This book is widely regarded as the definitive biography of Napoleon Bonaparte in the English language. After listening to this book, I find no reason to disagree. Napoleon was and is a huge figure in European history. He conquered swaths of territory and reformed national systems. He can only be compared to Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great in terms of impact. He did not wrestle England, his archenemy, to the ground economically or militarily. After losing to Wellington at Waterloo, he died in exile at St. Helena, an island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Here, Roberts captures the drama of his life in detailed terms and makes an epic subject into an epic book.
Many, many biographies of Napoleon exist in many languages across many decades. The only reason not to read this one is that it is unfailingly long. Its length becomes its strength because it thoroughly treats every salient subject of Napoleon’s life with fairness and erudition. However, many readers might prefer a smaller treatment for the sake of time. That desire is fair, for life is short.
Nonetheless, Napoleon was a genius of a statesman, and Roberts gives this man his historical due. Napoleon reformed legal systems and won around 90% of his dozens of battles. Were it not for a few mistakes, he might have also conquered Russia or defeated the English at Waterloo. Roberts provides detailed analysis of every such subject. Had he listened to Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations (found with him at his death on St. Helena), Napoleon might have devised a better economic system than the Continental system designed to exclude England.
As an American, I cannot help but feel that Napoleon spent too much of his life warring as a egotistical king rather than reforming as an enlightened man of the people. He did bring the Napoleonic Code to the legal systems of just about every European country except for England. Had he accepted peace instead of desiring Empire, he might have contributed even more lasting things. Certainly, he epitomized the French nationalism that grew out of the French Revolution, but he also epitomized what went wrong about that – by becoming an autocrat and dictator.
Overall, Roberts’ treatment enchants readers in the English language and inspires fanciful dreams about a myriad of possible trajectories of the modern world. Fans of history and admirers of modern politics should especially be attracted to this masterful account. I had learned much about him in history classes in school, but while learning, I became aware that I was missing some depths of an interesting subject. This book, at 1300+ pages, filled that hole with animus. Even though it took months to listen through, I am glad I spent hours contemplating this great man of history.
Napoleon: A Life
By Andrew Roberts
Copyright (c) 2014
Penguin Audio
ASIN B00OSF1O44
Audiobook
Genre: Biography, History
www.amazon.com