Napoleon: A Life by Andrew Roberts
Book Rating: 9/10
As a disclaimer, it has been a few months since I have completed Napoleon: A Life. The book itself was so large I am sure many of its details already escape me. So I will not go to any length to review it in-depth.
If that is the case, then why make mention of it by posting it here? There are two reasons. In the first place, this is the most recent large book I have worked my way through to date. In the second place (and more importantly), this was unequivocally one of the best books I have ever had the pleasure to read.
The topic on hand is an immensely interesting one. The Napoleonic Wars were, obviously, a pivotal moment in French, European, and indeed world history. The period encompasses everything from violent and ideologically driven revolutions, to the dissolving of Charlemagne’s Holy Roman Empire, to the establishment of legal frameworks still used in modern Europe, to the spread of the metric system, and everything in-between; Napoleon a principal driving factor.
So, author Andrew Roberts did pick a conveniently engaging topic to write about—indeed, many parts of Napoleon’s life seem fantastical, almost like a storybook (no, really). However, I also believe that Roberts did a marvelous job in writing this piece. Roberts’ reliance on personal letters written between Napoleon and his peers offers unique insight into an otherwise occasionally stale narrative.
Moreover, Roberts did a fantastic job putting together such a daunting amount of materials and sources. Roberts, a historian himself, does this while keeping the book accessible to a wider audience. Very occasional interjections providing his own thoughts, analyses, and contextualization were also welcome. All this, while maintaining a relative objectivity on Napoleon himself (for a Brit, at least).
In 1972, Chinese premier Zhou Enlai was asked for his thoughts on the impact of the French Revolution. “It is too early to tell,” was his response. While the accuracy of this profound quote has been disputed, it nonetheless captures the lasting impact of the French Revolution and the events that followed it.
Whether you are well-versed in the history of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, a dilettante, or a beginner, I strongly recommend this book.