is Napoleon's time on Elba and we learn something of his administrative, recreational, familial, and romantic time there. We also get to see his growing impatience that culminated in his escape back to France. This is all set nicely against the politics of post-Napoleonic, post War of 1812 Europe which provides important context, one consequence of which is that his wife, Marie-Louise, opts to cast her lot with her father, Francis I of Austria.
The author makes an attempt to explain why Napoleon left Elba. His explanation is that the only role Napoleon understood and was comfortable with was NAPOLEON. Maybe. It's a plausible as anything else.
The author makes an attempt to explain why Napoleon left Elba. His explanation is that the only role Napoleon understood and was comfortable with was NAPOLEON. Maybe. It's a plausible as anything else.
December 24, 2018
Well, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, and sometimes you get stuck on Elba with no place to go. Unless you're, Napoleon Bonaparte, that is.
The tale of his first exile to Elba and the his plans to return in glory for his second roll of the dice, which of course we all know ended up at Waterloo
Mark Braude does a great job of following the emperor during this period, along with a vengeful Allied force which denies a wife, a child, and especially voiding his payments they had promised him (or was that just in his mind). All to keep Napoleon at bay which lead to thousands of deaths in June 18,1815.
Still knowing the end of this story it is interesting to se how Napoleon outfoxed all into believing that he was a happy man in exile.
The tale of his first exile to Elba and the his plans to return in glory for his second roll of the dice, which of course we all know ended up at Waterloo
Mark Braude does a great job of following the emperor during this period, along with a vengeful Allied force which denies a wife, a child, and especially voiding his payments they had promised him (or was that just in his mind). All to keep Napoleon at bay which lead to thousands of deaths in June 18,1815.
Still knowing the end of this story it is interesting to se how Napoleon outfoxed all into believing that he was a happy man in exile.
April 4, 2018
A narrative that is only topped by the author's postscript!
Here, the historically stifling accounts are trumped by the accounts of a vibrant and persistent leader; he's illustrated as the man who strived as a statesman, a conqueror, a leader. He thrived on France's support and love and went into exile to save ravaged country.
The story is human, with sharp insights to war, social enterprises, global humanity and social responsibility, with unknown exchanges between his wives and generals alike.
If only his successes and consistent desire to fight, were as vibrantly remembered as as his failings at Waterloo...
Galley borrowed from the publisher.
Here, the historically stifling accounts are trumped by the accounts of a vibrant and persistent leader; he's illustrated as the man who strived as a statesman, a conqueror, a leader. He thrived on France's support and love and went into exile to save ravaged country.
The story is human, with sharp insights to war, social enterprises, global humanity and social responsibility, with unknown exchanges between his wives and generals alike.
If only his successes and consistent desire to fight, were as vibrantly remembered as as his failings at Waterloo...
Galley borrowed from the publisher.
July 2, 2024
Napoleon’s stay on Elba has always been somewhat enigmatic. How did he manage to get away and be accompanied by the genesis of the fighting force which enabled “the near run thing” that was Waterloo?
This book goes a long way towards solving the mystery and giving some insight into the mind of the man himself.
There is a satisfying well-researched story here and at the end, there is a sense of the self belief and talent of one of the most important characters in modern history. It is indeed a mesmerising narrative told with great attention to detail.
This book goes a long way towards solving the mystery and giving some insight into the mind of the man himself.
There is a satisfying well-researched story here and at the end, there is a sense of the self belief and talent of one of the most important characters in modern history. It is indeed a mesmerising narrative told with great attention to detail.
July 25, 2019
An excellent microcosm in the grand history of Napoleon, this book covers in (excruciating, if you're not into that stuff) detail the ten months the emperor spent in exile on Elba. I'm into the details of names and dates and firsthand accounts, so I found this fascinating, and it shed some light on a part of Napoleon's life that is often skipped over. For me, it was a research book, so it suited my purposes perfectly.
August 28, 2020
Un interesante relato sobre la (corta) estancia de Napoleón en Elba a partir principalmente de su propia correspondencia y la de de su "vigilante por sorpresa" inglés Neil Campbell.
No sé si considerarlo spoiler ya que todos sabemos cómo acaba, pero personalmente me ha gustado muchísimo lo bien novelizada que está la parte en que Napoleón juega sus cartas de forma que Neil Campbell le perdiese constantemente la pista, 👌
No sé si considerarlo spoiler ya que todos sabemos cómo acaba, pero personalmente me ha gustado muchísimo lo bien novelizada que está la parte en que Napoleón juega sus cartas de forma que Neil Campbell le perdiese constantemente la pista, 👌
January 1, 2022
Interesting but could have been shorter. His wife Marie Louise(Austrian )and son werent allowered to come. Was remarkably easy of him to escape. They allowed him to have 1000 troops and some ships for protection from Barbary pirates. Neil Campbell was the British representative. Bertrand and Drouot were the generals who went with him. “That gentle man in Elba”. Portoferraio Iron port capital. They let him keep the title of emperor.
March 11, 2023
One of the most accessible books on history I’ve read. Straight to the point and an overall fascinating story. The kind of book I’d recommend to anyone and one I would definitely read again.
It’s very interesting to read about the day to day life in exile of what was once the world’s most powerful man. It brings it all down to a human scale and adds more power to the overarching influence of napoleons life.
It’s very interesting to read about the day to day life in exile of what was once the world’s most powerful man. It brings it all down to a human scale and adds more power to the overarching influence of napoleons life.
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